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297 messages

Most haunting melodies?

19 Oct 99 - 06:51 PM (#125684)
Subject: Most haunting melodies?
From: M. Ted (inactive)

Some one was asking about "the Maid in Bedlam" a while back, and I have been obsessed with the tune ever since--

I am wondering if people would care to list other melodies that have sad, and perhaps slightly mournful--"haunting" qualities about them--The lyrics don't matter, at least not so much, as the tune being that sort that sort of lingers in the misty recesses of the soul, so to speak--


19 Oct 99 - 07:17 PM (#125690)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Melbert

How about "She walked through the fair"?


19 Oct 99 - 07:18 PM (#125691)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: kendall

Unchained melody


19 Oct 99 - 07:37 PM (#125698)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: bill\sables

Hard Times come again no more and Time has made a change in me, the latter especially sung by Caroline Paton Cheers Bill


19 Oct 99 - 07:46 PM (#125703)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: John of the Hill

Inisheer, a tune composed by Thomas Walsh as performed by Buttons and Bows. A modern tune that sounds timeless.


19 Oct 99 - 07:52 PM (#125708)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Melbert

WOT A ROTTEN TRICK TO PLAY!

I can't get to sleep now @cos that rotten tune keeps going through my head!


19 Oct 99 - 07:55 PM (#125710)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Malcolm Douglas

Also "Lord Haddo's Favourite", "The Sheep Under the Snow" (Ny Kirree Fo Naghtey) and "Mrs. Jamieson's Favourite"...

Malcolm


19 Oct 99 - 08:36 PM (#125724)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: MMario

3 score and ten -- drove me crazy until I learned the words and could sing the thing to get it out....


19 Oct 99 - 09:12 PM (#125728)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Hutzul

"Dumbarton's Drums" and/or "Maggie" - either one sung by the Furey's.


19 Oct 99 - 09:21 PM (#125732)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: catspaw49

Tough question in a way since its so difficult to separate a beautiful lyric from a wonderful melody. "Ashoken Farewell" comes to mind as it was originally done with no lyric. I remember I found it interesting to use it in Burn's Civil War saga as there were other "haunting" melodies from that period. AF has the added advantage of being a beautiful piece on damn near any instrument. I dunno'....Kazoo is probably a bit ridiculous, but.............

Also, some songs are very different at different tempos too. I've gotten comments on both "Dixie" and "Yellow Rose of Texas" on Hammered as slow expressive ballads.

Looking forward to more on this thread!!!

Spaw


19 Oct 99 - 09:30 PM (#125734)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Vixen

Oh my--

I guess I "haunt" easily:

Amazing Grace
Ashokan Farewell
How can I keep from Singing

Just for starters.

V


19 Oct 99 - 09:41 PM (#125741)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Charlie Baum

Most anything Scots as sung by Jean Redpath, but especially Clerk Saunders and Eileen Aroon.

--Charlie Baum


19 Oct 99 - 10:11 PM (#125747)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Musicman

After just completing my CD, I found several of the melodies chosen to have that particular character; the Aaron Boat, the Dark Island and farwell. I know part of it is in the recording, but the melodies themselves are quite gorgeous.

Musicman


19 Oct 99 - 10:26 PM (#125749)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Musicman

sorry, Dark Island is here (i hope)


19 Oct 99 - 10:40 PM (#125757)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jeri

Question: I know Dark Island is a relatively recent composition, written for a UK TV show. Anybody know who wrote it? I've seen it listed as "trad" a bunch of places.

MacCrimmon's Lament - I first heard Alasdair Fraser play this, then I heard Dick Gaughan sing the song. The melody is haunting, but so are the words.


19 Oct 99 - 11:18 PM (#125766)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: DonMeixner

Sixteen Summers Fifteen Falls and Our Mother The Mountain by Townes Van Zandt.

I Come And Stand At Every Door by Dr. Nazim Hikmet

The Jeanie C by Stan Rogers ( an under appreciated song)

The Lag's Song By Ewan MacColl

The Leaving of Nancy by Eric Bogle

Spainish is the Lovin' Tongue by Badger Clark, and others.

