Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs

Subject: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Jim Krause
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 01:43 PM

One of my favorite lyricists is Irish poet, songwriter Thomas Moore (1779-1852). One of the reasons I like him is that one can see a foreshadowing of writers like Stephen Foster, for example. Moore seems to be to Ireland what Robert Burns is to Scotland. Has anyone made any recent recordings of Moore's songs? Yes, I'm aware that John McCormack (sp?) made recordings many, many years ago. But I'm thinking of recordings made in say the last twenty or twenty-five years or so, ideally by a known Celtic recording artist. Sort of like what Jeanne Redpath has done with the Burns material. Wouldn't it be strange if groups like the Chieftans, or other such had ignored one of Erin's most famous sons? Sad indeed. The other reason I started this thread, is because if no one else has done it, I might. Only I don't know whether the recording would sell well enough to make it worth my while.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 02:06 PM

There are a couple of interesting CD on Hyperion. Next monday I'll post the titles. I don't agree with you when you compare Moore to Robert Burns, who is, in my opinion, more, more, more and more great than Moore, as a poet and as a folklorist. Best wishes. Roberto

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: pastorpest
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 02:16 PM

I really enjoy "Dear Harp of My Country" by tenor and Irish music scholar James W. Flannery. What you get are two CDs and a book that is a biography and analysis of Moore's music. Flannery's book captures the soul of the man and puts the music in context. His singing is accompanied by Janet Harbison on harp. She is the leader and founder I believe of the Belfast Harp Choir. The book & CDs package is published by J. S. Sanders & Company, Nashville. ISBN 1 -879941-36-8. Flannery has tried to reproduce how the songs would have been done by Moore: there is a formal drawing room quality to the music. But I truly value having the book & CDs and have learned much about Moore from them.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Lesley N.
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 02:46 PM

I second the Flannery book/CD.

These aren't recordings, but I have a bio and links to midis/lyrics of fifteen or so of his songs at Short Biography of Thomas Moore (http://www.contemplator.com/history/tmoore.html).

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Jim Krause
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 03:32 PM

Oh, I have pletny of sheet music from a 19th century collection of Moore's songs. I just found it curious that some of the more well known contemporary Celtic artists have apparently ignored Thomas Moore. F'rinstance I've never heard Connie Dover sing anything by Moore, but she does do a couple of Burns' songs, I think.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Peter T.
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 04:31 PM

This may fill you with shock and horror, but the 3 Irish tenors do not a bad job of one of Moore's songs -- She is Far from the Land -- on the Live In Belfast Album (Anthony Kearns, actually) -- all a bit overorchestrated, but not bad. John McDermott does one of his nasal versions of "The Last Rose of Summer" (dedicated to his mother who just passed away) as well. Still, they are not a patch on John McCormack. The album CD Songs from my Heart is still better than anything anyone else has done. Also a little known fact: his accompaniest is often the young Gerald Moore, the greatest piano accompaniest ever.
yours, Peter T>

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Alice
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 10:01 PM

Mary O'Hara recorded "Silent O Moyle" and "Farewell But Whenever" in the 50's. You can get the CD called Irish Traditional Folk Songs right here through the Mudcat link.click here

I know CD NOW has her recording. Also, there is this classical collection:Thomas Moore's Irish Melodies

alice flynn

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: fox4zero
Date: 25 Mar 00 - 02:31 AM

This is probably a non sequitor, but Moore's The Last Rose of Summer is sung in Von Flotow's opera MARTA.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Ana
Date: 25 Mar 00 - 03:48 AM

I gained the impression that Thomas Moore wasn't particularly popular amongst the Irish - may be even seen to have "sold out". I understand that his adapted traditional Irish tunes were popular however with the English, they being arranged more within that style. But I know little at all (!) and would be interested in hearing more. Ana

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: honestfrankie
Date: 25 Mar 00 - 12:18 PM

A British folkie named Vin Garbutt does a very good live version of "Beleieve Me If all Your Endearing Young Charms" with a very funny intro.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Peter T.
Date: 25 Mar 00 - 03:14 PM

Moore's songs were adapted by a lot of composers, and really had their heyday at the turn of the century in the mixed opera/Irish song music halls and concerts. You can get a good idea of their impact on at least one generation of the Irish by reading anything of James Joyce. He was a light tenor himself, and all of his writings are saturated with quotations from Moore's songs, probably more than anyone else's (thought there are lots of others). There isn't a page of Finnegans Wake that doesn't have a Moore quotation in it. He was also a big fan of McCormack's.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 25 Mar 00 - 06:53 PM

G'day All,

Ana: Your comment on Moore contrasts with Joyce's observation quoted by Peter T. I think Moore's songs were popular in their day but you comment is almost a paraphrase of Patrick Galvin's remarks in the introduction to Irish Songs of Resistance. I suspect that Moore's Irish Melodies would have been a prime target in the Republic's ethnic cleansing of Irish music in the 1920s.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: GUEST,Rosie
Date: 11 Apr 11 - 11:53 AM

Don Maclean does a beautiful version of Mountains of Mourne.
It's the only one I'd heard before really.
I'm doing an essay on the significance of music to a couple of Irish plays and the poetry of Eavan Boland, who puts a lot of emphasis on Moore's songs in her memoires.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: GUEST,Bryan
Date: 03 May 18 - 06:06 PM

These comments give me some good ideas on where to find recordings of Thomas Moore songs for an upcoming edition of my radio show, Celtic Connections. It is true that most traditional and contemporary Irish singers don't do new covers of Moore's songs. I guess they are viewed as parlor music, for trained singers and pianists. But I think I'll find enough for a one-hour show, especially since I have Flannery's book with its two CDs. Any new suggestions would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: mg
Date: 03 May 18 - 07:01 PM

mountains of mourne was written by percy french. tommy makem does a great version of let erin remember.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Stewie
Date: 03 May 18 - 07:27 PM

There is a beaut recent CD by Eleanor McEvoy. Thoroughly recommended.

