songs good for multiple harmonies

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 03:59 AM

Gals Of Dublin Town
Rambling Irishman
Red Is The Rose
Fa Ta Batha (so I can't spell)
Bound To Australia (First Of The Emigrants)
Haurrah My Yellow Gal (Doodle Let Me Go)
Jock O' Hazledean
Lizzy Linsay
Broon Of The Cadknowes
One More Day Me Johnnies
A-BEGGIN' I WILL GO
AE FOND KISS
AILEEN AROON
ALL FOR ME GROG
Belfast Mill
BONNY GLEN SHEE
COME BY THE HILL
CROOKED JACK
DAINTY DAVIE
THE DARK ISLAND
DOWN WHERE THE DRUNKARDS ROLL
EILEEN AROON
ERIN-GO-BRAGH
FAR AWAY IN AUSTRALIA
GALLOWA' HILLS
FAREWELL TO NOVA SCOTIA
GLENNCOE MASSACURE
JACK IN THE GREEN
JOHN OF DREAMS
LASSIE WI THE YELLOW COATIE
OH, ARE YOU SLEEPING MAGGIE
OVER THE WATER TO CHARLIE
SHEEP CROOK & BLACK DOG
THE SHEARING'S NAE FOR YOU
WHITE COCKADE (Waterson's version)

Barry

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: Marje
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 01:43 PM

Stick to Irish or Scottish if you must, but English song has a stronger tradition of harmony singing. Gaelic song (which is the only type that could reasonably be called "celtic") is often ornamented in a way that doesn't lend itself to harmonies.

Many shanties (like Leave Her Johnny) are good for harmonies, but you'll find that most of the British ones are English - there isn't exactly a strong Celtic naval tradition.

Why get so hung up on "Celtic?" It's a very dubious category anyway (it's not a race, it's not a country, it's not a single identifiable musical tradition). Keep an open mind, look a bit wider and you'll find a great selection of suitable songs.

Marje

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From:
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 01:40 PM

Richard, she seemed to have said that it was better if it was "Celtic/Irish", but she didn't limit it to that.

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 07:59 AM

Lots of good suggestions, folks, thanks. IT will take me a while to get through them since I only know a couple, but I'll let you know which ones we have success with.

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 02:35 AM

Guys, guys, the OP wanted celtic (Irish or Scottish)

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From:
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 11:53 PM

Frobisher Bay by James Gordon

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: mg
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 09:19 PM

We go rolling home...that is a greatone..about the summer of contentment and the winter of despair. mg

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: GUEST,ian
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 06:49 PM

Goodnight Irene,New York Mining Disaster,Behind the Wall,Ride On,and i could go on and on.Best of luck with whatever you choose.

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 06:03 PM

Well, it's not folk, but Seven Bridges Road by the Eagles has awesome harmonies.

Several old cowboy ones are great for that, too, including Desert Silvery Sage.

Mudcatter, Animaterra's group, Animaterra does some gorgeous harmonies with beautiful songs. You could PM her.

Also, have a look at the songs on the Golden Ring CDs at Folk Legacy. HERE'S One.

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: greg stephens
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 05:47 PM

The Watersons(or possibly Blue Murder or some similar combination) did a very splendid and harmonious "Bid you goodnight", with Eliza Carthy singing lead. My favourite version(apart from Mr Spense himself of course).

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: eddie1
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 04:31 PM

Go to http://www.tomrawson.com/recordings.html (apologies for not having tried the clicky thing) and get two for the price of one;
"Family of Woman and Man" and
"I Bid You Goodnight"

Goodnight was always used by The Greatful Dead to finish their concerts. It has room for as many harmonies as you like and is, in all seriousness, a song I defintely want played at my funeral - just not too soon.

Would like to hear your opinion

Eddie

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: cptsnapper
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 04:22 PM

Babylon which is a nice round. Don McLean recorded it.

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 01:57 PM

Scottish multipart harmony - Will ye go, lassie go.

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 01:08 PM

I'd suggest that songw in which the words are important don't do as well in complex arrangements. I've had considerable success leading "The Goldfish" (Listed in DT as Round and Round. )

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: cptsnapper
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 01:02 PM

Cadwith Anthem

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: greg stephens
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 12:48 PM

Ooh Richard Bridge ,you are naughty

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 11:35 AM

probably useless suggestion

Gospel songs with three our four part harmonies are a staple for American Bluegrass groups such as the Nashville Bluegrass Band.

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 10:20 AM

Pleasant and Delightful
Nelson's Blood
Ramble Away

Oh, sorry, they're all English aren't they.....

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: black walnut
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 09:29 AM

David Francey's All Light's Burning Bright.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 09:28 AM

And of course "Rose of Allendale"

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: GUEST,Johnmc
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 09:24 AM

No extra points, but have friends who do this magnificently:

"After the Goldrush"

Subject: RE: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: MMario
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 09:16 AM

Mingualy boat song; Wild Mountain Thyme; Rolling Down to Old Maui

Subject: songs good for multiple harmonies
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 09:15 AM

Many of the members of my Irish band are good singers as well as instrumentalists. We ended a gig on St Pat's day with "Leave Her Johnny", taking turns on the verses and singing the chorus in something close to 8-part harmony, and the crowd loved it.

SO I'm looking for more songs that lend themselves to that kind of arrangement - anyone care to suggest a favorite? Extra points if its an Irish/Scottish/other celtic song.