Edjumication time
So, here's the deal: I figure since you are reading my blog, whether you know me well or not, that means you'd probably like to know me better. So I thought I'd show you about a style of music that I've grown up with; a style that is a huge part of who I am. If you want to really understand me better, I think you need to understand my background; where I'm coming from... hopefully this will show why I'm such a weird dreamer/thinker person, lol. I think music can often say a lot more than words.
Instead of describing this music, I thought I'd just share a bunch of music clips with you, with information here and there as needed. I tried to make each section pretty clear. There's a lot of clips, so browse whatever you like. However, when there's more than one clip for something, it's because of the incredible variety of music in that section, so each song will be very different.
One more thing: The Celts have spread out quite a bit over the ages, so consequently Celtic music can come from a variety of places. Usually, of course, most Celtic music is associated with Scotland and Ireland, but you can also hear Celtic music from Wales, England, Brittany (in France), Galicia (in Spain), Cape Breton and Nova Scotia (in Canada), and the USA.
*One more thing: If anyone wants the lyrics/translation of Gaelic lyrics for any of these songs, I'll do my best to find it for you.
~~~
Traditional Celtic Songs
• Love songs, lullabies, laments, etc. — there's a huge variety, so I'll give you a tiny sampler of a few songs:
"Siul a Ruin," Rosheen:
http://www.rosheen.net/music/siul_aruin.mp3 (listen all the way through this one, it gets really really good! One of my favorite Gaelic songs ever.)
"Mhórag's Na Horo Gheallaidh," Clannad:
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd30089.mp3
"Beidh Aonach Amárach," Altan:
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/01.%20Beidh%20Aonach%20Amarach%20(There's%20a%20Fair%20Today).asx
"One Last Cold Kiss," Christy Moore:
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd20059.mp3
"Tiofaidh an Samhradh," Altan:
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/11.%20Tiofaidh%20an%20Samhradh%20(Summer%20Will%20Come).asx
• Waulking Songs (Orain-luaidh)
Waulking songs were work songs in Scotland, sung to the rhythm of their pounding cloth. They usually had one person singing the lead part, then everyone else joining in for the usually nonsensical response.
"Tha Mullad," The Fallen Angels
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd40059.mp3
"Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda," Capercaillie
http://www.tradtunes.com/m3u.m3u?track_id=36898
• Mouth Music (Puirt-a-beul)
This was a Gaelic way of singing dance tunes. I can only give you a small sampling of this really, but I've heard so many incredible pieces of mouth music. A very notable one would be the Oscail an Doras sequence in Riverdance. If there are actual words, they usually don't mean much, since more focus in mouth music is put on sound and rhythm. Hehe... just for warning... they are REALLY fast.
"Fionnghuala," The Chieftains
http://media.bmgonline.com/windham.com/the_chieftains/audio/fionnghuala_128.mov
"La luette en colére," Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer
http://ubu.wfmu.org/sound/ethno/celtic/mp3/Celtic-Mouth-Music_10.mp3
"Puirt a Beul/Snug in a Blanket," Capercaillie
http://www.tradtunes.com/m3u.m3u?track_id=36887
"Within a Mile of Dublin," Tim Lyons
http://ubu.wfmu.org/sound/ethno/celtic/mp3/Celtic-Mouth-Music_07.mp3
• Psalm Singing
In Gaelic-speaking churches in Scotland, they don't sing hymns or praise songs, but they have their own beautiful, haunting style. The worship leader sings a line of the psalm, and then the entire congregation joins in, each person embellishing and elaborating on the melody in their own way. Both of these clips are from the Back Free Church, Isle of Lewis, Scotland.
