Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Clinton Hammond Date: 29 May 01 - 01:32 PM Oh oh oh!!! I just though of another.... t'was Hfox's post above reminded me... Lui Collins does a great A capella song, "The Fisherman and the Selkie"... or maybe it's called the "Sealmaid"... I'll check her web page to find out! But it's BRILLIANT! And well, with a voice like Lui's, how can ya go wrong eh?!?!?!?!?! ;-) |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALLAD OF THE WHITE SEAL MAID From: Clinton Hammond Date: 29 May 01 - 01:38 PM it's called "The Ballad of the White Seal Maid", and it's on her CD There's A Light... check out luicollins.com for more... THE BALLAD OF THE WHITE SEAL MAID
There's a fisherman sitting alone on the land |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Mrrzy Date: 29 May 01 - 01:52 PM Tull *is* folk, to me! Has anyone put Up The Airy Mountain to music? I don't know the author, but here is as much of the peom as I recall:>p>Up the airy mountain, down the rushy glen They stole little Bridget for seven years long Up the airy mountain... Sigh, such a sad, sad poem, but then, that's the Little Poeple for you. |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Mrrzy Date: 29 May 01 - 01:53 PM Correct refrain: Up the airy mountain, down the rushy glen We daren't go a-hunting for fear of little men Wee folk, good folk, trouping all together green jacket, red cap, and white owl's feather. |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 29 May 01 - 04:01 PM The title is The Fairies. In the DT: King of the Faeries An incomplete text with the wrong title, wrongly described as "traditional", and the well-known author uncredited. In the Forum (amongst quite a few discussions): Lyr Req: King Of The Faeries In this thread I posted the full text of William Allingham's poem. Bits of it are regularly posted here, so it seemed sensible to get it out of the way, and to correct the fanciful spelling; Allingham used the usual "fairies". A band called "The Irish Rovers" (from which I assume they were American) set it to music years ago, but nobody, so far as I can remember, has ever told us what tune they used. Some have assumed, from the new title they gave it, that it was the set-dance King of the Fairies, but there seems to be some doubt. Does anybody actually remember? |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Hollowfox Date: 29 May 01 - 06:20 PM Well, Malcolm, the Irish Rovers was a Canadian band as I recall, out of Calgary, I think, but I think they were all emegree's from Ireland. The tune they used was the only one I've ever heard named King of the Fairies, and played by many performers. Since I can't hum the tune in a posting, and I can't read music, I'll just have to check my recordings at home tonight and post some examples so we have some common point of reference. (Whaddaya mean, librarians are obsessive?)*g* |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 29 May 01 - 08:17 PM Thanks for the info. Presumably that means that they did use the set-dance tune (example Here ); it's a pity that they didn't bother to do the whole thing, though. Mind, the full poem would have been harder to fit to a tune for which it was never intended! I do hope that they credited Allingham, and that the omission was just on the part of whoever transcribed it from their record. Malcolm |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Mad Tom Date: 29 May 01 - 10:56 PM THE GOLD RING - I only know of it as an Irish fiddle tune, but I gather it had something to do with a leprechaun trading a tune for a golden ring. That story about THE FAERY'S HORNPIPE sounds like it has the same roots as the CROSSROADS BLUES SHEEBEG AND SHEEMORE or SHI BEG, SHI MOHR- by O'Carolan. Nice air, but ever heard of any lyrics though. THE WEE WEE MAN - It's in the DT. THE BANSHEE and THE LILTING BANSHEE - I forget if they're the same. |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: alison Date: 29 May 01 - 11:15 PM clinton.. you got the tune for the selkie one? slainte alison |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Jenny S Date: 30 May 01 - 07:36 AM The words for two more Seal/Silkie songs can be found at: http://bardofavalon.ifrance.com/bardofavalon/Singer/SealSongs.html . J |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: GUEST,Lynn T Date: 30 May 01 - 08:47 AM I can