The Thomas Moore Project

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: GUEST
Date: 04 May 18 - 12:43 AM

Benjamin Britten arranged a few songs from Moore's Irish Melodies...

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Jim McLean
Date: 04 May 18 - 04:00 AM

I think it was Brendan Behan who called them 'Moore's Maladies".

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Helen
Date: 04 May 18 - 02:30 PM

I have a soft spot for Thomas Moore's songs. We sang them at school a bit. I love The Rose of Tralee, Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms. I have Vin Garbutt's CD's and I love his version of Believe Me....

Last year I went to a brilliant ukulele workshop by James Hill, which was followed by a concert. The organisers, Mark Jackson & Jane Gelbart, aka Jack & Jel, performed in the concert and they played a beautiful version of Oft in the Stilly Night. Jane does a fingerpicking accompaniment.

Oft in the Stilly Night - Jack n Jel - studio/audio version - Last track on the album.

This video is not as good as the concert performance, in my opinion, but the studio version is very good.

Oft in the Stilly Night - Jack n Jel

Helen

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 May 18 - 05:52 PM

For a good set of Tom Moore's songs, with lyrics and midi of the tune, and other stuff about him
Look here, in contemplator's excellent site.

As well as his better known ones, it's got some great ones you don't hear so often, including my personal favourite Farewell and if ever you welcome the hour

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Helen
Date: 04 May 18 - 06:22 PM

Hi McG of H,

Lesley of the Contemplator site also posted a link back on 24 Mar 00 - 02:46 PM.

It's a wonderful music site and I have been visiting it for almost as long as I have been coming to Mudcat, which is over 20 years.

Helen

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 May 18 - 08:19 PM

Looking at that song. - "Farewell and if ever you welcome the day" - it occurs to me that in its way it's very much a complement to "The Parting Glass". Essentially the same story and sentiments, but expressed in a different lyrical idiom. That's probably why I lighted on it as a favourite, because The Parting Glass is maybe my best loved song.

Tom Moore really is worth getting into.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Helen
Date: 04 May 18 - 11:27 PM

Yes, McG ofH, I see what you mean about the two songs.

I especially like the last part:

Long, long be my heart with such memories fill'd,
Like the vase in which roses have once been distill'd.
You may break, you may ruin the vase if you will,
But the scent of the roses will hang 'round it still.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: Helen
Date: 04 May 18 - 11:41 PM

I just did a bit of a Google and it appears that all these decades I have thought that the song The Rose of Tralee was by Thomas Moore.

How wrong can you be??!! My excuse is that it was one of the songs we were taught to sing at school and there were a few Thomas Moore songs among them. Oooooops!!!

Wiki says this: The Rose of Tralee The words of the song are credited to Edward Mordaunt Spencer and the music to Charles William Glover, but a story circulated in connection with the festival claims that the song was written by William Pembroke Mulchinock, a wealthy Protestant, out of love for Mary O'Connor, a poor Catholic maid in service to his parents.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: michaelr
Date: 05 May 18 - 02:37 PM

"The Meeting of the Waters" is a favorite. Moore wrote it in 1807 about the Vale of Avoca, Co. Wicklow. (The town of Avoca was the setting for TV's "Ballykissangel".) It's a song that lends itself to a folky approach, more so than most of Moore's.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 06 May 18 - 03:53 AM

"The Last Rose of Summer" is still around. I notice Hayley Westenra, and Charlotte Church have recorded it...and I do a very nice guitar instrumental version ( minus the words, of course)

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 06 May 18 - 04:53 PM

I seem to remember that the sheet music on the piano in William Holman Hunt's painting "The Awakening Conscience" is Moore's "Oft in the Stilly Night": a measure of his prestige at the time.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 May 18 - 04:59 PM

Here is a blog with some useful links about Thomas Moore

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 May 18 - 07:05 PM

And here is a site with masses more of his songs, words and musical notation.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: GUEST,Learaí na Láibe
Date: 11 May 18 - 01:49 PM

McGrath, thanks very much for those links.

Subject: RE: Recordings of Thomas Moore's songs
From: medievallassie
Date: 13 May 18 - 01:47 AM

SOOOOOOOOO happy to see this thread!! I discovered Moore's songs only about three years ago despite being an Irish lass who immigrated as a youngster to the states. I am a singer and was looking for more traditional songs and ran across his complete collection on an auction. Since then I have learned several of the lesser known (my favorite is "Has Sorrow thy Young Days Shaded") and will be adding them to my own sets soon. If you would like some assistance with that recording please give me a shout...I love to travel and I promise I'm not a hobby singer!