I would not class A Stor Mo Chroi as macaronic either, rather it is an English song (written originally in English). However, when Sara and Rita Keene sing the song, it definitely meets my idea of traditional Irish singing, even though it is two-voiced. I really like the term traditional Irish style because on a cd I don't want to be discounted by calling it English Sean nos, even though to me that would be my personal definition.

You might enjoy this....I first learned this song based on the singing of Maire Ni Cheileachair's cd GUTH AR FAN. She has wonderful tone, rolls and wonderful expression. I highly recommend listening to her, if you haven't. I learned the song, but found it missing something... basically I didn't get shivers, it was so technical and so straight in that version. I went back to listen to the Keane sister's version -what a difference. I relearned it with the intervals in their version, adding some of the same rolls, but others just seem to come out when I sing it. This dissonant version gets to me every time. I shiver up a storm and my audiences seem to feel it too. It feels ancient and lonely - to me that is singing from the emotional quality, not from the view of the balladier. I will privately think of this as English sean nos -it may be as close as I will get, not being born in Ireland, nor a native Irish speaker.

Hope this wasn't too long... I wonder if others have made this type of journey with a song.

Claire