Origins: Ard Ti Chuain/Quiet Land of Erin

Subject: the quiet land of erin
From: Rita64
Date: 24 May 99 - 01:45 AM

This is a beautiful old air. I have a copy recorded in English by the harpist Mary O'Hara. Would anyone have the words, both in English and in Gaelic? Could someone shed light on the origin of this song? Thanks again - I'm full of questions today!

Subject: Tune Add: ARDAIDH CUAIN
From: alison
Date: 26 Apr 99 - 11:18 PM

Hi,

Thanks to Philippa for the music ....here it is. I'm not sure if MIDItxt can adjust for time signature changes..... the tune is in 6/8 but changes to 9/8 (bar 10) for 1 bar. so that's what happens if it sounds a bit odd. According to the music it needs played slowly and with feeling so I've taken the tempo down to 50.. hope that's about right.

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Click to Play

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ABC format:

X:1
T:Ardaidh Cuain
M:6/8
Q:1/4=50
K:Bb
B11/2c/2|d2dc3/2B/2G/2F/2|G5B/2c/2|df2d2c|
d5B/2c/2|dd2c3/2B/2G/2F/2|D5B/2c/2|d2dc3/2B/2G/2F/2|
GG4F/2G/2|B5/2B/2F3/2F/2D/2F/2|G2B/2c/2dd3/2c/2|
d2B/2c/2d2d|c3/2B/2G/2F/2GG2|-G3||

Slainte

alison

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Messages below are from a new thread.

Subject: RE: Ard Tí Chuain/Quiet land of Erin
From: Roddy
Date: 23 Apr 99 - 08:18 PM

There are two accounts of how the song came to be composed. The one thing that is indisputable is the identity of the poet - the last of the Glens of Antrim poets composing in his native Irish, and interestingly enough ,a Protestant - one Mac Ambróis (Mc Cambridge.) One story has it that he emigrated across the water to Scotland to work, but sitting on a headland looking westwards, he could plainly see his native Antrim Hills. Stricken with "cumhaí" (homesickness / longing for home) he composed the song. The second story has him intending to emigrate, but imagining what exile would be like, he was moved to compose the song, and was so moved by his own lyrics that he stayed at home. They're both good stories. Roddy

Subject: RE: Aird a' Chumhaing/Quiet land of Erin
From: Philippa
Date: 23 Apr 99 - 06:29 AM

by the way, the last line of the chorus in Irish doesn't mean "the quiet land of Erin", but "my heart is heavy and sad"
the tune very much suits the nostalgia/poignancy of the words; I hope we'll get an abc soon
can anyone confirm which film(s)the song features on?
the reason for the letters and = signs at the bottom of my transcription is as a key in case the accented letters ever go haywire. I used html in the lyrics, so it shouldn't ever happen
the 'eventually'(translation of last verse) is my interpretation. "May you die in Ireland" is used as a blessing, not a curse. But the singer refers to lost youth, so perhaps is dying and therefore urgent to get back to Ireland. I also take it that the journey could be risky but it doesn't matter how much it takes out of him as long as he reaches Ireland before he dies. Probably 'he' because of reference to hurley, but gender isn't of much consequence to this song; we all can get homesick. The wonder of songs is they can even make us feel homesick for places we've never been to. Or for places we're actually in - emigration songs are popular in Ireland. itself.

Subject: RE: Ard Tí Chuain/Quiet land of Erin
From: Alice
Date: 22 Apr 99 - 03:30 PM

That's ok, Joe, I'll follow that up with another Support The Mudcat! You can get The Quiet Land of Erin from the Mudcat through CD Now, on "Song For Ireland".click here.

This is a full discography of the CD:

01. My Lagan Love
02. Kitty Of Coleraine
03. A Soft Day
04. Oro My Little Boat
05. Young Brigid O'Malley
06. Danny Boy
07. The Spanish Lady
08. She Moved Through The Fair
09. The Gartan Mother's Lullaby
10. The Fairy Tree
11. Ailiu Eanai
12. Bring Me A Shawl From Galway
13. Down By The Sally Gardens
14. The Song Of Glendun
15. The Pet Hen
16. The Quiet Land Of Erin

Subject: RE: Ard Tí Chuain/Quiet land of Erin
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Apr 99 - 02:56 PM

This song is on Rounder CD 11556 called First Flight, a collection of 22 songs from Jean Redpath's early recordings. It's available at Music Boulevard and other merchants. It's a great CD.
-Joe Offer, trying to relay info without sounding commercial-

Subject: RE: Ard Tí Chuain/Quiet land of Erin
From: John Moulden
Date: 22 Apr 99 - 01:07 PM

The place mentioned in the song is given on the Ordnance Survey maps - shades of "Translations" - as Ardicoan. It is just above Knocknacarry; between Cushendall and Cushendun at the north-east corner of County Antrim.