Love Will Endure by Pat Sky

Another endless list

Don


19 Oct 99 - 11:22 PM (#125769)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: McKnees

The Hills of Ardmorn and Peggy Gordon are my two choices but there's bound to be tons more. They both have great words and for just a tune, Highland Cathedral, hairs on arms straight up. McKnees.


19 Oct 99 - 11:40 PM (#125774)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jon Freeman

A couple of tunes rather than songs: The Tamlin, Farewell to Reason (Jeri Corlew) also seems to be having that effect on me.

Jon


20 Oct 99 - 03:32 AM (#125802)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Stewie

Quiet Land of Erin, Donal Og, Carrickfergus


20 Oct 99 - 05:26 AM (#125814)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Canberra Chris

Ned of the Hill Samradh, samradh The Boat Theme from The Brendan Voyage suite The Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie


20 Oct 99 - 08:00 AM (#125825)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Mbo

Definately "Is Ar Eirinn Ni Nosfain Ce Hi (Dervish)," "Song of the Kelpie (Solas)," "It Belongs to Us (Dougie MacLean)," "Sitting In the Stern of A Boat (Alisdair Fraser)," Caoineadh Cu Chullain (Bill Whelan)," Magheracloone (Battlefield Band)," "Eliz Iza (Alan Stivell)," "Whispering Wind (Ronan Hardison)." Also the great Catalan folk song "Testement Al Amelia" and "Cancion" from "Piezas Caracteristicas" by Torroba (classical guitar favorites!)

--Mbo


20 Oct 99 - 09:53 AM (#125858)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)

Some of the Cantigas de Santa María , for example #259.

(The URL for those blue clicky thingies is http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/cantigas/)

T.


20 Oct 99 - 09:56 AM (#125860)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Lesley N.

This isn't much use really, but Dark Island was written in 1963.... I have an e-mail somewhere from Barry (Taylor) that gave more information - but can't place it at the moment - I'll keep looking.

I do think it's listed a lot of places as traditional because so many people copied Barry's site and put up his entire site on their space - and their version of his pages is before he took it off.

On the other hand I still have a lot of people writing me insisting that Today is traditional because it was sung in a movie set a long time ago... (that one would be Advance to the Rear with Glen Ford - which notes "Music by Randy Sparks)... And although not traditional, it is certainly a haunting melody along the same lines as Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms and Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes... (says Lesley who has the most unromantic life in entire galaxy...)


20 Oct 99 - 10:16 AM (#125867)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Rick Fielding

"Mist Covered Mountains", Duet from Beethoven's 7th, oh damn, there are thousands! That's why I got into music.


20 Oct 99 - 10:47 AM (#125873)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Bert

Waters of Tyne


20 Oct 99 - 11:03 AM (#125881)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jack (Who is called Jack)

There are a lot.

A few that come to mind are

Finlandia

I think its gonna rain today

Summertime

Rollin down to old Maui


20 Oct 99 - 11:30 AM (#125894)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Magpie

Oh man, look what you've started!!!

BOYS OF BARR NA SRAIDE BELLS OF DUNBLANE THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATHILDA WHERE YOU THERE (as done by Johnny Cash(!) GIVE ME YOUR HAND (TAHBAIR DOM DO LAMH) done slowly

Oh I could go on and on and on and on and on.....

Magpie


20 Oct 99 - 12:08 PM (#125912)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Davey

Jim Stewart, of St. John, New Brunswick (that's in Canada *Grin*) wrote a tune called Lament for Owen Christie, in memory of the Irish immigrants that came to Canada during the potato famine in the 1800s. Many of them are buried on an island in St. John harbour, and Owen Christie is the name on one of the graves. Hearing the tune always sends chills down my spine.


20 Oct 99 - 12:11 PM (#125914)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Davey

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPS, I posted that twice.... Slap... Sorry!!!


