Key signature: Dmajor
Submitted on September 29th 2002 by glauber.
This tune has been added to 182 tunebooks.
Also known as Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, Ash Grove, Beauty In Tears, Llewellyn, Llwyn Onn, The Master Hath Come, Oh Weep Not Sweet Maid, Nor Let Sorrow Oppress Thee, Sir Watkin William Wynn, They Suffer The Wretched To Languish And Perish .
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Ash Grove, The
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: Dmaj
|: "A"A2 | "D"d2f2ag | "D"f2d2d2 | "G"e2 gfed | "A"c2A2A2 |
"D"d2fedc | "G"B2G2B2 | "D"A2d2"A7"c2 | "D"d4 :||: e/f/g |
"D"a2fgab | "D"a2g2f2 | "A"g2efga | "A7"g2f2e2 | "D"f2defg |
"Bm"f2e2d2 | "A"c2a2"E"^g2 | "A"a4 A2 | "D"d2f2ag | f2d2d2 |
"G"e2gfed | "A"c2A2A2 | "D"d2fedc | "G"B2G2B2 | "D"A2d2"A"c2 | "D"d4 :||
Ash Grove
We sang this in church today, and can't get the melody out of me head, so here goes.
I'd normally notate like this (using 1/4 as base instead of 1/8):
X:15
T:Ash Grove
R:waltz
M:3/4
L:1/4
K:D
|: "A"A | "D"dfa/g/ | "D"fdd | "G"eg/f/e/d/ | "A"cAA |
"D"df/e/d/c/ | "G"BGB | "D"Ad"A"c | "D"d2 :||: e//f//g/ |
"D"af/g/a/b/ | "D"agf | "A"ge/f/g/a/ | "A7"gfe | "D"fd/e/f/g/ |
"Bm"fed | "A"ca"E"^g | "A"a2 A | "D"dfa/g/ | "D"fdd |
"G"eg/f/e/d/ | "A"cAA | "D"df/e/d/c/ | "G"BGB | "D"Ad"A7"c | "D"d2 :||
This is supposedly a Welsh tune. The "Fiddler's Companion" confirms:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X17B122F1
I believe it shows up in O'Carolan's repertoire too.
I think this is a nice lively waltz, that can take a fair amount of ornamentation without losing its character.
# Posted on September 29th 2002 by glauber
Ashgrove
Unfortunately in England tune is used for ribald Rugby club verses
-the oppposite of church usage.
# Posted on September 29th 2002 by timjellies
My mother has a little rhyme to the first part of the tune, which she picked up in the school playground in Liverpool:
My teacher is a bunion,
Her face is a pickled onion,
Her nose is a squashed tomato,
And her hair is barbed wire.
Never underestimate the importance of childrens rhymes in traditional music.
# Posted on September 29th 2002 by CreadurMawnOrganig
David, you call that bawdy lyrics? I'm sure the English can do much better!
# Posted on September 30th 2002 by glauber
Equine italian person
well,the version i know involves a 'big' italian fella and it's far too rude to post here but a censored first line goes something like:
(please stop reading if these sort of things offend you)
there was an italian,with b**** like a f****** stallion
and the hairs on his ********* reached down to the floor...
...it continues in similar fashion.if you want to know the rest,ask a rugby player.
by the way,i always thought this was an english tune but that's probably because we used to sing it at school. not the above version,of course!
# Posted on September 30th 2002 by biggus dave
Well, Glauber, my mother grew up in a rather middle-class suburb of Liverpool, and it was the 1940s. What's more, if she did know a less genteel version of the song, she'd hardly teach it to her son, would she?
# Posted on October 4th 2002 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Definitely a Welsh tune. My Welsh grandmother used to sing it to me in Welsh when I was a child, but I'm blowed if I can remember any of the words after all these years. If I can track them down I'll post them. Incidentally, any Welsh version should be "clean". Welsh apparently has no native swear words; about the worst thing you can call someone in Welsh is "mochyn", meaning "pig", possibly with the addition of the Welsh word for "dung". If you hear a Welsh person using swear words while speaking Welsh the chances are that they are words imported from the English.
trevor
# Posted on December 4th 2002 by Trevor Jennings
There are numerous Welsh versions; I don't now know which one my Welsh grandmother sang, so of several I've chosen this one ("Llwyn Onn" - "llwyn" means "grove", and "onn" means "ash tree")
Yn Nyffryn Llwyn Onn draw mi welais hardd feinwen
A minnau'n hamddena 'rol byw ar y don;
Gwyn ewyn y lli oedd ei gwisg, a disgleirwen
A'r glasfor oedd llygaid Gwen harddaf Llwyn Onn.