throw some light in: The song with "we are the little folk, we" is Kipling's Pict Song, tune by Bob Esty of Clam Chowder: not faerie at all, but bitter and enduring; the gist is that the peasantry though downtrodden will always outlast the conquering nobility. I can remember a few fragments: "We are the little folk, we, too little to love or to hate, but give us some time and you'll see how we can tear down the state" and "Mistletoe killing an oak, rats gnawing cable in two, (missing line), how they must love what they do." and "You -- you will die of the shame!" But there's a wonderful Ferie song nobody has mentioned yet. Clam Chowder also does Kathy Sobansky's setting of Poul Anderson's "Queen of Air and Darkness" from the short story of the same name; the Ranger Arvid encounters the Queen of the Faeries one evening on his way home to his own lady; when he refuses to go with her, she curses him to hopeless mortality: "Your dull and foolish woman, treat kindly as you can, and live your days in longing, set free to be a man" with the chorus "The dance weaves under the firethorn". Great song, especially in Kathy's clear soprano, backed by harp, bass and hammered dulcimer. While they've done it for years and it's on earlier recordings, it's also included on their latest CD, just released. The Clams have a website; please pardon my ignorance about formatting matters. http://members.aol.com/sirharper/chowder/index.htm Lynn |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Naemanson Date: 30 May 01 - 08:48 AM Crazy Man Michael was written by Richard Thompson. Not sure if it could be considered faerie. |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Peg Date: 30 May 01 - 11:41 AM Thanks Lynn T for those lyrics and links! I would love to get all the lyrics to this song, have been fascinated by it for years... Peg |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Wavestar Date: 30 May 01 - 11:53 AM Oh, oh! _Banshee_. recorded by The Flash Girls, lyrics by Neil Gaiman. If anyone wants them I'll post them - a very haunting story of a girl who falls in love with a banshee. -J |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Noreen Date: 30 May 01 - 12:00 PM ?Banshees are female? This doesn't preclude a girl falling in love with one of course... |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Clinton Hammond Date: 30 May 01 - 01:30 PM Richard Thompson eh? Cool... I've only ever heard Fairport Convention do it... but any song where a raven turns back into a girl is faerie enough in my book... Alison... ummm... lemme look around and see if I have an MP3 of The White Seal Maiden... I may... I don't think I do... Keep in touch and keep bugging me to find it! ;-) |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Cluin Date: 11 Jan 03 - 03:27 AM The lyrics to Lui Collins' "White Seal Maid" were actually written by Jane Yolen. It was a poem from her book Neptune Rising. Someone showed it to Lui who was caught by them. So she set the words to music and recorded it on her "There's a Light" album. Another one with Faerie elements is called "The Twa Magicians" (covered in this thread). It's similar to the whole Taliesin tale where, in his former incarnation as Gwion Bach, he flees the otherworld sorceress Ceridwen by changing into several different forms. She changes into different pursuing forms as well and catches him... though the aim was quite different in that story than in the song. |
Subject: Lyr Add: SI BHEAG SI MHOR From: GUEST,julia Date: 11 Jan 03 - 03:28 PM Here are lyrics to Si Bheag Si Mhor attributed to Turlough O'Carolan, blind harper circa late 1600's- died in 1735 Supposedly his first song,refers to a local legend about a battle between two fairy hills SI BHEAG SI MHOR 1. Long long ago in this ancient land A battle took place where two hills now stand And on the plain there lay the slain For neither the battle was won. So the bard did sing of these fairy hills Where bloom the white flowers and daffodils One big one small Si Bheag Si Mhor And never the battle is won. 2.Beneath these hills great heroes lie Of the Red Branch Knights and their ancient foe In still of night the immortals fight But never the battle is won. And so the harper was told these fairy tales Of these fairy hills of the ancient Gaels One big one small Si Bheag Si Mhor And never the battle is won. 3.'Twas after the battle the