20 Oct 99 - 12:19 PM (#125918)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Mían

Who will Buy (from Oliver)
Gaoth Bearra or GweeBarra
The Wind That Shakes The Barley
A Stór Mo Chroí
Thuas ag Gort a Charnain (Dolores Kean)
A Chumaraigh Aoibhinn Ó
Amhran A Leabhair (David Finnamore)
Cailín Na nUrla Donn (Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich)
The Maid of Culmore(Óige)
Flower of Finae (Niamh Parsons)
Black Waterside
Beir Mo Dhúthracht (Begley & Cooney)
Oh, my. There are so many.


20 Oct 99 - 12:51 PM (#125932)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Allan C.

Awake Ye Drowsy Sleepers - as done by Ian & Sylvia
Cruel Sister - you pick a version
Molly Malone
Lord Randall
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Every Night When the Sun Goes In
Many, many others...


20 Oct 99 - 12:59 PM (#125934)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: kendall

Finlandia, absolutely.. and Owen Christy. Gordon Bok's Fundy, and anything played on the Andean pipes


20 Oct 99 - 01:27 PM (#125947)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Ringer

Opening bars of Beethoven's 4th piano concerto

Closing moments of Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending (the way that solo violin tails off, higher & higher, and eventually is no more - would be hair-raising if I had any)

It's time to go now

Banks of the Bann

and many more


20 Oct 99 - 02:14 PM (#125964)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: folk1234

Abbot's Bromley Dance, especially when acompanied by Morris Dancers and the deer


20 Oct 99 - 02:54 PM (#125977)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Bill L

Song for Ireland, Feather Bed, and always Midnight on the Water


20 Oct 99 - 03:07 PM (#125981)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: M. Ted (inactive)

I am lurking here, and have two thoughts--one I am also move by so many songs are listed, and two, there are many here that I wish I knew--many of you have provided a source--listed artists and records, and websites--I would appreciate it if people could do that, so I can find things that I am not familiar with--


20 Oct 99 - 03:10 PM (#125982)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jeri

Both of these are great to sin somewhere with a lot of echos: Betsy Bell and Mary Gray, and The Burning of Auchendoon.

Lesley, thanks for the info on Dark Island. I remember a discussion on one of the newsgroups, and may try fishing for it a bit later.


20 Oct 99 - 03:11 PM (#125983)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jeri

SING!!! I rarely get opportunities to do the other thing these days!


20 Oct 99 - 03:27 PM (#125988)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jon Freeman

M_Ted, I do not know whether the tunes I had listed are ones you have heard or not. Here is my MIDI arrangement of The Tam Lin . I don't know if Jeri has posted Farewell to Reason here or not but I will leave that to her.

Jon


20 Oct 99 - 03:28 PM (#125990)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Ely

Dipper of Stars (Howie Mitchell)

Amelia's (Bob McQuillan)

Gaftai Baile Bui (not the correct spelling)

Red Admiral Butterfly (aka Butterfly Jig)

Flowers of Edinburgh

Kitty Magennis (Turlough O'Carolan)

Long list; it appears I'm easily haunted. Note: I think the tune to "I Come and Stand" is traditionally "the Great Selchie of Skule Skerry".


20 Oct 99 - 03:49 PM (#126001)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: M. Ted (inactive)

Jon,

Is "The Tam Lin" supposed to be that quick? I seems like it is about 180--


20 Oct 99 - 05:11 PM (#126041)
Subject: Tune Add: FAREWELL TO REASON
From: Jeri

I only have FtoR as an ABC file, but I threw in a bonus tune. The very simple second one has no name yet.

Jon, if you want to wave your magic MIDI wand at this, feel free.

T:FAREWELL TO REASON
M:3/4
L:1/8
C:J. Corlew
R:Air
K:Em
E/2F/2||:GFE FED|B,EEE2 E/2F/2|
GFE FGA|BAG A2 B/2A/2|
Bee e/2d/2B2|c/2B/2A/2B/2c/2A/2 BGE|
EGG G/2F/2ED|B,EEE2 G/2F/2 :|
|:GBB B/2A/2 G/2F/2 E/2D/2|E/2F/2 G/2B/2 g/2f/2 e2 e/2f/2|
eBB Adc|BAG A 2 D/2G/2|
EB, D/2G/2 EFG|FDF A2 B/2A/2|
G/2A/2 B G F/2G/2AF|GE E/2D/2 E2 E/2F/2:|

And here's one without a name...