A ninnau'n rhodiana drwy'r lonydd i'r banna,
Sibrydem i'n gilydd gyfrinach byd serch;
A phan ddaeth hi'n adeg ffarwelio a'r wiwdeg,
Roedd tannau fy nghalon yng ngofal y ferch.
Cyn dychwel i borthladd wynebwn y tonnau,
Ond hyfryd yw'r hafan 'rol dicter y don;
Bydd melys anghofio her greulon y creigiau--
Un felly o'wn innau 'rol cyrraedd Llwyn Onn.
A thawel mordwyo wnaf mwyach a Gwenno
Yn llong fach ein bwthyn a hi wrth y llyw;
A hon fydd yr hafan ddiogel a chryno
I'r morwr a'i Wenno tra byddwn ni byw.
For further detailed information about this tune and many different sets of lyrics in English and Welsh go to www.gurman.org/ashgrove, which is dedicated to this tune. On gurman's site you will also find the "Mayor of Bayswater's Daughter" version which Jeremy would most certainly not allow on thesession.org!
trevor
# Posted on December 4th 2002 by Trevor Jennings
I've always liked this tune; it's one of the most beautiful tunes I've heard. It has a very sad sort of sound to it.
-Max
# Posted on December 4th 2003 by Max Becher
Turlough O'Carolan
Accually, Carolan was the orriginal composer of a song called "Beauty in Tears." someone took this peice and changed it up a whole lot and put lyrics to it and called it "The Ash Grove." It makes me angry to think that Carolan basicly created this peice but got zip credit. grrrrrr
# Posted on March 12th 2008 by un0111
Also sung as a hymn
Very lovely tune! This is also a hymn called 'The Master Hath Come'. Here are the verses:
The Master hath come, and he calls us to follow
The trach of the footprints He leaves on our way;
Far over the mountain and through the deep hollow,
The path leads us on to the mansions of day:
The Master hath called us, the children who fear him,
Who march 'neath Christ's banner, His own little band;
We love Him and seek Him, we long to be near him,
And rest inthe light of His beautiful land.
The Master hath called us; the road may be dreary,
And dangerous and sorrows strewn on the track;
But God's Holy Spirit shall comfort the weary;
We follow the Saviour and can not turn back;
The Master hath called us: though doubt and temptation
May compass our journey, we cheerfully sing:
"Press onward, look upward," thro' much tribulation;
The children of Zion must follow thier King.
The Master hath called us, in life's early morning,
With spirits as fresh as the dew on the sod:
We turn from the world, with its smiles and its scorning,
To cast in our lot with the people of God:
The Master hath called us, His sons and His daughters,
We plead for his blessing and trust in His love;
And through the green pastures, beside the still waters,
He'll lead us at last to His kingdom above.
Sara
# Posted on January 2nd 2009 by Celtic Lass
Carolan gets the credit for this tune in O'Neills collection.
The words I know include the lines
"One black one one white one
And one with a bit of Sh*** on
And the hairs on her Dicky Dido
Hung down to her knee "
# Posted on February 15th 2012 by greg sheils
It wouldn't be the only thing that was screwed up in that honoured collection. They were only human and we all make mistakes...
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by ceolachan
"The Ash Grove" ~ courtesy of 'The Fiddler's Companion'
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/AS_ATT.htm#ASH_GROVE
ASH GROVE (Llwyn Onn). AKA - "Ashtree Grove"?? AKA and see “Llewellyn,” "Sir Watkin William Wynn." Welsh (originally), Scottish, New England; Waltz. C Major (Laufman): G Major (Johnson). Standard tuning. AB (Kerr): AAB (Johnson, Laufman). The air is considered by some to be an early 18th century melody from Wales, perhaps because it is attributed to that country in Gow’s Strathspey Reels (book 4, pg. 24), where it appears as "Sir Watkin William Wynn." In fact the earliest Welsh printing is not until Jones’s Bardic Museum (1802), where it is given that it was named after ‘Mr. Jones’s mansion near Wrexham’. Robin Huw Bowen says it is played in the form ‘theme and variations’, a form poular with Welsh harpists of the early 18th century. It appears under different guises in period publications and can be found in Gay’s Beggar’s Opera (1729) and in the repertoire of Irish harper Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738). “The Ash Grove” was used as a vehicle for English morris dancing, and various words were set to it, bawdy and otherwise.
Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 3; No. 309, pg. 33.
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/LITT_LL.htm#LLEWELLYN
T: Llewellyn
S: O’Farrell – Pocket Companion, vol. III (c. 1808)
O’Farrell says: “A favorite Welch Air.” O’Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. III), c. 1808; pg. 33.