"Kilmarnock," Psalm 16:8-9, led by Calum Martin
http://gaelicpsalmsinging.com/audio/mp3s/Kilmarnock.mp3
"Stornaway," Psalm 133, led by John Murdo Martin
http://gaelicpsalmsinging.com/audio/mp3s/Stornoway.mp3
Instrumental Songs:
First, here's some examples of some of the common instruments found in Celtic music:
• Bagpipes
"Mrs. Martha Knowles..." Scottish Power
http://www.tradtunes.com/m3u.m3u?track_id=32454
"Sleepy Maggie," Iain MacHarg
http://www.pipersgathering.org/Audio%20Clips/Clips/Iain%20MacHarg%20-%20Sleepy%20Maggie.wav
• Uillean Pipes
"Illyrian Dawn," Andy Irvine and Davy Spillane
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/ta30274.mp3
• Fiddle
"Jenny Picking Cockles / Farewell to Connaught," Frankie Gavin
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/ta401105.mp3
"Whaler Song"
http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/eolympics/accessibility/example/Resources/Sounds/Whaler_Song.mp3
• Accordian
"Sunshine and Showers," Máirtín O'Connor
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/moc00302.mp3 (just ignore the last bit with the saxophone)
• Irish whistle and Irish flute
"Star of the County Down," Rosheen
http://www.rosheen.net/music/star_of_the_county_down.mp3 (Irish whistle/penny whistle/tin whistle)
"Shorelines," Davy Spillane
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/ta30263.mp3 (I think this is an Irish flute)
"May Morning Dew," Moving Hearts
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/ta30146.mp3 (Another Irish flute I think)
• Bódhran
http://www.mid-east.com/Sounds/btwr.wav (a good example of the bodhran's good bass quality!)
http://homepage.eircom.net/~cipin/bw1.mp3 (a good example of the bodhran's varying pitches)
"An Grianan: An Grianan/Horse with a Heart," Altan
http://www.tradtunes.com/m3u.m3u?track_id=37275 (the bodhran in a dance tune)
• Acoustic (guitar, mandolin, mountain dulcimer etc.)
"Finn MacCool's Reel," Pat Kirtley
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/13.%20Finn%20MacCool's%20Reel.asx
"The Boy in the Gap," Pat Kilbride
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/08.%20The%20Boy%20in%20the%20Gap.asx
"Shetland Jumper/Message From Home/Wise Up, Grumpy," John McGann
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/14.%20Shetland%20Jumper;%20Message%20from%20Home;%20Wise%20Up,%20Grumpy.asx
• Piano
"B Minor," Leahy (mwahahahaha.... this was our awesome troupe parade dance from last year!)
http://www.narada.com/audio/leahy/42955_01.rm
"Showcase," Brian Glynn
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/08.%20Showcase.asx
• Airs and other slow instrumental songs:
"When the Snow Melts," Phil Cunningham and Manus Lunny (not exactly all that traditional, but this is my favorite song ever, so I had to put it in) :)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B000000NL7001001/102-9067067-9024905
"Midnight Walker," Davy Spillane
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd30265.mp3
"Arran Boat Song," ?
http://www.gourd.com/graphics/ArranBoatSong.mp3
• Dance Tunes:
Examples of different dance song types/tempos/whatever-you-want-to-call-it for Irish dancing:
• Reels (done in both softshoe or hardshoe—either way, reels are my favorite dance!)
