Thirteen traditional songs in Irish with contemporary guitar accompaniment. Complete texts, translations, and notes supplied.
Includes unlimited streaming of Casadh na n-Amhrán / Turning the Song
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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about
Turlough Carolan (1670–1738) has, justifiably, been called Ireland’s national composer, having left a legacy of about two hundred tunes which incorporate a variety of influences: the classical Gaelic harping tradition, the folk music of his Irish contemporaries, and the art music of Italy, which had made its way into the world of the Anglo-Irish ‘Ascendancy’ of his day. No-one could make a comparable claim for the merits of Carolan’s verbal compositions; with a couple of exceptions, they are mercenary attempts to flatter his many patrons, whose variety reflects the changing Ireland of his time. Tomás Ó Máille writes: ‘Carolan visited all the principal families of Connacht as well as those of the neighbouring districts of Meath and Ulster. He was always a welcome guest owing to the excellence of his music. He made songs for all the families, both Gael and Gall.’ (Amhráin Chearbhalláin/The Poems of Carolan, 1916).
Of the present song Donal O’Sullivan writes: ‘Dr John Hart lived at Cloonmahon, County Sligo... Carolan’s wish that he should be made a bishop was fulfilled, for he was appointed to the See of Achonry in 1735, dying four years later. The bishop was renowned for his hospitality and for his kindness to birds, particularly caged birds, which he released whenever possible; and there is a pleasing legend that when he died all the birds of the neighbourhood assembled at the funeral and chanted his requiem. Such was his modesty that he attempted to have this song of Carolan’s entirely suppressed – fortunately without success.’ (Songs of the Irish, p. 186).
A recording of this song (2002), accompanied on harp by Derek Bell, is included in a 3 CD box set, ‘Magic Harp’, published in 2012 by NoEthno, a small independent German label, in their ‘World Music Instruments’ series. A planned CD, ‘Amhráin Chearbhalláin’, remained unfinished due to the Derek’s untimely death.
lyrics
An Dochtúir Séan Ó hAirt
Rachaidh mise suas an uair seo gan bhréig, Mar bhfuil sagart geanúil d’uaislibh ard Gael. Fear breá íogair tapaí,
Fear lé’ scaoiltear gasraí,
Is ar Sheán Ó hAirt go ceart a labhraim féin.
Fear den aicme scaipfeadh fíon go réidh,
Agus líonfadh thart go fras do mhac an cheoil is léinn. Dá mbeinn sa Róimh mar b’ait liom,
Is bíodh mo bhóta ionghlactha,
Is fíor go ndéanfainn easpag mór dhíot féin.
Leigheas de phreab ar aicíd glórthaí a bhéil,
Go mba buan é i bhfad, is clú don Ord é go léir.
Níl fear, níl bean ná leanbh
Bheith ar easpa teagaisc
Nach ndéanfadh seisean seanmóir mhór dóibh le céill. Stíobhard ceart do Mhac na Glóire é féin,
An préalóid deas de mhórfhuil Uí Néill.
Níl sin uair ná tráth,
Dá bhfaighinnse uain ar chách,
Nach n-ólfainn suas gan spás a shláinte bhreá shéimh.
--------
Dr John Hart
I will surely soon pay a visit
To a grand Gaelic priest of high birth;
A fine subtle quickwitted man
With the power to set captives free.
It’s of Doctor John Hart that I speak;
As free a hand as ever poured wine,
For makers of verses and tunes.
If I could go to Rome, as I’d like to,
And if I’d permission to vote
I’d bring you home a fine bishop’s mitre.
His voice quickly heals every ailment; May he live long, to honour the cloth. There’s no man, woman or child
In need of a teacher or guide
But would profit from his well-chosen words A steward loyal to God’s glorious Son,
Worthy prelate of O’Neill’s royal blood. There’s no time or occasion
I’d need any permission
To drink to his robust good health.
Fran O’Rourke is emeritus professor of philosophy. With John Feeley he has given recitals of Irish traditional songs
associated with James Joyce from San Diego to Shanghai.
John is Ireland’s leading classical guitarist. He has performed concerts around the world and recorded many CDs, most recently Bach’s Cello Suites 1-3....more
