Help: A mighty warrior

Subject: A mighty warrior
From: WickedLad
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 12:16 AM

here is a song i collected from the folk tunes page I have been researching the recorded works of "blondl" can anyone tell me where this actually came from please

A Mighty Warrior Blondel's Song (Per Alaw New Sweet Richard))

A mighty warrior from the north So Moslem records tell, In all the pride of pw'r went forth, The infidel to quell. His lofty crest seem'd to defy, Aught peril to be night. As far across the spreading plain, Loud came his battle cry, "Strike down the foe, my fellow men, We fight for God on High!"

Unconquer'd is the valiant sword, Although aside 'twas laid, When by the traitors treach'rous word, The warrior was betray'd. His noble heart may still defy Aught peril to be nigh, For soon there shall resound again, That sacred battle cry, "Strike down the foe, my fellow man, Ye fight for God on High!"

Subject: RE: Help: A mighty warrior
From: Amergin
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 12:23 AM

Nothing much that I can locate at this moment...except that Blondel was bard to Richard the Lionheart...so this looks to be about the Crusades....and it also appears that he was singing about Richard himself...sorry I can't give you any more info...I'm sure other's here will have more for you.

Subject: RE: Help: A mighty warrior
From: WickedLad
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 06:33 AM

i am looking at 12th Cent Norman manuscripts of Blondls works cant find this one Thought it may be a later "invention"

Subject: RE: Help: A mighty warrior
From: IanC
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 06:42 AM

Sounds more like Sir Walter Scott than C12th!

Subject: RE: Help: A mighty warrior
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 09:09 AM

Presumably you found that it  Rick's Music Pages  or at Lesley Nelson's  Folk Music  site.  I think the former was copied from the latter; certainly both sites have Lesley's midi of the tune.  The lyric style is pretty obviously 19th century, and if you were to check Lesley's bibliography, you'd find that she got the song from Brinsley Richards' The Songs of Wales (Caneuon Cymru) (Boosey & Co., London, 4th. edition, 1879).

The songs were given in both Welsh and English; many of the English versions (probably not translations as such) were by Walter Scott (well spotted, IanC!).  The write-ups I've seen in catalogues -haven't seen the book itself- also state "Welsh Words By Ceiriog Hughes", so you can assume that a good few of them were recent compositions set to old tunes.  Probably a romantic 19th century confection, then, so I shouldn't bother looking for it in 12th century manuscripts (!)  You can get copies of the book quite cheaply from secondhand dealers.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Help: A mighty warrior
From: WickedLad
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 01:53 PM

Thanks I appreciate that I thought it was a recent composition Ill have to hunt up Scotts writings I have been perusing the Welsh music is anyone interested in the site for some good troubadour midis and words from the manuscripts?