"Sight of Land," Gaelic Storm
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/08.%20Sight%20Of%20Land.asx
"Strings of Fire," Feet of Flames, Ronan Hardiman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00000I0DH001010/104-6455088-0359108
"Martin Wynne's," Alan Kelly
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd40109.mp3
• Jigs (softshoe)
"I Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her," Rosheen
http://www.rosheen.net/music/i_buried_my_wife.mp3
"My Darling Asleep, Sonny Brogans," Stockton's Wing
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/ta300401.mp3
"Dance Above the Rainbow," Feet of Flames, Ronan Hardiman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00000I0DH001006/104-6455088-0359108
• Treble Jigs (same as regular jigs, only slower for more complicated hardshoe dancing)
"Traditional Treble Jigs 87," Mike Shaffer and Theresa Shaffer Wilkinson
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/10.%20Tradional%20Treble%20Jigs%2087.asx
"Heavy Jigs (73)," Bradley Brothers
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/05.%20Heavy%20Jigs%20(73).asx
• Slip Jigs (my other favorite because it's like flying. Softshoe, traditionally for girls only because it's so graceful)
"Slip Jig (113)," Bradley Brothers
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/07.%20Slip%20Jig%20(113).asx
"Open Slip Jigs 113," Mike Shaffer and Theresa Shaffer Wilkinson
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/02.%20Open%20Slip%20Jigs%20113.asx
• Hornpipes (Hardshoe)
"Dance of Love" (traditionally known as "King of the Fairies"), Feet of Flames, Ronan Hardiman (we're doing a dance to this song in troupe this year!)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00000I0DH001002/104-6455088-0359108
"Hornpipes (Battle of Arklow, Fairies Hornpipe), Bradley Brothers
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/02.%20Hornpipes%20(Battle%20of%20Arklow,%20Fairies%20Hornpipe).asx
All these, especially reels, can be found in Scottish music as well as Irish, but Scottish music also has another unique type of
dance music:
• Strathspeys
"The Argyllshire Gathering/Blair Drummond/John Morrison of Assynt House," Field Marshall Montgomery
http://www.tradtunes.com/m3u.m3u?track_id=32445
"Dogs Among the Bushes," The Chieftains
http://lofi.mp3search.ru/lofi/86/395176.mp3 (this one turns into a reel halfway through, but it's one of my favorites)
"G Minor Medley," Leahy
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/09.%20G%20Minor%20Medley.asx
• Modern Dance Tunes
"Dueling Violins," Feet of Flames, Ronan Hardiman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00000I0DH001004/104-6455088-0359108
"Causeway," Nollaig Casey & Arty McGlynn
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd30351.mp3
"Gypsy," Lord of the Dance, Ronan Hardiman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B000001EPB001005/104-6455088-0359108
"Maggie's," Wolfstone
http://www.invernessonline.com/wolfstone/Maggies.m3u
"Siamsa, Lord of the Dance, Ronan Hardiman (I have danced/performed to this song probably more times than any other song!)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B000001EPB001011/104-6455088-0359108
Modern Celtic Songs:
"Is There for Honest Poverty?" Old Blind Dogs
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00005BGU0001001/104-6455088-0359108
"Ailein Duinn," Capercaillie
http://www.capercaillie.co.uk/discography/media/audio/anthology/aileinduinn.mp3 (sorry for the poor quality, but this is a
gorgeous song anyway!)
"The Wisest Fool," Old Blind Dogs
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00008NGAB001005/104-6455088-0359108
"Whisper to the Wild Water," Máire (Moya) Brennan
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00004D3G7001005/104-6455088-0359108
"Annachie Gordon," Loreena McKennitt
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B0002VEX1O001004/104-6455088-0359108
New Age Celtic:
"Tara," Moya Brennan
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B0000AIT1H001007/104-6455088-0359108
"Na Laetha Geal M'Oige," Enya (one of my favorite Enya songs ever!)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B000002LRR001011/104-6455088-0359108
"Ancient Pines," Loreena McKennitt
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B0002VEX1O001008/104-6455088-0359108
? Sorry guys I forgot...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B000002NHN001003/104-6455088-0359108
"I WIll Remember You Still," Aeone
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00005LNGY001018/104-6455088-0359108
Instead of describing this music, I thought I'd just share a bunch of music clips with you, with information here and there as needed. I tried to make each section pretty clear. There's a lot of clips, so browse whatever you like. However, when there's more than one clip for something, it's because of the incredible variety of music in that section, so each song will be very different.
One more thing: The Celts have spread out quite a bit over the ages, so consequently Celtic music can come from a variety of places. Usually, of course, most Celtic music is associated with Scotland and Ireland, but you can also hear Celtic music from Wales, England, Brittany (in France), Galicia (in Spain), Cape Breton and Nova Scotia (in Canada), and the USA.