John Moulden

Subject: Lyr Add: AIRD A' CHUMHAING
From: PHILIPPA
Date: 22 Apr 99 - 10:17 AM

Aird a' Chumhaing
Dá mbeinn féin in Aird a' Chumhaing
In aice an tsléibhe 'tá i bhfad uaim
Ba annamh liom gan dul ar cuairt
Go gleann na gcuach dé Domhnaigh

agus och och Eire lig is ó
Eire líonndubh agus ó
'sé mo chroí tá trom agus bronach

Is iomai Nollag a bhí mé féin i mBun Abhainn Doine
Is mé gan chéill
Ag iomainn ar a trá bán
'S mo chaman bán ins mo dhorn liom

Nach tuirseach mise anseo liom féin*
Nach n-airím guth coiligh, lon dubh na traon'?
Gealbhan, smólach, naoscach fhéin,
's chan aithnim féin* an Domhnach!

'S é seo an choraíocht 'tá buan;
Ar a' tsaol go gcuirfeadh sé cluain;
Mheallfadh sé an chaora ón uan -
Agus mheall sé uaimse an óige.

Dá mbeadh agam coite 's rámh
D'iomairfinn liom ar dhroim a' tsnáimh,
'S mé 'dúil as Dia go sroichfinn slán
'S go bhfaighinn bás in éirinn.

Notes: "Abair Amhrán "credits S. Mac Ambróis with authorship verse 2) Bun Abhainn Doinne = cushendall, Co Antrim - northern pronounciation of "abhainn" resembles "Owen" so I hope I'm not mixing it up with "Eoghain"

3) * alternatively, 'péin' or 'fhéin' - same meaning, 'fh' is pronounced 'h' in this case, though it is often silent

rough translation 1) If I were in Aird a' chumhaing, beside that distant mountain, There's seldom a Sunday that I wouldn't visit the cuckoo's glen
2) Many's the Christmas/December I spent in Cushendun, playing hurley on the strand, My white caman (hurley stick) in my fist.
3) I'm so forlorn here alone that I don't even notice the sounds of the cockerel (woodcock?), the blackbird or the corncrake, Not even the swan, the thrush or the snipe; I don't even notice/recognise Sunday
4) This is the eternal struggle with temptation [to seek greener pastures?].
It would entice the lamb from the ewe, and it took from me my youth.
5) If I had a boat and oars , I would row over the crest of the tide, Trusting to God that I would arrive safe and that I would (eventually)die in Ireland.

á = a/= á é = e/= é í = i/ = í ó = o/ = ó ú = u/ = ú [

Subject: RE: Ardaigh Cuain /Quiet land of Erin
From: Philippa
Date: 22 Apr 99 - 10:14 AM

Irish lyrics will be found in the next installment. and maybe next week I'll ask Alison for an ABC. If you're trying to fit the English to the tune, you have to use at least 3 notes for the word 'land' in the chorus. I think Mary O'Hara's sister Joan composed the English version above. Mary has recorded the song
I got some discography info. via the internet:
Quiet land of Erin recorded by recorded by Jean Redpath, "Laddie Lie Near Me", Elektra; Roger Nicholson and Jake Walton. "Bygone Days", Front Hall; Rita Connolly - "Valparaiso" ; Grace Notes - "Red Wine & Promises" - Fellside FECD126
tune: Geraldine O'Grady, violin Oonagh Keogh, violin Margaret O'Sullivan, piano Melodies of Ireland - The Lark in the Clear Air Cala CACD0503, 1996;
Aird Uí Chumhaing recorded by Micheál Ó Domhnaill & Kevin Burke on "Portland", Green Linnet
Airde Cuan recorded by Alan Stivell "Renaissance of the Celtic Harp", Phillips
Aird Uí Chumhaing Craobh Rua ."No Matter How Cold & Wet You Are As Long As You're Warm & Dry" - Lochshore CDLDL1237 - ZCLDL1237
yet another version of the spelling/title is Ardaigh Cuain
the song was used in a film. I think it was the one in which Harrison Ford defeats the IRA, title? Patriot Games? or was it Neil Jordan's Crying Game (rather a better film)?

Subject: Lyr Add: ARD TÍ CHUAIN / QUIET LAND OF ERIN
From: Philippa
Date: 22 Apr 99 - 07:44 AM

Alice requested this song in the macarónachas thread. I used to have a recording of Jean Redpath singing "The Quiet Land of Erin" and here's how I remember it:

By myself I'd be in Ard Ti Chuain*
Where the mountains stand away
And 'tis there I'd let the Sundays pass
In a quiet glen above the bay

(chorus)
agus och och Eire lig is o
Eire leanndubh agus o
The quiet land of Erin

But my heart is weary all alone
And it sends a lonely cry
To the land that sings above my dreams
And the lonely Sundays pass me by.

I would ravel back the twisted years
and the bitter wasted winds
If the Lord above would let me lie
In a quiet place above the whins.

[*í is a long 'e' sound. 'ch' as in 'loch' or 'chanukah', but it's more a 'c' than an'h', I think Redpath sang 'Orshiecoon']

The late Sean Ò Gallochóir of Derry didn't like this version much. He made his own translation. If I see any of his progeny about when next I'm in Derry, I'll ask if they have the words.
I'll add Irish lyrics when I have more time. The original mentions place names in County Antrim; the singer is looking across from Scotland. He's also nostalgic about his 'caman', his hurley stick. They play camogie in Scotland too, but not on Sundays, could that have been a source of the lament?!

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Messages from multiple threads combined.
-Joe Offer-