Tune Req: The Dark Isle

Subject: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone know it?
From: Corwyn
Date: 26 Oct 99 - 02:55 PM

Hello eveyone. I'm a new mudcatter with a problem. I'm wanting to back into the studio this winter/spring but there are some songs I cannot find the music to. The Dark Isle is one of those songs. Does anyone know where I can (at best) get sheet music for or (at least) know of a midi file of the music? The words are too fascinating to let go. Any help would be much appreciated.

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Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone kno
From: Lesley N.
Date: 26 Oct 99 - 05:08 PM

Corwyn - I have a midi I can send you. It's not for "publication" as it were, because the tune is not in public domain. If you send me your e-mail I'll pass it along. Mine is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone kno
From: Philippa
Date: 26 Oct 99 - 06:32 PM

Have a look at the previous thread about The Dark Isle

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone kno
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 12:54 AM

Caroline and Sandy Paton recorded Version 2 in the DT on their latest cd, Golden Circle Reunion, which can be bought throught the Mudcat, from their Folk Legacy Records.

In her liner notes, Caroline lists it as trad. Hebridean and has been told there is an even older Gaelic text. She learned it from Joe Hickerson. She also says another group, out of Canada, Ryan's Fancy has also recorded it.

For 29.95 you can download the Digital Tradition Folksong Player, which will convert any of the DT songs, if I am reading it correctly, and print you out some sheet music, etc. It sounds liek an interesting program. You can find it here. I don't know anything about it and I don't think it is connected to the Mducat in anyway. I lerned about it when surfer posted a message about it yesterday int eh Tavern thread.

kat

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone kno
From:
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 10:55 AM

This Gaelic Text. Does Anyone know more about it? I have a couple of Gaelic versions of the song, translated from the English. I have a Gaelic Christmas Carol which was written to go with the tune, but no original Gaelic song for the tune. If someone can give me a title to work from, I'll see what I can find out.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone kno
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 04:54 PM

Lyrics to one version at: http://tubular.net/lyrics/Voyager.html
Or you can buy the CD of the author playing his own tune at http://www.springthyme.co.uk/albums1/22.html From that page:

"Iain never travelled much outside the Highlands, but he achieved worldwide fame as composer of the beautiful melody The Dark Island. Originally composed in 1958 as a pipe lament for a local doctor under the title Dr. Mackay's Farewell to Creagorry, the tune achieved widespread popularity after it was later used by the BBC as the theme music for the TV series 'The Dark Island' filmed on Uist in 1963. Words were added by the writer and producer David Silver and since then the tune has been recorded by more than a 100 different artistes and bands worldwide. No-one played the tune better than Iain himself, first as a pipe lament and then in waltz time."

George, I've seen Gaelic lyrics, but they were also translated from the English. I can't find hide nor hair of them now, though.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone kno
From:
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 05:08 PM

Jeri. I have three versions of them at my web-site. I'll have to add the information you have given. Thanks. My Gaelic versions are at

Eilean Dorcha - Dark Island

The information I have there is from a page some friends brought back from the Dark Island Hotel on Benbecula.

Link fixed. --JoeClone, 19-Apr-02.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone kno
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 05:46 PM

George, I came across Iain's e-mail address and home page while looking for info on the song. I'll bet he'd answer questions if you wanted to ask them. I wonder how he feels about having written a traditional Hebridean folk song. ;-)

I knew, and played, the tune. I'd read the lyrics, and didn't think I'd like the tune as a song. Then I heard Caroline's version on the CD Kat mentioned. Now I can't get it out of my head. Beautiful!!!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone kno
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 08:45 PM

Kat, the Dt Player was sourced specially by our very own Dick Greehaus, and can be downloaded for free. Pay the $30 and you can have the Music Ease watermark removed from the printours of the score. A number of people have complained that DT Player tends to hog memory and requires a re-boot to restore it. Not a problem that I've had - but then again I'm very well endowed (with RAM).

The original thread was http://www.mudcat.org/thread.CFM?threadID=11658#87684

Regards John

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone kno
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 08:54 PM

THANKS, JOHN! I just thought by the looks of it that one had to pay after thirty days. I don't read abc or midi, but I DO read music, so.....I will download it this weekend! Whoo-Hoo!

Jeri, doesn't Caroline do a wonderful job on this song? I love it.

kat

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone kno
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 12:53 AM

Kat, shame on you. Midis are like red wine - you don't read them - you enjoy them. Being able to listen to a tune should be within the realms of just about every Mudcatter, and being able to hear a Midi may just require use of some software you already have hiding in your PC, getting hold of some free (ish) software, or at worst buying a cheap soundcard. If you're a Mac user I can't help, but otherwise let's know here via new thread "How Can I Listen to MIDIS" or drop me a line at [e-mail].

As for printing there are some other very good options. In particular NoteWorthy Composer can be downloaded for free, and while a number of Catters have become registered users, you can use NWC to your hearts content to print, without any cost to you - and there are lots of print options with regard to size and font. Their URL is in Mudcat Links.

I have some other PC print options for you if you have any problems with the above. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone kno
From: j0_77
Date: 28 Oct 99 - 01:27 AM

A very enjoyable tune. I used confuse it with a song called 'The Cliffs of Duneen'.

Subject: Tune Req: The Dark Isle. Anyone know it?
From:
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 02:14 AM

Some new details on the song:

Dark Island New Information

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Dark Isle
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 11:13 AM

Does anyone have an image of David Silver? if so please forward it to me at [e-mail]