*One more thing: If anyone wants the lyrics/translation of Gaelic lyrics for any of these songs, I'll do my best to find it for you.
~~~
Traditional Celtic Songs
• Love songs, lullabies, laments, etc. — there's a huge variety, so I'll give you a tiny sampler of a few songs:
"Siul a Ruin," Rosheen:
http://www.rosheen.net/music/siul_aruin.mp3 (listen all the way through this one, it gets really really good! One of my favorite Gaelic songs ever.)
"Mhórag's Na Horo Gheallaidh," Clannad:
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd30089.mp3
"Beidh Aonach Amárach," Altan:
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/01.%20Beidh%20Aonach%20Amarach%20(There's%20a%20Fair%20Today).asx
"One Last Cold Kiss," Christy Moore:
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd20059.mp3
"Tiofaidh an Samhradh," Altan:
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/11.%20Tiofaidh%20an%20Samhradh%20(Summer%20Will%20Come).asx
• Waulking Songs (Orain-luaidh)
Waulking songs were work songs in Scotland, sung to the rhythm of their pounding cloth. They usually had one person singing the lead part, then everyone else joining in for the usually nonsensical response.
"Tha Mullad," The Fallen Angels
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd40059.mp3
"Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda," Capercaillie
http://www.tradtunes.com/m3u.m3u?track_id=36898
• Mouth Music (Puirt-a-beul)
This was a Gaelic way of singing dance tunes. I can only give you a small sampling of this really, but I've heard so many incredible pieces of mouth music. A very notable one would be the Oscail an Doras sequence in Riverdance. If there are actual words, they usually don't mean much, since more focus in mouth music is put on sound and rhythm. Hehe... just for warning... they are REALLY fast.
"Fionnghuala," The Chieftains
http://media.bmgonline.com/windham.com/the_chieftains/audio/fionnghuala_128.mov
"La luette en colére," Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer
http://ubu.wfmu.org/sound/ethno/celtic/mp3/Celtic-Mouth-Music_10.mp3
"Puirt a Beul/Snug in a Blanket," Capercaillie
http://www.tradtunes.com/m3u.m3u?track_id=36887
"Within a Mile of Dublin," Tim Lyons
http://ubu.wfmu.org/sound/ethno/celtic/mp3/Celtic-Mouth-Music_07.mp3
• Psalm Singing
In Gaelic-speaking churches in Scotland, they don't sing hymns or praise songs, but they have their own beautiful, haunting style. The worship leader sings a line of the psalm, and then the entire congregation joins in, each person embellishing and elaborating on the melody in their own way. Both of these clips are from the Back Free Church, Isle of Lewis, Scotland.
"Kilmarnock," Psalm 16:8-9, led by Calum Martin
http://gaelicpsalmsinging.com/audio/mp3s/Kilmarnock.mp3
"Stornaway," Psalm 133, led by John Murdo Martin
http://gaelicpsalmsinging.com/audio/mp3s/Stornoway.mp3
Instrumental Songs:
First, here's some examples of some of the common instruments found in Celtic music:
• Bagpipes
"Mrs. Martha Knowles..." Scottish Power
http://www.tradtunes.com/m3u.m3u?track_id=32454
"Sleepy Maggie," Iain MacHarg
http://www.pipersgathering.org/Audio%20Clips/Clips/Iain%20MacHarg%20-%20Sleepy%20Maggie.wav
• Uillean Pipes
"Illyrian Dawn," Andy Irvine and Davy Spillane
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/ta30274.mp3
• Fiddle
"Jenny Picking Cockles / Farewell to Connaught," Frankie Gavin
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/ta401105.mp3
"Whaler Song"
http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/eolympics/accessibility/example/Resources/Sounds/Whaler_Song.mp3
• Accordian
"Sunshine and Showers," Máirtín O'Connor
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/moc00302.mp3 (just ignore the last bit with the saxophone)
• Irish whistle and Irish flute
"Star of the County Down," Rosheen
http://www.rosheen.net/music/star_of_the_county_down.mp3 (Irish whistle/penny whistle/tin whistle)
"Shorelines," Davy Spillane
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/ta30263.mp3 (I think this is an Irish flute)
"May Morning Dew," Moving Hearts
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/ta30146.mp3 (Another Irish flute I think)
• Bódhran
http://www.mid-east.com/Sounds/btwr.wav (a good example of the bodhran's good bass quality!)
