Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og From: GUEST,Morag Date: 04 Oct 08 - 08:28 PM I've asked around some gaelic speaking friends and we've come up wiht the following for the 3 verses that are usually cited - thought I'd post this just in case anyone else is interested. It may not be entirely accurate, but it's interesting to compare this slightly more literal take with Lachlan MacBean's translation,and helps you make sure you smile ot frown at the right lines! O fair young Mary, you're the maid of my dreams, My life wish is to be with you. Now I have claimed you, as I have yearned, Our marriage sealed by the clergy, With solemn oaths and strong bonds, With a knot that will last and not perish, And winning your hand, with our friends' goodwill, Fills me with lasting joy. I went to the woodlands where the trees Made a scene of beauty all around. I looked with longing at the loveliest flower That grew on the high branches. The stem bearing this bud far above the ground, I gently drew down, No other could attain this blossom It was I who was fated to harvest the bough. If I now find your steadfast solace Gives me comfort and safe haven, Though I should come to linger on alone I would not desire another wife after you, I will never bring strife to our home, Like an arrow to your breast But most harmoniously with love I'll greet you, As warmly as my lips are able. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og From: GUEST,Morag Date: 25 Sep 08 - 05:44 PM I'm also attempting this for a wedding - I'd really like a literal translation of the verses I'm singing ("A Mhairi bhan og...", then "Chaidh mido'n choill' an robh..." then "'Nam faighinn an drasd..." so I have a real sense of what I'm singing. Anyone able to help? |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og From: GUEST Date: 23 Jan 07 - 03:37 PM session tunes |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 30 Jun 03 - 07:15 PM Good man. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Date: 30 Jun 03 - 07:29 AM I do. The Moffat bit is just a small portion of the whole thing. He was quite verbose about the glories of his new wife. When I get time I will do the other half. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 30 Jun 03 - 12:03 AM Blimey, that's rather longer than the Moffat set! Is that all Duncan Ban, or what? Do you have a translation? |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Date: 30 Jun 03 - 12:01 AM Do chneas mar an èiteag ghlan, fallain, Corp seang mar chanach an t-sléibh; Do bhràigh cho-mhìn, 's do chiochan corrach 'S iad lìontach, soluis le chéill: Gaoirddean tlà geal làmh na h-ainnir. Caol mheòir, glac thana, bàs réidh; Calpa deas ùr, troigh dhlù 'm bròig chuimir Is lùghor, innealta ceum. 'S ann fhuair mi bhean chaoin aig taobh Màm-charal' 'S a gaol a' m' mhealladh o 'm chéill: Bha cridhe dhomh saor, 'nuair dh' fhaod mi tharruinn, Cha b'fhaoin domh bharail bhi d' réir: 'S ioma fuil uasal, uaibhreach, farumach, Suas ri d' cheann-aghaidh fhéin, Ga d' chumail am prìs an Rìgh 's Mac-Cailean 'S tu shìol nam fear a bha 'n Sléibht'. 'Nam faighinn an drùst do chàradh daingean An àite falaich o 'n eug; Ge d' thigeadh e d' dhàil, a 's m' fhàgail-falamh. Cha b'àill leam bean eil' a'd' dhéigh: Cha toir mi gu bràth dhuit dranndan teallaich, Mu'n àrdaich aileag do chléibh, Ach rogha' gach màrain, gràdh a's furan, Cho blàth 'sa b'urrainn mo bheul. Dheanainn duit ceann, a's crann, a's t-earrach, An àm chur ghearran an éill, A 's dheanainn mar chàch air tràigh na mara, Chur àird air mealladh an éisg: Mharbhainn duit geòidh a 's roin, a 's eala, 'S na h-eòin air bharra nan geug; 'S cha bhi thu ri d' bheò gun seòl air aran, 'S mi chòmhnaidh far am bi féigh. