Lyr Req: Come Back to Erin

Subject: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 09:41 PM

G'day All,

Mary of Kentucky asked, in a thread we can happily see fade away (Liam Clancy RIP):

All day I've been humming a song I can't seem to find the words to... Come back to Erin Mavournin, Mavournin...

It's not Kathleen Mavournin; it's not in the DT; it's not at any of the Mudcat links; it's not in any of my music books.

Where did I get these words? What is the song?

Mary "

This is ideed called Come Back to Erin and I have in in a number of books. It was written in the 19th century by Claribel and I think I did find a reference to who Claribel was.

The song intrigues me because it is in 4/4 or C time ... yet it is now one of the standard waltzes in Australia for The Pride of Erin - along with Believe me if All Those Endearing Young Charms ... which started life in 6/8!

Ah well, there is an interesting study in the way that so many old tunes became waltzes, when the waltz craze was upon us in the late 19th / early 20th century.

If you want the words and tune, Mary, I can download them when I get home and post them. At least the copyright vultures can't get anything out of this one!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 09:53 PM

Yesssssss!!!!!!

I hear it as 6/8 time but still can't remember where I heard it.

Subject: Lyr Add: COME BACK TO ERIN
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 10:39 PM

Funny-- I've always heard it in 4/4 time. Written by Mrs. Charles Barnard.

Come back to Erin, Mavourneen, Mavourneen
Come back, aroon, to the land of my birth.
Come with the shamrocks and springtime, Mavourneen
And it's Killarney shall ring with our mirth.
Sure when we lent ye to beautiful England
Little we thought of the lone winter days
Little we thought of the hush of the starshine
Over the mountains, the bluffs and the braes.

cho: Then come back to Erin, Mavourneen, Mavourneen
Come back, aroon, to the land of my birth.
Come with the shamrocks and springtime, Mavourneen
And it's Killarney shall ring with our mirth.

Over the green sea, Mavourneen, Mavourneen
Long shone the white sail that bore thee away,
Riding the white waves that fair summer morning
Just like a may flow'r afloat on the bay
O but my heart sank when clouds came between us
Like a grey curtain the rain falling down,
Hid from my sad eyes the path o'er the ocean
Far, far away where my colleen had flown.

O may the angels, O wakin' and sleepin'
Watch o'er my bird in the land far away;
And it's my prayers will consign to their keepin'
Care of my jewel by night and by day
When by the fireside I watch the bright embers
Then all my heart flies to England and thee,
Cravin' to know if my darlin' remembers
or if her thoughts may be crossin' to me.

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 10:53 PM

Thanks. Those seem to be the words I remember.

Qustion: What does Movourneen mean?

Question: What does aroon mean?

Question: In line 6, should "though" be "thought" (fixed)

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 12:40 AM

Bob and Mary and Dick and Alice(on), I have the sheet - it's just a matter of me finding it in my so-called study. This was the first harmony piece I ever learned, as part of am Irish quartet when I was about 8. I'll post the tune. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 12:54 AM

G'day all,

John of Brisbane: Ah yes - but in which time signature do you have the piece? The published form was 4/4 (or C, I can't remember for sure), but it has firmly moved into 3/4 around this part of Australia. I had a a a long argument on the matter with an old friend, a fiddler in the folk revival since 1961, who had never heard it as anything but a waltz.

Of course, Queensland always was different ...

Regards(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, mavourneen
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 08:53 AM

mo mhuirnín (mavourneen) is a term of endearment

Subject: Tune Add: COME BACK TO ERIN
From: GUEST, Bob Bolton('s home computre)
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 06:05 AM

G'day Mary,

I did promise to send the MIDItext of the waltz version of COME BACK TO ERIN commonly played in the Australian tradition. This file seems to be one MIDIed by my fiddler friend Ralph Pride - from one of Peter Ellis's 3 books of collected dance tunes .

I don't have a MIDI of the originally published Common time version, written by Claribel, (Charlotte Arlington Barnard) and first published by Boosey & Hawkes, London, 1866 - as I don't play it that way. The original is available in any number of old books (I have it in at least three) and what I have in front of me is Popular Irish Songs, Dover Publications, NY, 1992.

This MIDI has the chorus first and then the verse (which was optional, when playing for a waltz. It mostly depended upon whether or not the band had a singer.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