http://homepage.eircom.net/~cipin/bw1.mp3 (a good example of the bodhran's varying pitches)
"An Grianan: An Grianan/Horse with a Heart," Altan
http://www.tradtunes.com/m3u.m3u?track_id=37275 (the bodhran in a dance tune)
• Acoustic (guitar, mandolin, mountain dulcimer etc.)
"Finn MacCool's Reel," Pat Kirtley
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/13.%20Finn%20MacCool's%20Reel.asx
"The Boy in the Gap," Pat Kilbride
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/08.%20The%20Boy%20in%20the%20Gap.asx
"Shetland Jumper/Message From Home/Wise Up, Grumpy," John McGann
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/14.%20Shetland%20Jumper;%20Message%20from%20Home;%20Wise%20Up,%20Grumpy.asx
• Piano
"B Minor," Leahy (mwahahahaha.... this was our awesome troupe parade dance from last year!)
http://www.narada.com/audio/leahy/42955_01.rm
"Showcase," Brian Glynn
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/08.%20Showcase.asx
• Airs and other slow instrumental songs:
"When the Snow Melts," Phil Cunningham and Manus Lunny (not exactly all that traditional, but this is my favorite song ever, so I had to put it in) :)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B000000NL7001001/102-9067067-9024905
"Midnight Walker," Davy Spillane
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd30265.mp3
"Arran Boat Song," ?
http://www.gourd.com/graphics/ArranBoatSong.mp3
• Dance Tunes:
Examples of different dance song types/tempos/whatever-you-want-to-call-it for Irish dancing:
• Reels (done in both softshoe or hardshoe—either way, reels are my favorite dance!)
"Sight of Land," Gaelic Storm
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/08.%20Sight%20Of%20Land.asx
"Strings of Fire," Feet of Flames, Ronan Hardiman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00000I0DH001010/104-6455088-0359108
"Martin Wynne's," Alan Kelly
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd40109.mp3
• Jigs (softshoe)
"I Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her," Rosheen
http://www.rosheen.net/music/i_buried_my_wife.mp3
"My Darling Asleep, Sonny Brogans," Stockton's Wing
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/ta300401.mp3
"Dance Above the Rainbow," Feet of Flames, Ronan Hardiman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00000I0DH001006/104-6455088-0359108
• Treble Jigs (same as regular jigs, only slower for more complicated hardshoe dancing)
"Traditional Treble Jigs 87," Mike Shaffer and Theresa Shaffer Wilkinson
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/10.%20Tradional%20Treble%20Jigs%2087.asx
"Heavy Jigs (73)," Bradley Brothers
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/05.%20Heavy%20Jigs%20(73).asx
• Slip Jigs (my other favorite because it's like flying. Softshoe, traditionally for girls only because it's so graceful)
"Slip Jig (113)," Bradley Brothers
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/07.%20Slip%20Jig%20(113).asx
"Open Slip Jigs 113," Mike Shaffer and Theresa Shaffer Wilkinson
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/02.%20Open%20Slip%20Jigs%20113.asx
• Hornpipes (Hardshoe)
"Dance of Love" (traditionally known as "King of the Fairies"), Feet of Flames, Ronan Hardiman (we're doing a dance to this song in troupe this year!)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00000I0DH001002/104-6455088-0359108
"Hornpipes (Battle of Arklow, Fairies Hornpipe), Bradley Brothers
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/02.%20Hornpipes%20(Battle%20of%20Arklow,%20Fairies%20Hornpipe).asx
All these, especially reels, can be found in Scottish music as well as Irish, but Scottish music also has another unique type of
dance music:
• Strathspeys
