Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas

Subject: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: AmyLove
Date: 08 Dec 15 - 03:55 PM

Hello. My first post on Mudcat. I have the Mary McLaughlin cd A Gaelic Christmas. In the cd booklet it states that lyrics will be posted on her website, but such is not the case. I have contacted her with a request for lyrics twice in the past few days but have received no response. I know she has a Gaelic Christmas Songbook, and perhaps that is why the lyrics aren't available on her website at this point. Anyway, I'm hoping someone here has the lyrics. I am singing a Christmas song in Irish each day, and it has been quite challenging finding both a recording and the lyrics in Irish for the songs. I'm going to start another thread after this sharing the songs I've been singing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: AmyLove
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 05:43 PM

I received a very nice response from McLaughlin soon after posting this. She rightly stated that I misunderstood the wording in the cd booklet. Apparently she's never had the lyrics on her website. She even offered to share the lyrics to one of the songs -- allowing me to choose the song -- as a favor to me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: maeve
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 06:05 PM

How very kind of her!
Maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: AmyLove
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 07:29 PM

Maeve, I agree. I am finding it challenging to find both recordings and lyrics for Christmas songs in Irish, and I'm appreciating any help I get.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Dec 15 - 11:15 PM

Here is the track list for "A Gaelic Christmas", copied from AllMusic.com:

1 Dia Do Bheatha/Trí Long (Hail God/Three Ships) 3:56
2 Do'n Oíche Úd I Mbeithil (To That Night Long Ago in Bethlehem) 2:57
3 A Oíche Bheannaithe (Oh Holy Night) 3:34
4 Leanbh Sa Mhainséar (Child in the Manger) 3:28
5 Muire Agus Naomh Seosamh (Mary and Saint Joseph) 3:16
6 Seacht Suáilce Na Maighdine Muire (The Seven Joys of Mary) 4:28
7 Carúl Loch Garman (The Wexford Carol) 3:18
8 Suantraí Na Maighdine (The Virgin's Lullaby) 2:32
9 A Leanbh Ghil Mhilis (Oh Sweet Bright Child) 3:31        
10 Bí Thusa Mo Shúile (Be Thou My Vision) 3:16
11 Dán d'Oíche Nollag (Christmas Eve Hymn) 4:34
12 Oíche Chiúin (Silent Night) 2:57
13 Suantraí an Chríost (The Christ's Lullaby) 2:52

Maybe we can help you find lyrics for some of these songs on the internet or in old books. At her web site Mary says some of the lyrics are her own translations from English to Irish; in other cases, she found old poems and set them to music. Unfortunately, she doesn't say which ones.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: MartinRyan
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 04:37 AM

At her web site Mary says some of the lyrics are her own translations from English to Irish


Aha! I wondered where they came from!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: maeve
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 08:07 AM

Apparently there is a songbook out from Mary McLaughlin, likely now out of print. Have you asked about or searched for that?

"Mary Mc Laughlin (the singer) has just finished a new songbook, organized along the same lines as her popular "Singing In Irish Gaelic." This new book, entitled "A Gaelic Christmas Songbook," is intended as a companion to her "Gaelic Christmas" music CD, which was released at this time last year.

What's particularly cool about this book (in my not-so-humble opinion) is that I'm the editor. :D I should mention, however, that I do not benefit financially from the sale of the book, so this isn't a "buy my product" post. I just think it's something some people here might enjoy. I also think it's a nice resource for Irish learners (and I know there are some of you out there!), as I found that "Singing in Irish Gaelic" is what helped me begin to get a handle on Irish phonics!

The book, with its accompanying pronunciation CD, teaches you to sing 12 Christmas carols in Irish. The songs are graded from easiest to most difficult (both musically and linguistically). For each song there is a "text page;" which includes the actual Irish text, a phonetic rendering, and a loose translation; and a "music page," which includes the sheet music for the first verse (and chorus, where applicable) of the song." Redwolf chiffandfipple

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: maeve
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 08:22 AM

She's also offering a workshop in California, if that's any help:
http://www.freightandsalvage.org/irish-traditional-singing-mary-mc-laughlin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: maeve
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 08:41 AM

Sorry- tried several times to post that I'd forgotten the OP had already mentioned the songbook.

I've emailed one of the people who worked on the songbook, asking for suggestions to help find used copies. I didn't find any in the US eBay or on Amazon, nor in a general google search.
Maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: AmyLove
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 01:27 PM

Jim Dixon, thanks, and you can find the information here -
A Gaelic Christmas - Liner Notes - regarding which songs are McLaughin's own translations, etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: maeve
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 01:37 PM

#2. Do'n Oíche Úd I mBeithil (dun eeha ood ih mehil) "To That Night Long Ago in Bethlehem" Words & music trad. arr. Mary Mc Laughlin.

