Female a capella song idea?

Subject: Female a capella song idea?
From: GUEST,Dave Hadfield
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 09:12 PM

Hi,

I play with a group of friends in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, and I'd like to highlight the voice of my female harmony singer. I'd like to give her a spot, during which she would sing some melodic, haunting, celtic air or ballad that would highlight her voice.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Allan C.
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 09:27 PM

When I Was In My Prime could serve very well.

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 29 Sep 01 - 09:31 PM

The Wind That Shakes The Barley

Bold Fenian Men

The Great Silkie

The Garten Mother's Lullaby

I Come and Stand At Every Door

Anachie Gordon

These are a few of the chestnuts, there must be countless possibilities.

Don

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Kaleea
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 12:04 AM

There are many weaving songs which are beautiful, and of course old standbys. Depending on the mood you wish to set, The Cliffs of Doneen, The Conemara Cradle Song, Carrickfergus, but the The Last Rose of Summer & The Rose of Tralee were my Granny's favorites.

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From:
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 12:35 AM

A friend of mine, she sings Hard Times a capella half the time.

Most Gaelic songs are sung a capella as well.

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From:
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 12:36 AM

the one where the woman can't find her baby...she left him lying in the woods when she went to gather berries.....looks in the bear den etc...

mg

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 02:31 AM

Shule aroon Dream Angus Dark Island Where two Hawks Fly I Saw from the Beach [Thomas Moore] The Waters of Tyne The Four Marys [Joan Baez does a good version] The Lost Child [already mentioned ---"I left my babe a-lying here, and went to gather blueberries..."] The Rowan Tree Flooers o' the Forest

All songs with haunting words and lyrics---beware of copyright on some! Boab

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: GUEST,Heather
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 05:52 AM

The Blantyre Explosion The Queen Among the Heather Sumbo Aerá El Testament d'Amélia

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: GUEST,Dave Hadfield
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 09:41 AM

Many thanks. My morning is now booked, while I go exploring these ideas!

Just what I needed,

Thanks,

Dave

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Willa
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 10:00 AM

The Fairy Boy, Aye Wakin'Oh, Gartan Mother's Lullaby, How Can I Keep From Singing, I Know Where I'm Goin', Plaisir D'amour. All in the DT, some with background info.

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Mac Tattie
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 11:45 AM

Perhaps "your" "female harmony singer" would rather sing her own choice of material. Have you asked her? cheers.

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: WyoWoman
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 12:49 PM

Bold Riley (the way Kate Rusby does it, which I know is anathema to chanty singers but is gorgeous just the same)
Soon One Morning (Old spiritual and great to get the audience involved in trying some harmonies)
The Great Storm is Over (old gospel, and ditto)

Meanwhile, I'm printing out this thread as well for some of the suggestions I can try. I've been thinking that I need to expand my unacompanied repertory (there's an old thread lying around here somewhere on the difference between unaccompanied and a cappella, and it convinced me to stop callingi t a cappella and start saying I sing unaccompanied.)

And as a singer, I can tell you, in answer to Mac Tattie's question above, that I enjoy finding my own material but am always pleased when someone else shoves a beautiful song in my hand and says, "Here, you simply must try this one on for size."

Some of them do, some of them don't,but it's always nice to have the selection from which to choose.

Good luck to both of you, WW

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 01:02 PM

Does anyone recall an old thread (last two years) where someone was asking about song ideas for a singing competition she was entering, for a capella material? I can't find it....

~S~

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 03:57 PM

The Bantry Girl's Lament is lovely and not oversung.(not PC ?) I'm afraid I anglicise the gaelic for clarity.
Best wishes whatever you sing.
Keith.

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 04:12 PM

Roisin dhu

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Alice
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 06:52 PM

Here is a list of some of the songs I sing unaccompanied. Not all of them are slow and "haunting", though, but Tam Glen, She Moved Through The Fair, Quiet Land of Erin, Gartan Mothers' Lullaby, and others do fit that description. I'll put an asterisk * before the ones that I think fit the bill for your question.