MIDI file: come-bte.mid

Timebase: 240

TimeSig: 3/4 24 8
Tempo: 256 (234375 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0000 1 67 080 0576 0 67 064 0144 1 72 080 0384 0 72 064 0096 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 72 080 0576 0 72 064 0144 1 66 080 0384 0 66 064 0096 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 71 080 0576 0 71 064 0144 1 69 080 0384 0 69 064 0096 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0576 0 69 064 0144 1 67 080 0576 0 67 064 0144 1 64 080 0576 0 64 064 0144 1 65 080 0384 0 65 064 0096 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 69 080 0576 0 69 064 0144 1 69 080 0384 0 69 064 0096 1 68 080 0192 0 68 064 0048 1 69 080 0576 0 69 064 0144 1 74 080 0384 0 74 064 0096 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 71 080 0576 0 71 064 0144 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 67 080 0576 0 67 064 0144 1 72 080 0384 0 72 064 0096 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 72 080 0576 0 72 064 0144 1 66 080 0384 0 66 064 0096 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 71 080 0576 0 71 064 0144 1 69 080 0384 0 69 064 0096 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0576 0 69 064 0144 1 67 080 0576 0 67 064 0144 1 64 080 0576 0 64 064 0144 1 65 080 0384 0 65 064 0096 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 69 080 0576 0 69 064 0144 1 71 080 0384 0 71 064 0096 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 74 080 0576 0 74 064 0144 1 69 080 0384 0 69 064 0096 1 72 080 0192 0 72 064 0048 1 72 080 1296 0 72 064 0144 1 64 080 0576 0 64 064 0144 1 72 080 0384 0 72 064 0096 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 69 080 0576 0 69 064 0144 1 63 080 0384 0 63 064 0096 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 65 080 0576 0 65 064 0144 1 64 080 0384 0 64 064 0096 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 62 080 0576 0 62 064 0144 1 60 080 0576 0 60 064 0144 1 59 080 0576 0 59 064 0144 1 71 080 0384 0 71 064 0096 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0576 0 67 064 0144 1 66 080 0384 0 66 064 0096 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 67 080 0576 0 67 064 0144 1 66 080 0384 0 66 064 0096 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 64 080 1296 0 64 064 0144 1 64 080 0576 0 64 064 0144 1 72 080 0384 0 72 064 0096 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 69 080 0576 0 69 064 0144 1 63 080 0384 0 63 064 0096 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 65 080 0576 0 65 064 0144 1 64 080 0384 0 64 064 0096 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 71 080 0576 0 71 064 0144 1 69 080 0576 0 69 064 0144 1 72 080 0576 0 72 064 0144 1 71 080 0384 0 71 064 0096 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 74 080 0576 0 74 064 0144 1 71 080 0384 0 71 064 0096 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 62 080 0576 0 62 064 0144 1 69 080 0384 0 69 064 0096 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 67 080 1104 0 67 064 0096 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:
M:3/4
Q:1/4=256
K:C
G6|c4B2|c6|^F4G2|B6|A4F2|A6|G6|E6|F4G2|A6|
A4^G2|A6|d4c2|B6|B2A2G2|G6|c4B2|c6|^F4G2|
B6|A4F2|A6|G6|E6|F4G2|A6|B4c2|d6|A4c2|c6|
-c6|E6|-E6|c6|-c4B2|A6|^D4E2|F6|E4D2|D6|C6|
B,6|B4A2|G6|^F4E2|G6|^F4E2|E6|-E6|E6|-E6|
c6|-c4B2|A6|^D4E2|F6|E4B2|B6|A6|c6|B4A2|d6|
B4G2|D6|A4G2|G6|-G4G3/2||

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 07:03 AM

Bob, I've yet to find my version, but it was an early Australian publication, so I'll be keen to see what the time signature is. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 07:17 AM

Bob,

Thanks. I'm still trying to get my Miditext to work again, but it looks great.

Mary

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 05:07 PM

G'day All,

Mary: Yes, I have some problems too. Originally I could not get a MIDI file back from Txt2mid that worked, getting an "Invalid File" message. Now I get a file that works, but it plays back like the clappers! I haven't yet checked to see how it flows back into a music program (whether the problem is note value or tempo).

John in Brisbane: I would be interested to see what version you have. Is it from originally published music ("Claribel") or a collected version, published in an Australian folk music book. The MIDI I just posted comes from the collected version in one of Peter Ellis's Collector's Choice>/i> books, published 1980s, Victoria.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 05:20 PM

Er yeah ... G'day again,

You do have to keep an eye on which way the arrow(bracket)s ar pointing!

Ouch!!

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 06:13 PM

Bob, I can't find the music collection which includes this song, but from memory it was Allan's Irish Music No1 - uncertain of the date of publication but would guess at pre 1920. I intended donating it to the State Library of Queensland who do not have it in their collection and have already discussed this with them. But I'd better find it first. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 06:19 PM

Bob,

I just got Miditext to work, and Come Back to Erin sounds just like I remembered! (but the F# in the 4th measure was a little jarring) I had trouble with the program because I was not copying the title when I cut and pasted into NotePad. My next project is to try to put a midi into text. Thanks again.

Mary (humming Come back to Erin, Mavourneen,...)

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 12:21 AM

Bob, just for the record Allens Music started publishing in Australia in 1851, Their copyrights for materials pre 1975 (ish) are now owned by EMI Music of Mossman in Sydney. I spoke to Arif there who manages the archive 8969 3503. Notwithstanding a major fire in the 80's they still have many thousands of pieces published since 1851. If one is able to furnish the serial number they have a complete history of all the Allens archive. There are some benefits for genuine researchers but Ill let you know about these some other time if you have an interest. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 12:40 AM

G'day all,

Mary: i mentioned that it was not my transcription ... probably because that note jarred my diatonic tonalities (not totally, but I play Button Accordion, \ 20 (or 22)-key Anglo concertina, vamper mouth organ & whistles). I must go through it carefully and compre with my own version - as well as finding the 'Claribel', common time version.