prophet foretold No rest would be found for these warriors bold Till they unite and fight one common foe And then would the battle be won. So then the harper wrote of these fairy hills Where bloom the white flowers and daffodils One big one small Si Bheag Si Mhor And never the battle is won. |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: GUEST,julia Date: 11 Jan 03 - 04:43 PM Here are some more form my personal list THE MERMAID / OUR GALLANT SHIP REYNARDINE THE GAY GREEN GOWN BERRY DHONE THE GREAT SELCHIE THE DAEMON LOVER MOLLY BAWN FALSE KNIGHT ON THE ROAD ALISON GROSS GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: GUEST,Julia Date: 11 Jan 03 - 05:49 PM Me- again! What about all the riddle songs= wouldn't the be considered Faery Fare? |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Cluin Date: 11 Jan 03 - 08:09 PM Did O'Carolan really pen those lyrics? |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Bearheart Date: 11 Jan 03 - 08:19 PM Great thread! Have been collecting magical ballads for a long time. That thread on The Twa Magicians also very helpful! Bekki |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Strupag Date: 12 Jan 03 - 07:04 PM The Skye Boat Song. That was about a Ferry but they've built a bridge now |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery From: Cluin Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:56 PM ;) Yeah, here's another near miss, Strupag. "Loch Tay Boat Song". Same author--Harold Bolton. "...and the songs the faerie sing are the songs she sings at milking..." |
Subject: Lyr Add: SONG OF DURIN (Tolkien/Reiff/Hall) From: GUEST,MorwenEdhelwen1 Date: 02 Mar 13 - 06:41 PM This is about dwarves, which can be considered a type of fairy: SONG OF DURIN (by J.R.R. Tolkien from The Fellowship of The Ring). Set by music by the Tolkien Ensemble 1. The world was young, the mountains green, No stain yet on the Moon was seen, No words were laid on stream or stone, When Durin woke and woke alone. He named the nameless hills and dells, He drank from yet untasted wells, He stooped and looked in Mirrormere, And saw a crown of stars appear As gems upon a silver thread, Above the shadow of his head. 2. The world was fair, the mountains tall, In Elder Days before the fall Of mighty kings in Nargothrond* And Gondolin*, who now beyond The Western Seas have passed away, The world was fair in Durin's Day. 3. A king he was on carven throne In many-pillared halls of stone With golden roof and silver floor, And runes of power upon the door. The light of sun and star and moon In shining lamps of crystal hewn, Undimmed by cloud or shade of night, There shone for ever fair and bright. 4. There hammer on the anvil smote, There chisel clove, and graver wrote, There forged was blade, and bound was hilt; The delver mined, the mason built. There beryl, pearl, and opal pale, And metal wrought like fishes' mail, Buckler and corset, axe and sword, And shining spears were laid in hoard. 5. Unwearied then were Durin's folk; Beneath the mountains music woke: The harpers harped, the minstrels sang, And at the gates the trumpets rang. 6. The world is grey, the mountains old, The forge's fire is ashen-cold; No harp is wrung, no hammer falls; The darkness dwells in Durin's halls: The shadow lies upon his tomb In Moria, in Khazad-dûm. But still the sunken stars appear In dark and windless Mirrormere. There lies his crown in water deep Till Durin wakes again from sleep. |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: GUEST,MorwenEdhelwen1 Date: 02 Mar 13 - 06:44 PM For those who don't know: Nargothrond and Gondolin= two Elven realms which existed in the First Age of Arda/Middle-earth. |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: GUEST,MorwenEdhelwen1 Date: 02 Mar 13 - 07:00 PM "Set *to* music by The Tolkien Ensemble". Also, there are millions of other poems by Tolkien which would fit as being "about fairies" or "of Faery". The Song Of Beren and Lúthien, The Song of Nimrodel, Galadriel's Song of Eldamar, O Elbereth Gilthoniel, The Song of Earendil... |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: GUEST,Lavengro Date: 03 Mar 13 - 06:36 AM As the Fairy thing seems to have been extended to cover things pagan and ethereal how about the following- The White Hare- Seth Lakeman Reel in the Flickering Light- As sung by Christy Moore |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: