Lyr Req: Away from the Roll of the Sea (MacGillivr

Subject: Need help on Canadian? folk song!!!
From: Chirlene
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 03:43 PM

I heard this beautiful melody from a choir a while ago. It was supposedly a Canadian folk song, and it contained the memorable line: "Away from the roll of the sea.." That could possibly be the title of the song too, but I really don't know. Does anyone know who composed or arranged it? Please write to: [e-mail]

Thanks!

Subject: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: Chir
Date: 01 Aug 97 - 11:26 AM

I once heard a choir sing a lovely Canadian folk song..

It contained the phrase.. "away from the roll of the sea".

I have been trying to find this composition for

months with no luck. Does anybody know the rest of the

lyrics or where I can find the music?

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From:
Date: 03 Aug 97 - 02:04 AM

You're not thinking of "Life on the Rolling Sea" by Grit Laskin, are you? It's a traditional sounding song written by Torontonian Grit Laskin several years ago. The chorus goes like:

Oh how I wonder about life on the rolling sea. To be a great sea captain, is the only life for me.

If this is it, let me know and I'll send the rest of the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: Peter Timmerman
Date: 03 Aug 97 - 09:07 AM

Probably not relevant, but what the... There is a famous poem of Gerard Manley Hopkins that goes:

HEAVEN-HAVEN ( A Nun Takes the Veil)

I have desired to go,

Where springs not fail; To fields where flies no sharp and sided hail

and a few lilies bloom.

And I have asked to be

Where no storms come, Where the green swell is in the havens dumb,

And out of the swing of the sea.

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: Charles Colyer
Date: 17 Aug 97 - 02:10 AM

Can you give me some more information about this song? Do you know which choir was singing the piece? Or do you recall the program on which you heard the song sung?

I would be pleased to check this out with the Canadian Choral Centre. They might be able to help.

Subject: Lyr Add: AWAY FROM THE ROLL OF THE SEA
From: GUEST,Rebecca
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 03:24 PM

AWAY FROM THE ROLL OF THE SEA

Small craft in the Harbour that's still and serene
Given no indication what their ways have been.
They rock at their moorings all nestled in dreams,
Away from the Roll of the Sea.

Their stern lines are groaning a lullaby aire -
A ghost in the cuddy, a gull on the spare.
But never they whisper of journeys afar,
Away from the roll of the Sea

Oh, had they the tongues for to speak
What tales of adventure they'd weave
But now they are anchored to sleep and slumber alea

Come fair winds to wake them tomorrow we pray
Come harvest aplenty to them everyday
Til guided by harbour lights their home to stay
Away from the Roll of the Sea
Away from the Roll of the Sea

composer is Alaistar MacGillvray, I believe

Hope this helps, (it's one of my favourites also)
Rebecca (from the John Laing Singers, Hamilton Ontario)

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: MMario
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 03:25 PM

WAY TO GO REBECCA!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 04:18 PM

Looks like this old request has finally made harbor!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: SINSULL
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 05:20 PM

Tune, anyone?

Subject: Lyr Add: AWAY FROM THE ROLL OF THE SEA
From:
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 07:53 PM

I'm sorry I missed this song request the first time.

AWAY FROM THE ROLL OF THE SEA
Allister MacGillivray

Small craft in a harbour that's still and serene,
Give no indication what their ways have been;
They rock at their moorings all nestled in dreams,
Away from the roll of the sea.

Their stern lines are groaning a lullaby air,
A ghost in the cuddy, a gull on the spar;
But never they whisper of journeys afar,
Away from the roll of the sea.

Oh, had they the tongues for to speak,
What tales of adventure they'd weave;
But now they are anchored to sleep,
And slumber alee.

Come fair winds to wake them tomorrow, we pray,
Come harvest a-plenty to them ev'ry day;
Till guided by harbour lights they're home to stay,
Away from the roll of the sea.