SIR WATKIN WILLIAM WYNN. AKA and see “The Ash Grove.” Welsh, Scottish; Air (3/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AABBCC. "A Welch (sic) air” {Gow}. The melody is familiar under the title “The Ash Grove.” Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn (1772-1840), 5th Baronet of Wynnstay (near Ruabon, Debingshire), was a north Welsh gentleman and land proprietor who raised a troop of cavalry that saw service in Ireland during the Rising of 1798. The troop, called the Ancient Britons fencible cavalry, “were at all times prominently conspicuous for the rigorous execution of any orders for devastation, destruction, or extermination. They were marked for it by the rebels, and in the course of the rebellion they were cut to pieces almost to a man” (Mitchel & Mac-Georghegan, History of Ireland: From the Treaty of Limerick to the Present, 1869). The regiment was disbanded in April, 1800. He was Member of Parliament twice and appointed Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire from 1793-1830. In March, 1814, Sir Watkin went to France as Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of a Provisional Battalion of Militia composed of men from the Denbigh, Derby, Hereford, Westmoreland and 2nd West York Militia. Unfortunately, when they disembarked they found that hostilities had already ceased and Napoleon defeated. Mortified, they reported consumed copious amounts of drink. Carlin (Gow Collection), 1986; No. 558. Gow (Fourth Collection of Niel Gow’s Strathspey Reels), 2nd edition, originally 1800; pg. 24 (of both 1st and 2nd editions).
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by ceolachan
"The Ash Grove" / "Llewellyn" / "Sir Watkin William Wynn" ~
The original transcription given here by glauber is note for note and chord for chord identical to the one given in "The Fiddler's Companion, a link to that given above... I'll add some other transcriptions for comparison and dating...
I'll check also look to see if I have a transcript with regards to Turlough O'Carolan...
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by ceolachan
"The Ash Grove" ~ Kerr, 1880s
X: 2
T: Ash Grove, The
B: "Kerr's Third Collection of Merry Melodies", vol. 3, 1880s, page 33, tune #309
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: GMaj
|: D2 |\
G2 B2 d2 | B2 G2 B2 | A2 c2 A2 | F2 D2 D2 |
G2 BG G2 | E2 C2 E2 | D2 G2 F2 | G2 z2 :|
D2 |\
G2 B2 d2 | d2 c2 B2 | A2 c2 c2 | c2 B2 A2 |
G2 B2 B2 | B2 A2 G2 | F2 d2 ^c2 | d2 z2 D2 |
G2 B2 d2 | B2 G2 B2 | A2 c2 A2 | F2 D2 D2 |
G2 BG G2 | E2 C2 E2 | D2 G2 F2 | G2 z2 |]
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by ceolachan
"Sir Watkin William Wynn" ~ Gow, 1800?
X: 3
T: Sir Watkin William Wynn
B: "The Fourth Collection of Niel Gow’s Reels", 1800
N: ”Slowish”
M: 3/8
L: 1/8
R: air
K: GMaj
|: D |\
(G B) .d | (B G) .B | (A/B/) (c/A/) (B/G/) | A F D |
”tr”G/>A/ B/>G/ A/>F/ | (G E) C | D G F | G2 :|
|: D |\
.G (B d) | (g d) .B | (A/B/) (c/d/) (e/^d/) | (e c) .A |
(G/A/) .B/.c/ .d/.e/ | (d B) .G | A d ”tr”^c | d2 B/=c/ |
(d g) .d | (B G) .B | (A/B/) (c/A/) (B/G/) | (A F) .D |
”tr”G/>A/ B/>G/ A/>F/ | (G E) .C | D G F | G2 :|
X: 3
T: Sir Watkin William Wynn
B: Gow – Fourth Collection of Niel Gow’s Reels 1800
N: from 3/8 to 3/4 with some simplification
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: air
K: GMaj
|: D2 |\
G2 B2 d2 | B2 G2 B2 | AB cA BG | A2 F2 D2 |
G>A B>G A>F | G2 E2 C2 | D2 G2 F2 | G4 :|
|: D2 |\
G2 B2 d2 | g2 d2 B2 | AB cd e^d | e2 c2 A2 |
GA Bc de | d2 B2 G2 | A2 d2 ^c2 | d4 B=c |
d2 g2 d2 | B2 G2 B2 | AB cA BG | A2 F2 D2 |
G>A B>G A>F | G2 E2 C2 | D2 G2 F2 | G4 :|
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/MER_MIC.htm
From the notes for the tune "Merch Megan" ~ with reference to 'Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn' ~
John “Blind” Parry -, Parry (Parri Ddall, or Blind Parry) was born in about 1710 on Pen Lion, Gaernafonshire, Wales, blind from birth, and as a child found a patron in the Griffiths family who initially gave him a Welsh triple harp and support for mastering it. He later became harpist to Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn at Wynnstay, Ruabon, and where he perfected his baroque composing. Willams-Lynn periodically brought him to his residence in London bringing his music and playing to a wider audience. In fact, his harping was admired by George Frederich Handel (who resided in England as court composer to George II), and Parry played the great composer’s Concerto in B flat at Hickford’s Great Room in Brewer Street, Soho. Parry died in 1782. Edward Jones, Harpist Laureate to George IV, included it in his book The Bardic Museum (1802) under the title “Wyres Megan.”