MIDI file: lament.mid

Timebase: 192

Name: JCLament
Text: By Unregistered User
Copyright: Copyright © 1999 by Jeri Corlew
Tempo: 112 (535714 microsec/crotchet)
Tempo: 090 (666666 microsec/crotchet)
Key: G
TimeSig: 6/8 24 8
Start
0000 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0528 0 64 000 0336 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 76 110 0528 0 76 000 0336 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0046 0 71 000 0002 1 67 110 0256 0 67 000 0032 1 66 110 0046 0 66 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 64 110 0256 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0528 0 64 000 0336 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0528 0 64 000 0336 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 76 110 0528 0 76 000 0336 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 67 110 0160 0 67 000 0032 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 71 110 0046 0 71 000 0002 1 67 110 0256 0 67 000 0032 1 66 110 0046 0 66 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 64 110 0256 0 64 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0528 0 64 000 0336 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 79 110 0046 0 79 000 0002 1 76 110 0256 0 76 000 0032 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0256 0 67 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 76 110 0528 0 76 000 0336 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 76 110 0046 0 76 000 0002 1 78 110 0256 0 78 000 0032 1 76 110 0046 0 76 000 0002 1 74 110 0256 0 74 000 0032 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 76 110 0528 0 76 000 0336 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 79 110 0046 0 79 000 0002 1 76 110 0256 0 76 000 0032 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0256 0 67 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 74 110 0046 0 74 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 74 110 0256 0 74 000 0032 1 62 110 0256 0 62 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0528 0 64 000 0336 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 79 110 0046 0 79 000 0002 1 76 110 0256 0 76 000 0032 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0256 0 67 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 74 110 0094 0 74 000 0002 1 76 110 0528 0 76 000 0336 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 76 110 0046 0 76 000 0002 1 78 110 0256 0 78 000 0032 1 76 110 0046 0 76 000 0002 1 74 110 0256 0 74 000 0032 1 79 110 0160 0 79 000 0032 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 76 110 0528 0 76 000 0336 1 76 110 0160 0 76 000 0032 1 78 110 0094 0 78 000 0002 1 79 110 0046 0 79 000 0002 1 76 110 0256 0 76 000 0032 1 74 110 0160 0 74 000 0032 1 71 110 0094 0 71 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 67 110 0256 0 67 000 0032 1 71 110 0160 0 71 000 0032 1 76 110 0094 0 76 000 0002 1 74 110 0046 0 74 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 74 110 0256 0 74 000 0032 1 62 110 0256 0 62 000 0032 1 64 110 0160 0 64 000 0032 1 66 110 0094 0 66 000 0002 1 67 110 0046 0 67 000 0002 1 71 110 0256 0 71 000 0032 1 69 110 0160 0 69 000 0032 1 67 110 0094 0 67 000 0002 1 69 110 0046 0 69 000 0002 1 66 110 0256 0 66 000 0032 1 62 110 0160 0 62 000 0032 1 64 110 0094 0 64 000 0002 1 64 110 0528 0 64 000
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:Lament
M:6/8
Q:1/4=90
K:G
E2FG/2B5/2|-B/2A2GA/2F2|-FD2EE2|-E6|EE5|-E3FG/2B3/2|
-B3/2A2GA/2F|-F2B2de|-e6|e2E4|-E4FG/2B/2|
-B5/2A2GA/2|F3G2B|B/2G3F/2B2|-BE3E2|FG/2B3A3/2|
-A/2GA/2F3D|-DEE4|-E5E|-EFG/2B3A/2|-A3/2GA/2F3|
D2EE3|-E6|E6|-E2FG/2B5/2|-B/2A2GA/2F2|-FB2de2|
-e6|eE5|-E3FG/2B3/2|-B3/2A2GA/2F|-F2G2BB/2G/2|
-G5/2F/2B3|E3E2F|G/2B3A2G/2|-G/2A/2F3D2|EE5|
-E4e2|fg/2e3d3/2|-d/2BA/2G3B|-Bde4|-e5e|-efg2fe/2f/2|
-f5/2e/2d3|g2fe3|-e6|e6|-e2fg/2e5/2|-e/2d2BA/2G2|
-GB2ed/2B3/2|-B3/2A/2d3D|-D2E2FG/2B/2|-B5/2A2GA/2|
F3D2E|E6|-E3e2f|g/2e3d2B/2|-B/2A/2G3B2|de5|
-e4e2|fg2fe/2f3/2|-f3/2e/2d3g|-gfe4|-e5e|
-efg/2e3d/2|-d3/2BA/2G3|B2ed/2B5/2|-B/2A/2d3D2|
-DE2FG/2B3/2|-B3/2A2GA/2F|-F2D2EE|-E9/2||