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Date: 29 Jun 03 - 11:52 PM Màiri Bhàn òg A Mhàiri bhàn òg, 's tu 'n òigh th'air m'aire, |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og From: masato sakurai Date: 29 Jun 03 - 09:18 PM It was Hopekirk who missed the first verse. See Seventy Scottish Songs, selected and arranged by Helen Hopekirk (1905; Dover, 1992, pp. 82-83). |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 29 Jun 03 - 09:06 PM Here is the full text of Lachlan MacBean's translation of Duncan Ban MacIntyre's Gaelic, exactly as it appeared in Moffat's Minstrelsy of the Scottish Highlands. Lesley missed the first verse. Whether Jim's suggestions are an improvement I wouldn't know, but as a rule I'd be reluctant to second-guess the translator without a good understanding of the original language. FAIR YOUNG MARY Oh, rapture to be, my fair young Mary, With thee, my beautiful bride: In love true and strong that ne'er shall vary, A bond the clergy have tied; This covenant sure, approved by heaven, Secure shall ever abide, And, since with goodwill thy hand is given, I thrill with pleasure and pride. My love to my bride, with dear caresses, And pride, shall ever be shown; Each virtue most rare her soul possesses, And fair and sweet has she grown. My thoughts used to rove in boyish folly, Ere ever her love I had known, But, now I'm her own, my heart is wholly My darling's alone - alone. Where woodlands are green with trees well nourished, A scene of beauty to view, I found, with delight, one stem that flourished, With blossoms of every hue: That bough from above, desiring greatly, With love unto me I drew; None else could have moved that tree so stately, 'Twas only for me that it grew. Gaelic to follow when I have time. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og From: Helen Date: 29 Jun 03 - 04:33 PM Jim. Lesley runs the Contemplator site (and it is still one of the best music sites on the 'Net in my opinion - Thanks Lesley!. Helen |
Subject: Lyr Add: MAIRI BHAN OG / FAIR YOUNG MARY From: Jim Dixon Date: 29 Jun 03 - 12:47 PM The above poem has a very unusual and complex internal rhyme scheme. Here's another copy of the song arranged to emphasize the meter and rhyme: My love to my bride / with dear caresses, And pride, / shall ever be shown, Each virtue most rare / her soul possesses, And fair / and sweet has she grown. My thoughts used to rove / in boyish folly Ere ever her love / I'd known, But now I'm her own, / my heart is wholly My darling's alone, / alone. Where woodlands are green / with trees well nourished A scene / of beauty to view, I found with delight / one stem that flourish'd, Of bright / and beautiful hue: That bough from above, / desiring greatly, Unto me with love / I drew; None else could that tree / have mov'd so stately. 'Twas only for me / [that] it grew. In the version that lesley posted above (which was apparently copied and pasted from http://www.contemplator.com/folk/maribhan.html), the pattern breaks down in the last few lines. I have restored what I think was the intended pattern by moving a few words around. Now it scans perfectly, but I'm still a bit dissatisfied with the result. "So stately" would make more sense modifying "tree" than "mov'd". |
Subject: Lyr Add: FAIR YOUNG MARY From: lesley Date: 14 Sep 98 - 06:20 PM The words to "Fair Young Mary" - courtesy of Helen Hopekirk's collection:
My love to my bride with dear caresses,
Where woodlands are green with trees well nourished |
Subject: RE: Mairi Bhan Og From: Susan-Marie Date: 08 Sep 98 - 12:29 PM Now that we have the tune, how about the words? |
Subject: RE: Mairi Bhan Og From: Stacy Date: 06 Sep 98 - 02:00 PM Thank you Bruce! |
Subject: RE: Mairi Bhan Og From: Bruce O. Date: 05 Sep 98 - 01:46 AM X:1 T:Mairi Bha/n O/g S:Moffat's Minstrelsy of the Scottish Highlands Q:80 L:1/8 M:6/8 K:Gm D|G3/2 A/ GB2c|d2c c B A|d2G G A G|(F3F2)D|\ G3/2 A/ GB2c|d2B c d f|d2B c B A|(G3G2)e|\ d d f B2c|d2c c B A|d2G G A G|(F3F2)D|\ G3/2 A/ G B2c|d2 B c d f|d2B c B A|(G3/2G2)|]
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Subject: Mairi Bhan Og From: Stacy Date: 05 Sep 98 - 12:18 AM Hi 'catters! Does anyone know where I can find an ABC of .gif file of Mairi Bhan Og? I need to learn it for an upcoming wedding. Thanks! Stacy |
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