Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach

Subject: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: Haruo
Date: 19 Oct 02 - 01:56 AM

There's a Cape Breton Gaelic Christmas song on the web that I was interested in trying to sing, but I don't know the tune (which is said to be "Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach"). Anybody have a MIDI for it, or some other reasonably accessible format (Google only seems to turn up CDs and the like)?

Lìolaind

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Oct 02 - 09:34 AM

There is a midi of Mo Nighean Donn, Bhòidheach at Mudcat Midis:

Nut Brown Maiden

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: Haruo
Date: 19 Oct 02 - 07:00 PM

What's it called there? I don't see that title listed, though several similar looking Gaelic ones...
\
Haruo

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: MMario
Date: 19 Oct 02 - 07:16 PM

Nut brown Maiden - as in Malcolm's link above.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Oct 02 - 07:51 PM

And so called because it was put there to go with the English-language "singing" version (not, strictly, a translation) which is in the DT. We should really have the original Gaelic here, too, but I am very reluctant to post lyrics in a language for which I can't provide an accurate translation.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: Haruo
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 10:39 PM

Sorry you guys - I didn't even see the "Nut Brown Maiden" link, I got sidetracked by the first line, "There is a midi of Mo Nighean Donn, Bhòidheach at Mudcat Midis:" and just clicked on it, went to "M" and tried to find "Mo Nighean Donn, Bhòidheach" and, failing that, went o "H" and looked for it under "Ho Ro..."

Haruo

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From:
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 11:19 AM

This is strange.

I'm sure I'd posted to a thread wherein we discussed the translation to the lyrics for this song. Yet, I can't find it. Been looking for a couple of days.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: GUEST,The Rankins
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 03:00 PM

Check out " North Country " translation included

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From:
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 05:07 PM

No, Guest, it was here at some point. A translation to the whole thing, not the portion of the song on the CD

Subject: Lyr Add: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From:
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 05:43 PM

Well, going through the Mudcat Forum and DT, I can't find an instance where we actually had the Gaelic lyrics for this song. Or the translation. I'm guessing that thread was lost at some point in time in a crash. I know they were here!

Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhòidheach

Séist
Ho ró, mo nighean donn, bhòidheach,
Hi rì, mo nighean donn, bhòidheach,
Mo chaileag laghach, bhòidheach,
Cha phòs mi ach thu. (Cha phòsainn ach thu)
 
A Pheigi dhonn nam blàth-shul,
Gur trom a thug mi gràdh dhuit:
Tha t-iomhaigh ghaoil. 'us t-ailleachd,
A ghnàth tigh'nn fo m'ùidh.
 
Cha cheil mi air an t-saoghal
Gu bheil mo mhiann 's mo ghaol ort;
'S ged chaidh mi uait air faondradh,
Cha chaochail mo rùn.
 
'N uair bha mi ann ad làthair,
Bu shona bha mo làithean
A' sealbhachadh do mhànrain,
'Us àille do ghnùis.
 
Gnùis aoidheil, bhanail, mhàlda
Na h-òigh a's caoimhe nàdur;
I suairce, ceanail, bàigheil,
Làn gràis agus mùirn.
 
Ach riamh o'n dh'fhàg mi t-fhianuis,
Gu bheil mi dubhach, cianail;
Mo chrìdhe trom 'ga phianadh
Le iarguin do rùin.
 
Ge lurach air a' chabhsair
Na mnathan òga Gallda,
A rìgh! gur beag mo gheall-s'
Air bhi sealltainn 'n an gnùis.
 
'S ann tha mo rùn 's na beanntaibh,
Far bheil mo rìbhinn ghreannar
Mar ròs am fàsach Shamhraidh,
An gleann fad 'o shùil.
 
Ach 'n uair a thig an Samhradh,
Bheir mise sgrìob do'n ghleann ud,
'S gu 'n tog mi leam do'n Ghalldachd,
Gu h-annsail, am flùr.

And the translation:

Ho Ro My beautiful dark maiden
Hi Ri My beautiful dark maiden
My beautiful neat young maiden
I would kiss only you.
 
Dark Peggy of the warm eyes
Deep is the love I gave to you.
A lovely beautiful image
His manner will come from my interest
 
I am not together in the world
That my love and desire is on you.
Although I went from you after straying
My love is unchanging
 
When I was there at your victory
Bright were my days
Inheriting your croon
And beautiful your face.
 
A face cheerful, comely and modest
The youth from a kind nature
She is polite, pleasant and kind
Full of grace and joy.
 
But forever I left your testimony
That I am dark and solitary
My heavy heart at his pain.
With grief your love
 
Though nimble on his pavement
The young women of the Lowlands
Oh king, my pledge, it is small
I would be seeing on him in the face.
 