"The Argyllshire Gathering/Blair Drummond/John Morrison of Assynt House," Field Marshall Montgomery
http://www.tradtunes.com/m3u.m3u?track_id=32445
"Dogs Among the Bushes," The Chieftains
http://lofi.mp3search.ru/lofi/86/395176.mp3 (this one turns into a reel halfway through, but it's one of my favorites)
"G Minor Medley," Leahy
http://wm.celticmerchant.com:81/09.%20G%20Minor%20Medley.asx
• Modern Dance Tunes
"Dueling Violins," Feet of Flames, Ronan Hardiman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00000I0DH001004/104-6455088-0359108
"Causeway," Nollaig Casey & Arty McGlynn
http://www.taramusic.com/sounds/cd30351.mp3
"Gypsy," Lord of the Dance, Ronan Hardiman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B000001EPB001005/104-6455088-0359108
"Maggie's," Wolfstone
http://www.invernessonline.com/wolfstone/Maggies.m3u
"Siamsa, Lord of the Dance, Ronan Hardiman (I have danced/performed to this song probably more times than any other song!)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B000001EPB001011/104-6455088-0359108
Modern Celtic Songs:
"Is There for Honest Poverty?" Old Blind Dogs
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00005BGU0001001/104-6455088-0359108
"Ailein Duinn," Capercaillie
http://www.capercaillie.co.uk/discography/media/audio/anthology/aileinduinn.mp3 (sorry for the poor quality, but this is a
gorgeous song anyway!)
"The Wisest Fool," Old Blind Dogs
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00008NGAB001005/104-6455088-0359108
"Whisper to the Wild Water," Máire (Moya) Brennan
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00004D3G7001005/104-6455088-0359108
"Annachie Gordon," Loreena McKennitt
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B0002VEX1O001004/104-6455088-0359108
New Age Celtic:
"Tara," Moya Brennan
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B0000AIT1H001007/104-6455088-0359108
"Na Laetha Geal M'Oige," Enya (one of my favorite Enya songs ever!)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B000002LRR001011/104-6455088-0359108
"Ancient Pines," Loreena McKennitt
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B0002VEX1O001008/104-6455088-0359108
? Sorry guys I forgot...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B000002NHN001003/104-6455088-0359108
"I WIll Remember You Still," Aeone
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/wma-pop-up/-/B00005LNGY001018/104-6455088-0359108
posted by Rachel @ 6:28 PM
29 Comments:
At 12/04/2005 7:33 PM,
Herohtar said…
Yay music!! And Celtic music at that! *starts listening*
At 12/04/2005 8:37 PM,
Herohtar said…
Coolness! Those are awesome songs! I couldn't get any of the amazon.com ones to play though. :-(
At 12/04/2005 9:48 PM,
Rachel said…
Hmm... yeah you have to fiddle around with it I guess. You wait until the play button turns blue, and then press it. Sometimes it takes a second.
At 12/05/2005 11:27 AM,
Anonymous said…
Ooohh! I wish I could listen to them all! Maybe if I can ever get online with my laptop...
At 12/05/2005 4:30 PM,
Anonymous said…
I can't get any of them to play; I think perhaps I don't have an mp3 player. How do I get one? And the Celtic flute is quite possibly the most beautiful instrument on earth.
At 12/05/2005 11:33 PM,
Herohtar said…
Rachel: No, they don't work at all. :-( Remember, you have a Mac, so most everyone's computers will not do whatever it is yours is doing with those links.
Estel: http://winamp.com/ <-- Right there
At 12/05/2005 11:54 PM,
Rachel said…
Wow, that's pretty darn sad if Windows computers can't play Windows media.... That's just nuts. And most of the songs are that, because I couldn't find any alternatives. I would have used all mp3s if I could have, but oh well. I tried!