There are a large number of groups and people who have sung this song. You could have heard the Atlantic Chorale, the Cape Breton Chorale, the Cantible Choir among others. Many solo artists have sung the song as well. Here is an audioclip file in WMA format sung by the Cantible Choir.

http://www.cantabile.ca

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 08:07 PM

Yes, written by Allister MacGillivray (who also wrote Out on The Mira)
This song was part of the 1988 Cape Breton Summertime Revue.
It is in MacGillivray's Nova scotia Song Collection.
It was also recorded by Frank Patterson on Farewell My Derry Love.
                Slainte,
                   Sandy

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From:
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 08:13 PM

There are literally hundreds of choirs who have performed this

Here is another audio file of the song, with harp

http://www.muc.muohio.edu/~choralier/music/Roll_of_the_Sea-Loomer.mp3

And another

http://www.coc.cc.ca.us/departments/MUSIC/Music%20Clips/Roll%20of%20the%20Sea.mp3

Allister MacGillivray's web-site

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 12:47 PM

Damn!, one I could have answered. Our choir has done this one quite few times now. We have a four part choral arrangement of it.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 01:17 PM

Nick Apollonio and his group Any Monday do a nice version of this song on their second CD, which is titled after the song.

There's a more orchestral version by Frank Patterson on a CD of Alistair MacGillavry songs on Sea-cape Music.

Beautiful song!

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: GUEST,nadine
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 11:16 PM

I was in a Bel Canto chior last year and we sung that song, it was my favorite! aww memories...

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: GUEST,Rachel
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 11:55 PM

I have sung an arrangement for the women's voices - New York State Conference All-State Women's choir, November of 2002

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: GUEST,Jennifer
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 01:47 AM

Of all the songs I've ever sung in all the choirs I've ever been in, this song has always been my favorite

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Mar 05 - 11:38 AM

When was this peice originally written??

Subject: RE: Away From the Roll of the Sea
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 10 Mar 05 - 01:03 PM

It was probably written in the 1980's . MacGillivray dosen't date the copyright mark in his songbook.
         Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr: Away from the Roll of the Sea (MacGillivray)
From: GUEST,Kimberly
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 08:34 PM

Hello my name is Kimberly and I am from New England. I have heard this song many times and sing it in the chorous I am in. (The Y-Arts Youth Chorous of Maine.) It was also sung at my grandfathers funeral so I know the lyrics by heart. It is so beautiful and I was going to provide the lyrics but I see that they have already been given at the top. I have a copy of the sheet music and I am sure if someone got in contact with any New England sea-side church they would certainly have this song in their music book.

Kimberly

Subject: RE: Lyr: Away from the Roll of the Sea (MacGillivr
From: GUEST,slythwolf
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 12:59 PM

One of the choirs in my high school sang this when I was a teenager. It was not the choir I was in of course, so I knew the tune but not the words and have been looking for them since. Glad to have found them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Away from the Roll of the Sea
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 05:45 PM

I conduct a small ladies choir in north wales, uk, we've been rehearsing this piece for a concert coming soon. Does anyone have any info about the composer? Is he Canadian or Scottish?! Its a great piece, I came accross it by accident, and one my 'girls' enjoy singing immensely.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Away from the Roll of the Sea
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 06:00 PM

Well he's a bit of both. Born in Cape Breton , Canada, of Scottish descent.
http://www.miramusic.net/allister/about.php

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Away from the Roll of the Sea
From: Peace
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 06:09 PM

The copyright date is 1986. That is from the sheet music page found at 'sheet music plus'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Away from the Roll of the Sea
From: GUEST,Christina
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 03:26 AM

Is there a solo voice arrangement to this song? I sang it with a choir in years past, but now I'm doing a vocal recital and would like to add it to my rep. Does anyone know if this song has every been sung outside of a choir setting?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Away from the Roll of the Sea
From: GEST
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 07:21 AM

Here is a link to the Allister MacGillivray page at GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador. It has a short biography and links to several of his songs with lyrics, MIDI files, and YouTube videos.
http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/amac.htm

Subject: RE: The Cape Breton Lullaby
From: GUEST,Rosaleen Leslie Dickson
Date: 27 Jul 09 - 11:31 AM

My father, Kenneth Leslie, sang his song, The Cape Breton Lullaby, to me when I was a very young girl in Nova Scotia. I am now 88 yeats old. Go figger!
http://www.flora.org/rosaleen/