20 Oct 99 - 05:32 PM (#126052)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: MMario

I thought that was "Jeri's Lament"? And it is haunting...


20 Oct 99 - 05:33 PM (#126054)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jon Freeman

M_Ted you must have a good ear. It was 180. It is difficult to say what pace the Tam Lin should be played at and it is a tune that I have played very slowly and very quickly and for me it seems to work well both ways. If I was playing it in my local sessions, at a guess, I would be playing it at 200+ and I have heard it recorded by players who go faster than I do.

Jon


20 Oct 99 - 05:49 PM (#126068)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jon Freeman

OK Jeri, but what I've done for now is put my start of an attempt at Farewell To Reason on my web space.

Please note: This is the way I "hear" the tune and I think it is probably quite different to what Jeri would do with it. For M_Ted, I have even changed from the 3/4 time Jeri gives to using 6/8 on this version.

Jon

(Off to catch last orders and have his pints for Bert :-))


20 Oct 99 - 05:58 PM (#126075)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jeri

Great work, Jon!!! It's faster than I would play it, but big deal, so what. (The second tune is called "Frosty's Denial.")


20 Oct 99 - 06:01 PM (#126081)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Penny S.

Not folk, but "Stranger on the Shore" by Acker Bilk. It was the theme of a BBC series for children, years back, about a foreign exchange student in, I think, Brighton. It sounds quite good on tenor recorder, as well as clarinet.

Penny


20 Oct 99 - 06:25 PM (#126096)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: katlaughing

Jeri, great tune! Thanks, Jon, it sounds great! There are so many, as most of you mentioned. Here are a few I can think of right off:

So Lonesome I COuld Cry

Spanish Point by Declan Masterson

Ou Sube a Terra by Fia Na Roca and,
White Wings by Oystein Sevag (I've already told my kids I want these played when I die)

The Drowning Plains piped by Mychal & Jeff Danna

Carolan's #171

Are You Sleeping, Maggie? done by Dougie MacLean

Lover's Waltz - Molly Mason & Jay Ungar

Shake Sugaree - done by Art Thieme on his Folk Legacy cassette "That's The Ticket"

Can't Understand - Laura Love

anything on Ronroco by Gustavo Santaolalla

everything on Donovan's Sutras

The Gaberlunzieman - Andy M. Stewart

King of the Blues - Deanta

Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major (his only one!)

The Magic Flute - Mozart

La Boheme - Puccini

My brother's Romance No 1 and Romance No 2 for piano; his songs: Evenings in Crsytal; Flowers of Summer; and, Karmic Lover

Sheesh, that's JUSt the tip of the iceberg!


20 Oct 99 - 06:32 PM (#126098)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jon Freeman

I'll apologise here as I put the link here. I was in a hurry to get to the pub when I put Jeri's tune up - I forgot to chop Frosty's denial from it. Having said that, I think the Frosty's Denial is a tune well worth learning.

Jon


20 Oct 99 - 06:37 PM (#126102)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jon Freeman

What I did not mention in my previous post was that Frosty's Denial was also written by Jeri.

Jon


20 Oct 99 - 06:44 PM (#126103)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Liam's Brother

Haunting?

Why that would be... The Monster Mash!


20 Oct 99 - 07:02 PM (#126113)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jeri

Jon, share 'em wherever and whenever you want. I'm thrilled you like them enough to want to.

Lots of Carolan's tunes fit the bill. Go listen to a few.