GUEST, Paul Slade Date: 03 Mar 13 - 07:40 AM Ivor Cutler's The Obliging Fairy? Lyrics Sample |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: Bearheart Date: 13 Feb 14 - 12:12 AM thought I would refresh this thread.... |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: Joe_F Date: 13 Feb 14 - 10:12 PM Kipling's "Pict Song" can be found here. The Picts are a people, not a class, and the song as a whole is not a celebration of them, but a warning against them. Kipling did write a faery song: The Ballad of Minepit Shaw. It is a sly & skeptical one, tho, full of delicious oxymorons, with a down-to-earth ending. |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: Bearheart Date: 15 Feb 14 - 12:04 AM Thanks Joe F, though I've not heard that song I could imagine Peter Bellamy singing it. I've never come across it before. Do you have any others to add? |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: GUEST,eldergirl on another computer Date: 15 Feb 14 - 05:33 AM Brookland Road, surelye? as sung by Ian Woods and Charley Yarwood, tune P.Bellamy. |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: Ged Fox Date: 15 Feb 14 - 09:45 AM "Farewell Rewards and Fairies" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMj7O9LZpU8&feature=c4-overview&list=UU7ftjb29J_Baa2Fzcf7lVag |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: Bearheart Date: 15 Feb 14 - 09:48 AM eldergirl do you have a link or lyrics? |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: Joe_F Date: 15 Feb 14 - 06:39 PM Bearheart: I have never heard a tune to "Minepit Shaw". When I want to sing it, I steal the tune from "Queen Eleanor's Confession", which fits pretty well, tho it requires a little textual fiddling. As I have often remarked, many of Kipling's songs were set to music repeatedly in the music-hall era, and probably most of them acquired at least one tune. It would be a great service to the kipler community if someone would dig them up & publish them. However, I have no idea how I would do so, even if I were in England. (He did garner a few tunes in the US. The best-known tune for "Mandalay" turns out to have been composed in Cincinnati, Ohio!) |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: Bearheart Date: 16 Feb 14 - 01:12 AM Thanks, Joe! Very fond of Kipling... Many good "songs" in Puck of Pook's Hill, a fave of my childhood. Some of my favorite Faery songs: King Orfeo in the DT http://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=3415 (sorry, no good at blue clickeys) I don't think anyone mentioned Elf-Call or 700 Elves (Steeleye Span) or Willie's Lady (Ray Fisher did a wonderful rendition of this), I think they are all in the DT. |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: Eldergirl Date: 16 Feb 14 - 12:32 PM Bearheart, sorry for delay, been off-piste for a day or 2. Lyrics should be in the DT under Brookland Road, I know I found them on there last year, but I have no clicky link i'm afraid, not v good with techie stuff, also unaware of song other than album Hooks and Nets by Woods & Yarwood, early 70s. It might be on YouTube but I haven't looked for it. Frankie Armstrong singing Tam Lin, yet another variant, best version I know so far.. We caught it on a TV show about 20-odd yrs back, on our little portable cassette recorder. And I always liked Steeleye's Thomas the Rhymer. |
Subject: RE: Songs of Faery / Fairy / Fairies From: Lighter Date: 16 Feb 14 - 01:03 PM Irish, 12th Century, translated by Kuno Meyer around 1895: THE HOSTS OF FAERY White shields they carry in their hands, With emblems of pale silver; With glittering blue swords, With mighty stout horns, In well-devised battle array, Ahead of their fair chieftain They march amid blue spears, Pale-visaged, curly-headed bands. They scatter the battalions of the foe, They ravage every land they attack, Splendidly they march to combat, A swift, distinguished, avenging host! No wonder though their strength be great: Sons of queens and kings are one and all; On their heads are Beautiful golden-yellow manes. With smooth comely bodies, With bright, blue-starred eyes, With pure crystal teeth, With thin red lips. Good they are at man-slaying, Melodious in the ale-house, Masterly at making songs, Skilled at playing fidchell. "Fidchell" was a game resembling chess. |
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