Alice Flynn

------

Kitty of Coleraine
Off to Philadelphia
The Mountains of Mourne
* The Irish Girl
Jackets Green
* The Foggy Dew (love song version)
* She Moved Through the Fair Click Here
Curragh of Kildare
Down By The Sally Garden
The Leprauchan
Bonny Bunch of Thyme
Ballinderry
Spanish Lady
* The Quiet Land of Erin
* The Galway Shawl
Where the Blarney Roses Grow
* Red is the Rose
* Rose of Tralee
* Lagan Love
* Paddy's Lamentation Click Here
* Fields of Athenry
* Carriag Donn
* The Gartan Mother's Lullaby * Farewell But Whenever
* The Wind That Shakes The Barley
* Easy and Slow
* Danny Boy
* Silent O Moyle
* Love Is Teasin Click Here
* Tam Glen Click Here
The Winter It is Past Click Here
* Country Lassie
* The Foggy Dew (a wan cloud was drawn...)
Spancil Hill
* She lived Beside the Anner
The Verdant Braes of Skreen
* Skibbereen
* The Fanaid Grove
* Connor's Return
* Green Fields of Amerikay Click Here
* Mist Covered Mountains
* Erin Gra Mo Chroí Click Here

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Alice
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 06:55 PM

As I said, not all of them are slow, but show the list to your friend and let her choose what sounds and feels right for her.

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 08:00 PM

Anything at all that Deb Cowan sings. I just got back from the Portsmouth maritime music fest, and was lucky enough to hear her sing Dreadful Ghost. What a voice! Get her cd, Long Gray Line (available at Folk Legacy) if you can!

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: GUEST,Dave Hadfield
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 11:17 PM

Mac Tatie: Yes, you're right, she's not just a female harmony singer; she's a singer, pure and complete. And of course she's not "mine"! What an idea! I'm just proud of her voice and think more people should have the chance to hear it.

I have asked her to do a solo song. It's her that asked me for ideas. I'm no Svengali here. I'm trying to provide her with a choice, that's all.

And what a choice. Thanks to all for the many suggestions. I can't seem to find the melody for Garten Mother's Lullaby, but I'll keep digging.

Alice, I listened to some MP3 files of your music. Very nice. Pure and clean and sweet and clear. I'll try and find your CD to buy.

Thanks again,

Dave

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 04:57 AM

How about,

A Stor Mo Chroi... LOVELY SONG!

or The Lowlands of Holland.

Two of my faves...

Ella

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Alice
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 09:13 AM

Dave, click on the link I provided to Gartan Mother's Lullaby, and it will take you to a page I have on information about the song, including the sheet music. You can get a CD of my mp3 tracks on the page where you listened to my songs. The order link is right below my photo.

Alice

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 10:03 AM

Now is the Cool of the Day sung by Jean Ritchie, though not Celtic, this is beautiful, and stunning in an outdoor setting. Jean talks about it here. DT words are here.

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 12:05 PM

Could someone please tell me if Mr. McGrath flamed me in Gaelic back then?
Keith.

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 12:30 PM

She's like a Swallow

http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=5295&Title=SHE%27S%20LIKE%20A%20SWALLOW

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 12:35 PM

The Butchers Boy. JohnB

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Mudlark
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 09:39 PM

Lord Gregory, and The Lark in the Morning....

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 03:18 AM

No, McGrath didn't flame you, it's a song.

E

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 03:56 AM

Er... is it called 'Lovely on the Water'?

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 05:37 AM

Here it is

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: GUEST,Irish Sergeant
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 08:50 AM

How about the following: Johnny is Gone for a Soldier (Shule A gradh) Weeping, Sad and Lonely Galway Bay The Connemara Lullaby The Silkie (Sule Skerry) The list would be longer but I haven't had my first cup of Joe yet. If you didn't mind the second one on my list is a Civil War era song and although the soldiers sang it is more suited to a female singer in my humble opinion. Good luck with your quest, Neil

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 04:03 PM

Thanks all, for the many ideas. She picked "Blow the Winds Southerly", and it sounds very fine. We play it on Thursday. (or, she does...)

Thanks,

Dave

Subject: RE: Female a capella song idea?
From: Mac Tattie
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 04:14 PM

I am gladend to hear that Dave Hadfield. Forgive me but more and more I seem to be hearing singers? singing? songs that just don't suit them at all. Songs realy have to come from within the singer and fit the personality as well as the voice. A great range of material has been sugested and, as well as a look through the Digital Tradition, check out the links page as well. Speaking/typing from Scotland many of the sugested songs are fairly well enough known and sang around here but there are also many that would be totaly avoided, I'm (nearly) always pleasantly ammazed on Mudcat by the songs that are described as "Traditional", "old", "ballads" or that greatest of unknowns "Celtic". cheers