20 Oct 99 - 07:05 PM (#126117)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Ana

Lagan Love (aah) She's like the Swallow... and lots of the other's already named!


20 Oct 99 - 07:19 PM (#126128)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: John of the Hill

Osibisa's original version of Woyaya, I haven't heard it in a long time, just recalling it moves me.


20 Oct 99 - 09:04 PM (#126166)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Lowden Unruly

Ramble to Cashel and O'Carolans' Farewell

Vissi D'arte and O Mio Babbino Caro - Puccini

Chopins' Barrcarolle

Ravels' Le Tombeau de Couperin 3rd movement

West Coast of Clare -Planxty

McCrimmons' Lament especially Dick Gaughns' with Aly Bain on fiddle.( thanks for reminding me Jeri, I'm hearing it right now)

Farewell, Farewell by Fairport sung by Sandy Denny

So Clear by Pentangle

Midnight on the Water especially when sung by Kate Wolf

and on and on , but these are some that really get to me.

LU


20 Oct 99 - 10:34 PM (#126201)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: kendall

Scottish Fantasy as played by Jasha Heifitz


20 Oct 99 - 11:59 PM (#126224)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: katlaughing

Forgot about several Native American tapes and cd's that I love for their haunting melodies, including one you can sample here Along the River, part of Keith Bear's echoes of the Upper Missouri

Also early Carlos Nakai and just about anything by Coyote Oldman. Funny thing, one time I had on one of my NA flute tapes; received a phone call from some solicitor; she said she loved the Irish music I had on; blew her away when I told her what it was.

Cute, Dan, verrrry cute!And, vat vill you be do-ink this Hal-oh-veen?


20 Oct 99 - 11:59 PM (#126225)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: lamarca

I agree with Rick - Mist Covered Mountains is one that stays with me. Anyone else ever hear the version Mark Knopfler did in his soundtrack for Local Hero?
She Moves Through the Fair (though Mrs. Akroyd Band almost ruined it for me...)
Aqaba - Bill Caddick song, sung by June Tabor
the Finale of Bernstein's West Side Story, as they're carrying Tony's body offstage. I worked a follow spot for a 2 week run of the show for community theater one summer, grew to loathe "I Feel Pretty", and still shiver when I remember that final scene and Bernstein's inspired score. "O Fortuna", the opening piece in Orff's Carmina Burana

these are just a few that live in my mind for keeps...


21 Oct 99 - 12:25 AM (#126236)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Warren

Wow ... great thread

I'm so lonesome I could cry (Hank) I can't help it if I'm still in love with you (Hank) "She's got you," & "I fall to pieces" (Patsy) I still miss someone (Johnny Cash) Bury me beneat the willow (traditional ?) Wondrous love (what wondrous love is this) and If I were a featherbed (John McCutcheon - I think he wrote it, I know he played it)

- Warren wtbush@yahoo.com


21 Oct 99 - 12:32 PM (#126415)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Susan-Marie

Neil Gow's Lament on the Death of His Second Wife is haunting in the way Askoken Farewell and Give Me Your Hand are...(it's on Dougie MacLean's Tribute CD).


21 Oct 99 - 12:55 PM (#126424)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: catspaw49

Good Christ, there's enough material here for us to have a "Cry-A-Thon" that would fill Lake Superior.......

Spaw


21 Oct 99 - 01:15 PM (#126428)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Mían

Angel (Sara McLaughlin)
Blue
Tears in Heaven
Erik Satie piano pieces


21 Oct 99 - 01:25 PM (#126433)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Fortunato

As Time Goes By I'm Beginning to See the Light Chinatown Great Silkie of Sule Skerie Wildwood Flower Summer Wages (Ian Tyson) See That My Grave is Kept Clean and most of all: Lorena


21 Oct 99 - 01:53 PM (#126450)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Sandy Paton

For the record: The tune Pete Seeger used for "I Come and Stand at Every Door" was originally written by Jim Waters for the ballad of the Great Silkie. He wrote it while he was attending college at MIT. Many years ago, he gave Folk-Legacy the copyright to help us release more recordings of field recordings. Only a few of those who have recorded the tune have honored the copyright, but Pete Seeger always has!