Is this of any help? Altan - 'Don Oíche Úd i mBeithil' with lyrics

"Altan with a beautiful live rendition of the Irish Gaelic Christmas carol, 'Don oíche úd i mBeithil' (To That Night in Bethlehem), from St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.

Originally aired on RTÉ One on the show 'Carols from St Patrick's' on Christmas Eve, 2008."

Lyrics:

Don oíche úd i mBeithil,
beidh tagairt ar ghrian go deo
Don oíche úd i mBeithil,
go dtáinig an Briathar slán

Tá gríosghrua ar spéartha,
's an talamh 'na chlúdach bán
Féach Íosagán sa chliabhán,
's an Mhaighdean á dhiúl le grá

Ar leacain lom an tsléibhe,
go nglacann na haoirí scáth
Nuair in oscailt gheal na spéire,
tá teachtaire Dé ar fáil

Céad glóir anois don Athair,
i bhFlaitheasa thuas go hard
Is feasta fós ar talamh,
d'fheara, dea-mhéin síocháin.

Don oíche úd i mBeithil,
beidh tagairt ar ghrian go deo
Don oíche úd i mBeithil,
go dtáinig an Briathar slán

Tá gríosghrua ar spéartha,
's an talamh 'na chlúdach bán
Féach íosagán sa chliabhán,
's an Mhaighdean á dhiúl le grá

Translation:

I sing of a night in Bethlehem
A night as bright as dawn
I sing of that night in Bethlehem
The night the Word was born

The skies are glowing gaily
The earth in white is dressed
See Jesus in the cradle
Drink deep in His mother's breast

And there on a lonely hillside
The shepherds bow down in fear
When the heavens open brightly
And God's message rings out so clear

Glory now to the Father
In all the heavens high
And peace to His friends on earth below
Is all the angels cry

I sing of a night in Bethlehem
A night as bright as dawn
I sing of that night in Bethlehem
The night the Word was born

The skies are glowing gaily
The earth in white is dressed
See Jesus in the cradle
Drink deep in His mother's breast

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: AmyLove
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 02:06 PM

maeve, I spoke (via email) with McLaughlin about the songbook. I don't have a lot of money to spare at this time, and I'm not going to purchase it. I do have the cd, though. Still, I agree that the songbook is a wonderful resource (that's great that you're the editor). I didn't come across any used copies of it, either, but anyone who's interested in purchasing it in ebook form can do so by contacting McLaughlin here:
Mary McLaughlin's Contact Form

Thank you for sharing the lyrics to Do'n Oíche Úd I mBeithil. I've actually already sung that song. I sang it before I started singing Christmas songs daily -- I've been singing a song in Irish every day since late October -- I chose that song not initially realizing it was a Christmas song. (I don't speak Irish.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: AmyLove
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 02:15 PM

There's a new album out featuring Christmas songs in Irish: Róisín Elsafty-Ronan Browne-Amhraín Na Nollag-Favourite Christmas Songs in Irish

If anyone purchase this, let me know if the lyrics are included.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: maeve
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 02:30 PM

Amy- I am not the editor- never said I was. All I said was, "I've emailed one of the people who worked on the songbook, asking for suggestions to help find used copies." Used copies are usually much less expensive.

Perhaps you'd let folks here know for which songs you need help finding lyrics. I've spent all the time I can for now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: AmyLove
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 03:17 PM

Oh, that editor bit was just part of the description of the songbook -- I thought it was you saying it because of the lack of quotation marks around that part.

I apologize if you feel like I wasted your time. I didn't specify which songs because from what I can tell, McLaughlin has done her own versions of the songs, even the ones which have already been done by others -- adding her own verses. So other than Do'n Oíche Úd I mBeithil, the only other song I'm not seeking lyrics for is the one McLaughlin shared with me -- A Oíche Bheannaithe.

And let me add this clarification -- I've done a lot of searching for lyrics, so it's not too likely that I've missed any lyrics others will find with a quick online search. I was just hoping that someone on mudcat might have specialized sources which the general public is unlikely to have.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: AmyLove
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 04:22 PM

I'll add Seacht Suáilce Na Maighdine Muire to the list of songs I'm not looking for lyrics to. I'm going to sing someone else's version of it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: maeve
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 04:51 PM

My apology. Perhaps it was presumptuous to offer the help I can while tracking down a copy of the songbook to give you as a Christmas encouragement to your singing of the Irish. Tá díoma orm.

Best of luck.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: AmyLove
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 05:30 PM

Oh, no, I don't consider your assistance presumptuous at all. I appreciate any help any of you offer me. I hope I haven't come off as rude because that was not my intention. Thanks for any and all help you have offered and may offer in the future.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary McLaughlin - A Gaelic Christmas
From: Anne Lister
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 05:47 PM

Just to add to the info on the thread - I think the information on Mary's Irish classes in California must be from a previous year, as Mary currently lives and works in Ireland at the University of Limerick, so she's highly unlikely to be running any classes in San Francisco.