There, my love is in the mountains
Where my love is lively
Like a rose growing in the summertime
In the glen as far as the eye [sees]
 
Only when comes the summer
I will take a truck to younger glen
And that I raise with me to the Lowlands
To ______ the flower

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 07:50 AM

In Cape Breton there were funny verses added and it was sung much faster and more boisterous than the original love song. It usually ended with one verse in English:
       I asked her if she loved me?
       She said she was above me!
       She opened the door and shoved me
       And called me a fool

      Slainte,
       Sandy

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 05:47 PM

Paul Mounsey Nahoo is based on this song :)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 08:19 AM

The tune, under title "Ho Ro My Nut Brown Maiden", is the quick march of one of the battalions {the 2nd, I think} of the Scots Guards. I have heard it piped at Guard Mounting at Buckingham Palace several times when that particular unit were finding the guard.

In the fine film about piping and rivalries in a Highland regiment, "Tunes Of Glory", it is mentioned by Alec Guinness as one of such eponymous 'tunes' appropriate to be played at his predecessor's military funeral.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 07:16 PM

Some play it fast some play it slow.

My favourite version is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKsrYkKGsoY

CC

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 07:30 PM

Try again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKsrYkKGsoY

CC

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 08:16 PM

About half the tempo I learned it at 60 years ago, and the tune's changed.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 09:31 PM

a different version http://www.metrolyrics.com/ho-ro-mo-nighean-donn-bhoidheach-lyrics-rankin-family.html

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: GUEST,I need the phonetics of this song....please
Date: 18 Jan 12 - 09:39 PM

I need the phonetics of this song....please

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 11:01 AM

The English lyrics appearing on the Rankin Family website as of today do not aooear to be a translation of the Gaelic, but an entirely different song. The translation posted above looks much more accurate (although I think perhaps the last line of the chorus may actually say "I'll not marry anyone but you.")

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 12:33 PM

There was apparently yet another version being sung in the Codroy Valley of Newfoundland circa 1970, by old-timers to whim it was oassed down from the original settlers who originally came from Scotland (Moidart and Canna) via Cape Breton.

http://www.londoncanadianstudies.org/Journal/9/9-5.pdf
(discussion of this song starts on eighth page of pdf)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 12:51 PM

Those lyrics are a sort of standardised English version which we used to sing at school, I don't think they have ever been claimed to be any sort of literal translation from the Gaelic, but more a sort of independent poem to the same tune which tries to capture some of the same sentiments and atmosphere. Anyone happen to know whose work?

Another thread we had on it not long since reminded that it was a running theme thru the film I Know Where I'm Going, which shows Roger Livesey [who in fact never left London & did it all at Denham Studios [or was it Shepperton?] striding thru the heather with his kilt a-swing, carolling the words to the ambient wildlife. & also drew attention to the Scots regiments' target practice parody I Canna See The Target, which I learnt from a former Black Watch officer & contributed to Roy Palmer's 'Lovely War' collection of soldiers' songs ~~ & can be heard singing on the associated British Library website at

http://sounds.bl.uk/World-and-traditional-music/Roy-Palmer-collection/025M-C1023X0093XX-0400V0

~M~

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 11:45 AM

Loved that film (IKWIG). Nut Brown Maiden enters the story when Wendy Hiller is escorted by Roger Livesey to a ceilidh celebrating the wedding anniversary of an elderly local couple. As the two of them stand outside watching, Nut Brown Maiden is sung in Gaelic. Livesey starts to translate the words into English for Hiller, but by the time he gets to the line, "You're the maid for me," he gives her a look that shows he is no longer translating, but speaking directly from the heart.

Subject: Lyr Add: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: RunrigFan
Date: 13 Oct 21 - 06:16 PM

Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach

Rankin Family

Seisd (Chorus)
Ho ro, mo nigh'n donn bhoidheach
Hi ri, mo nigh'n donn bhoidhech
Mo chaileag laghach, bhoidheach
Cha phos mi ach tu

A Pheigi dhonn nam bla h-shul
Gur trom a thug mi gradh dhuit
Tha d'iomhaigh ghaoil a's d'ailleachd
A ghna h tigh'n fo m'uidh

Chorus

'S ann tha mo ru's na beanntaibh
Far bheil mo ribhinn ghreannar
Mar ros am fasach Shamhraidh
An gleann fad'o shuil

Chorus

Ach 'n uair a thig an Samradh
Bheir mise sgriob do 'n ghleann ud
'S gun tog mi leam do 'n Ghaildachd
Gu h-annsail am flur

online from Rankin Family from a streaming platform

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: Felipa
Date: 13 Oct 21 - 06:33 PM

see more verses and translation at https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=52633#1392635 posted by George Seto in 2005

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach
From: RunrigFan
Date: 13 Oct 21 - 06:37 PM

oops

been working tuesday so bit tired

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSmyQanvcjk

Is this the same lyrics

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