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by ceolachan
"A Cambrian Melody"
Interesting that O'Sullivan says that he "sifted through" the O'Neill attributions of tunes to Carolan, and rejected those he thought doubtful. "Beauty in Tears" didn't make it into O'Sullivan's biography and collection of tunes.
I'm not really surprised, as O'Neill's transcription of the tune, along with the title, matches that of a melody to a song composed by John Parry (Welsh), and composed around 1811, for the singer John Braham. It is certainly reviewed in "The Repository of arts, literature, commerce, manufactures, fashions and politics Volume 10, published in 1813, by Rudolph Ackermann:
[Beauty in Tears, a Ballad, sung by
Mr. Braham, in the Grand Romance of Lodoiska, written and
arranged by John Parry. Pr.
ls.6d.
A neat trifle, of simple melody
and plain harmony... ]
You can see the score for the tune here:
https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/24381?show=full
Parry calls it "a Cambrian melody", and I'm inclined to go along with that.
Carolan, my airse.
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by Weejie
That would be John Parry - Bardd Alaw, rather than "Blind Parry". No doubt the tune was in circulation at the time Bardd Alaw "borrowed it".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Parry_(Bardd_Alaw)
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by Weejie
"Llewellyn, a Favorite Welch Air" ~ O’Farrell, 1808
http://www.pipers.ie/imco/OFPC3033a-LlewellynafavoriteWelchAir.htm
X: 4
T: Llewellyn
S: O’Farrell's Pocket Companion for the Irish or Union Pipes, vol. III, 1808
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: air
K: GMaj
D |\
GBd BGB | A/B/c/A/B/G/ AFD |\
GB/G/A/F/ GE[Cc] | DEF G2 :|
|: D |\
GBd gdB | A/B/c/d/e/f/ ecA |\
G/A/B/c/d/e/ dBG | Ad^c d>cB/A/ |
Bg/d/g/d/ BGG | A/B/c/A/B/G/ AFD |\
G/A/B/G/A/F/ GE[Cc] | DEF G2 :|
X: 4
T: Llewellyn, a Favorite Welch Air
S: O’Farrell's Pocket Companion for the Irish or Union Pipes, vol. III, 1808
N: Changed from 6/8 to 3/4
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: air
K: GMaj
|: D2 |\
G2 B2 d2 | B2 G2 B2 | AB cA BG | A2 F2 D2 |
G2 BG AF | G2 E2 [C2c2] | D2 E2 F2 | G4 :|
|: D2 |\
G2 B2 d2 | g2 d2 B2 | AB cd ef | e2 c2 A2 |
GA Bc de | d2 B2 G2 | A2 d2 ^c2 | d3 c BA |
B2 gd gd | B2 G2 G2 | AB cA BG | A2 F2 D2 |
GA BG AF | G2 E2 [C2c2] | D2 E2 F2 | G4 :|
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by ceolachan
Thanks Weejie, no doubt well circulated at the time, and currently too...
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by ceolachan
I've lyrics too, a few, but a bit too raunchy for me to be adding them here ~ bawdy ballads...
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by ceolachan
John Parry Ddall ~ Wikipedia ~ & John Parry / Bardd Alaw
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Parry_Ddall (c.1710 – October 1782)
For those trying to follow Weejie's link above to John Parry / Bardd Alaw (18 February 1776 – 8 April 1851), the live link doesn't work because that final ')', as is irritatingly often the case, doesn't get picked up on the link. Best ot just cut and paste, being sure to pick up that last 'round bracket'/parenthesis...
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by ceolachan
Another bit of trivia attached to the tune, is it was the only traditional tune recorded by Harpo Marx. This cropped up in a discussion on Marx playing trad.
http://www.myspace.com/marxharpo/music/songs/the-ash-grove-23467553
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by Weejie
Don't let anyone know, I'm an all time Marx Brothers fan...
# Posted on February 16th 2012 by ceolachan
"The Ash Grove" ~ I so enjoyed this, and the madness of it, I had to share.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT6TEj7wtBc
) talent Doc Rat
This is from one of our members here, the multi-instrumental (
http://www.thesession.org/members/display/28665
# Posted on March 31st 2012 by ceolachan