That's just crazy though. I could almost laugh. Or not. Gosh sometimes I just want to throw a Microsoft product out a 7th story window. Sorry for those of you/most of you who have them. Nothing against you. I think they're against all of us, hehe.
At 12/05/2005 11:58 PM,
Rachel said…
And yes, Estel, you might be right—I do think Irish flutes are one of the prettiest instruments in the world. Although I really can't decide which is my favorite. Uillean pipes give me shivers. Hehe, so do bagpipes... I am sort of that type of person I guess. I do have to say though that it's hard to beat an alto Irish whistle. Those are incredible. I wish I had a clip of one of those to show you all!
At 12/06/2005 11:59 AM,
Anonymous said…
Microsoft has serious compatibility issues with itself. I once put a CD that was formatted in Windows XP into a computer that had the same OS. A little box came up saying that Windows didn't recognize the format. "Please erase the CD." Very practical solution, given that it had twenty or thirty files on it. I just waited until it changed its mind about what files it recognized.
At 12/06/2005 1:48 PM,
Anonymous said…
Ah, now I can play them. They just take a while to load. Thanks, Caleb.
At 12/07/2005 9:01 PM,
Anonymous said…
two curiosities that are off the subject:
How did you get your title and subtitle for your blog?
Why are the posts pushed way down (or is that just me)?
At 12/08/2005 2:08 AM,
Herohtar said…
Rachel: I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case, but I think it's something to do with however the site is sending the data from the link... Windows Media Player does not recognize it. Oh well.
But why a 7th floor? Why not a 15th? I think we should have a Microsoft tossing party in Sarkeys... we can have contests like who can get theirs to go the farthest, or who's breaks into the most pieces and stuff. We can give out prizes, like iPods, free iTunes downloads, and maybe even an iBook. ;-D Yes, I can see this becoming an annual event!
At 12/08/2005 2:11 AM,
Herohtar said…
Oh, and a couple of my favorites are the Irish flute and dulcimer (I would like to play both of those) bagpipes are really cool too... I like them all though.
At 12/08/2005 8:31 AM,
Rachel said…
OH MY GOSH!!! I am an idiot! I forgot to include the dulcimer and I PLAY the freakin thing!!!!! I'll add that in as soon as I have time, lol!!
At 12/08/2005 12:37 PM,
Anonymous said…
15th, Caleb?
Can I just assume you've never heard of the Sears Tower?
At 12/08/2005 7:06 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hey this is kinda random, but do u think I could use that paper u wrote and posted a while back on LOTR? I'm writing a paper on Frodo and I think it might help. (and i'll make sur to give u credit 4 anything i use of yours) Do u think that'd be okay? Thanksu!
-Sar (the 1 who moved and now u don't hav the enormous pleasure of my company anymore;-))
At 12/08/2005 7:24 PM,
Rachel said…
Hey Sarah! Yes you certainly may use my paper! Wow I'm glad it was that helpful! Thank you!
And sigh... I do miss the enormous pleasure of your company.
At 12/08/2005 9:04 PM,
Rachel said…
Hey Kitty, here's the answer to your first question, taken from my (really stupid lol) first post...
"I'm really into all things Tolkien. I love the story of Eärendil from the Silmarillion - it's so beautiful. If you haven't read it yet, you're missing so much! Sometimes I feel like Elwing, flying out over the sea, soaring to the ship of my love. Headed for beauty beyond compare. But right now, I'm still flying. So that's why I named this Elwing's Flight."
As for the posts being pushed way down, I have no idea what you're talking about so maybe that's just you... I'm sorry.... :(
At 12/09/2005 12:08 AM,
Herohtar said…
William: Yes, I have, but I was thinking about convenience of location.
At 12/09/2005 2:59 PM,
Anonymous said…
Lol, I know. It's a tragedy how many people have told me that... that's what? one now?:-P btw, r u still taking dance at miss Sarah's? Tell her I said hi!
sar
At 12/09/2005 3:04 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hey did u write that poem a couple posts ago?
sar
At 12/09/2005 5:30 PM,
Rachel said…
Yes I still am dancing with Sarah! I'll definitely tell her hi for you! :)
And yes, to your second question.