I seem to remember that they don't sound nearly as different as you would think. The phrasing allows a change of time signature with only a small adjustment of note length ratios. This is also present in some other tunes that have been transcribed by collectors and folklorists from (often) the same field recording in (say) Schottische (4/4) rhythm and Jig (6/8) time.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 07:19 AM

My version is indeed the Claribel version, published in Australia. I hope to have the publication date by Monday. How would you like me to proceed from here? I can send gif or notate it for you?

As an aside or two I note that my folio also has a version of Exile of Erin by Campbell. There is also Cockles and Mussels attributed to Yorkston. I always thought that this was trad.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 07:30 AM

G'day John,

I was just curious to know what version was played locally in Queensland. Down this way you will only hear it as a waltz.

I know that I have the original('Claribel") version in at least three books - if I look hard. I made a point of collecting them at one point to show my disbelieving fiddler friend that the tune was not originally a waltz, as he stoutly maintained.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 07:57 AM

Bob, for the 25% of my life spent in Queensland I've never heard it. The only other time I've heard it was 3/4 as a kid in what essentially was an Irish enclave in Western Victoria. I have never knowingly heard it as a dance tune, but then again I've spent more than 50% of my life on the other side of the microphone and have never encountered it. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 04:09 AM

G'day again,

Damn ... who needs a spell checker (don't answer, that is a rhetorical question) ... what I realy need here is an HTML checker!

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From:
Date: 18 May 03 - 06:00 AM

Dear mary,
I would like to get the staff music for Mavournin
( comeback to Erin mavournin )
It would be terrific if you could email me / tell me where I can download it myself. I can't handle abc. I have last seen the music nearly 50 y. ago
Many thanks, in anticipitation
J.P.

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 May 03 - 06:35 AM

Sheet music is at Levy:

Title: Come Back to Erin.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Written and Composed by Claribel.
Publication: Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co., 451 Washington St., n.d..
Form of Composition: strophic
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: Come back to Erin, Mavourneen, Mavourneen
First Line of Chorus: Come back to Erin, Mavourneen, Mavourneen

Also at Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920 (from Duke University):

Come back to Erin. In Vocalist's album (Louisville, Kentucky, D.P. Faulds, [between 1875 and 1877])

The possible first edition was "published Jan. 2, 1866, by Boosey & Co., 28 Holles Street, London" (Fuld, The Book of World-Famous Music, 4th ed., p. 177). Several arrangements published in the 19th century are at American Memory.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 May 03 - 06:55 AM

An Australian edition is at National Library of Australia:

Author: Claribel, 1830-1869.
Title: Come back to Erin [music] : song written and composed for Madame Sherrington by Claribel.
Published: Sydney : D. Davis & Co., [189-?]
Description: 1 score (7 p.) ; 36 cm.
Subject: Songs with piano.
Notes: "No. 1 in C." "Dedicated to Miss Florence Knowlys".

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 May 03 - 07:09 AM

Palace Quartet's "Medley of Irish songs - no. 2 : Wearing of the green ; Killarney ; Come back to Erin" (1922) [RealAudio/MP3] is at The Virtual Gramophone.

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 May 03 - 09:21 AM

William H.A. Williams writes in 'Twas Only an Irishman's Dream: The Image of Ireland and the Irish in American Popular Song Lyrics, 1800-1920 (University if Illinois Press, 1996, pp. 41-42):

"Come Back to Erin" is another perennial favorite Irish song of parting, also written by a Briton -- Charlotte Alington Barnard (1830-69), who published her works under the pseudonym "Claribel." The song came out in 1866 and is an interesting example of how a skilled songwriter of the period could work into one piece so many of the elements that had come to define or signify the Irish genre for the popular market. They are all contained in the opening verse of the song, which then serves as the chorus.

Come back to Erin, Mavourneen, Mavourneen,
Come back Aroon to the land of thy birth,
Come with the shamrocks and springtime, Mavourneen,
And its Killarney shall ring with our mirth.

In the first line, Barnard uses the poetic expression "Erin," along with an already familiar Gaelic term of endearment. Another Gaelicism, "aroon," appears in the second line, along with the emphasis on "land of thy birth." The shamrock, not yet all that common in Irish songs, is referenced in the third line, as well as "springtime," thus associating Ireland and Irishness with the beauties of nature. This is reinforced in the last line by the reference to Killarney, already a well-known tourist attraction. In spite of the fact that the heroine is going to England rather than to America, the song was a great favorite in the Unted States, as were other of Barnard's songs, such as "I Cannot Sing the Old Songs."

Subject: RE: Come Back to Erin, Mary
From: GUEST
Date: 20 May 03 - 01:45 PM

I wish to thank Mary ( or if not whoever ) for posting me the music for mavournin
thank you.
You might wish to lookat www.boorinwoodmusic.com or www.oneillmusic/freezone.co.uk for some views of our area in N. IRELAND
B. regards, J.P