At 12/10/2005 4:18 PM,
Anonymous said…
the poem is cool! its really pretty and (to state the obvious)poetic, lol
At 12/11/2005 2:43 PM,
Anonymous said…
Rachel, where can I find the words to "Siul a Ruin?"
At 12/11/2005 3:51 PM,
Rachel said…
Hehe, they are pretty hard to find! There are about 10 million different versions. Here's what I pieced together....
This is the (mostly) English version:
I wish I was on yonder hill
Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill
Till every tear would turn a mill
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan.
His hair was black, his eyes were blue
His arm was stout, his word was true
Oh how I wish I was with you
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
I'll sell my rod, I'll sell my reel
I'll sell my only spinning wheel
To buy my love a sword of steel
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
I wish I were on my true love's knee
Many a fine story he told to me
He spoke of things which ne'er shall be
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red
and it's round the world I will beg for bread
until my parents would wish me dead.
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
I wish my love would return from France,
his fame and fortune there advanced.
If we meet again, 't will be by chance.
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
I wish I had my heart again
And vainly think I'd not complain
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
Chorus:
Siuil, siuil, siuil a ruin
Siuil go sochair agus siuil go ciuin
Siuil go doras agus ealaigh liom
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
Which, translated into English, is....
"Go, go, go, oh love
Go quickly and go softly
Go to the door and flee with me,
And may you go, my love, safely."
I think that's it. Wow no one on the web seems to have exactly the right answer, lol!
Here's the Irish Gaelic version with its translation. It's a little darker... of course....
A bhuachaillín aoibhinn álainn ó
Ba leathan do chroí a's ba dheas do phóg,
Mo léan gan mise leat féin go deo
A's go dté tú, a mhuirnín, slán
curfa (chorus)-
Siúil, Siúil, Siúil, a ghrá
Níl leigheas le fáil ach leigheas an bháis
O d'fhag tú mé, is bocht mo chás,
A's go dté tú, a mhuirnín, slán
Is minic a bhréag tú mé ar do ghlúin,
Ag cur do scéil dom féin in iúl
Ach chaill mé thú 's tú mo rún,
A's go dté tú, a mhuirn ín, slán
Ach cuireadh ar Rí Séamas ruaig
A's d'imigh na géanna leis ar luas
A's d'imigh mo bhuachaill leo, monuar,
A's go dté tú, a mhuirnín, slán
Translation:
O gentle beautiful youth,
Broad was your heart and sweet your kiss,
Alas that I am not with you forever,
And may you go, my love, safely.
Chorus: Go, go, go, oh love
There's no cure to be had but the cure of death,
Since you left me, wretched is my plight,
And may you go, my love, safely.
Often you beguiled me on your knee
Telling me of your life (literally: story)
But I lost you and you are my love,
And may you go, my love, safely.
But King James was routed,
And the geese went with him at speed,
And my lad went with them, alas,
And may you go, my love, safely.
At 12/11/2005 4:01 PM,
Rachel said…
Heh, I guess I should explain what the song is about, just in case you didn't catch it... the guy is going to a war which he very possibly will not return from. Very sad, but the song is very beautiful!!
At 12/11/2005 5:17 PM,
Anonymous said…
Thanks! Apparently there's also a Civil War song called "Johnny Has Gone For a Soldier" based on those words. I first heard it during the credits of an American Revolution special, so I was very surprised when I heard it on "Lord of the Dance!" I like the catchy tune.
At 12/14/2005 10:46 PM,
Anonymous said…
I can listen to the music now!!!!! Speakers are WONDERFUL things!!
(again behind the times and loving it!)
At 12/25/2005 6:44 PM,
Anonymous said…
I can hear more than one of them (but not all)! I like what I've heard. :-)
Merry Christmas!
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