Sandy


21 Oct 99 - 01:58 PM (#126454)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Fortunato

thank you Sandy

the melody in my head came from a J.Baez album long ago, it was listed as traditional. Are they one and the same, I wonder.


21 Oct 99 - 02:33 PM (#126468)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: kendall

Slow Dance from Machu Michu on Folk Legacy, Gordon Bok


21 Oct 99 - 02:39 PM (#126471)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: M. Ted (inactive)

Spaw is right, but no matter how many tears are shed, it is never enough--

Jon, thank you for the MIDI of Jeri's tune--

Jeri--is the counterpoint melody actually a harmony to the melody, that you have offset?

Kat, the realplayer crashed every time I tried to play the Keith Bear samples--

I particularly appreciate the classical melodies that people have mentioned, the Beethoven Violin Concerto was serendipitous--my 17 year old daughter and I were listening to it on the radio, and both were enamoured-- she usually is a NIN fan--

"Stranger on the Shore" was a childhood favorite of mine--Aker Bilk's clarinet has that most remarkable ability to evoke a time that is no more--

I remember years ago, in the bitter winters of my Michigan youth, a pair of Salvation Army musicians (a cornet and and alto horn) who played "Good King Wenceslaus" at the entrance of a discount deparment store in a stark and tawdry strip mall--

Funny how these things stay with you--


21 Oct 99 - 02:51 PM (#126477)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: sophocleese

Some scottish tunes, The Boatman, My Luv's in Germanie, The Haunting, Annachie Gordon.

A few years ago I heard trumpet player play a beautiful new composition called Prayer to St. Gregory, I can't remember the composer but I remember how spellbound I was hearing it ringing through a church on a snowy December night.


21 Oct 99 - 03:02 PM (#126481)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: catspaw49

Ted -- What ZAP!!!

My mind immediately focused (unusual) back to a small Salvation Army band on a corner in downtown Columbus during one of those slushy,gray, Christmastime days...well, there's no explaining it, but what a rush. This place is often funny that way.

Spaw


21 Oct 99 - 03:39 PM (#126492)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jon Freeman

M_Ted, I wrote the second part and I am afraid that your question is beyond my musical knowledge.

I had started to play around with Jeri's tunes a few weeks ago (and then my stupid brain got stuck) and all I can tell you is I just added what entered into my head.

When Jeri suggested a midi as well as the ABC that she had supplied, it seemed to me that the quickest solution to give an idea of what the melody sounded like was simply to put my existing MIDI onto my web space and provide a link to it here.

Jon


21 Oct 99 - 03:59 PM (#126497)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Blackcat2

wow great tunes!

mine would include Jesse Winchester's Coast of Marsailles, Skye Boat song, Foggy Dew, anything slow played on a japanese Bamboo flute, and Ashokan Farewell - I loved that tune so much I wrote a lament for Diana of Wales a couple years back using the tune. Pax


21 Oct 99 - 05:49 PM (#126547)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jeri

M. Ted, Jon said it. I sent him simple melody lines, everything else in that MIDI is his own. Didn't he do a hell of a job of arranging? Jon, don't talk about your brain that way - it has friends here!


21 Oct 99 - 06:32 PM (#126558)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: JedMarum

my top three votes for haunting melodies:

ashoken farewell
shenandoah
ghost riders in the sky

Oh - and who could leave out Lorena?


21 Oct 99 - 06:39 PM (#126560)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jon Freeman

Jeri, the one comment I will make here is that I am finding Mudcat a great place - so many friendly people who share a common interest and an amazing depth of knowledge to go with it.

I subscribe to music newsgroups as well (as do others here) and again there are some incredibly knowledgeable people there but I think that Mudcat is unique in the way it combines the musical interest with a friendly atmosphere.

Jon


21 Oct 99 - 07:20 PM (#126578)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: kendall

Lorena has always been one of my favorites too.. thats why I recorded it for Folk Legacy long time back..


21 Oct 99 - 07:53 PM (#126593)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Cap't Bob

Sally in the Garden, ~~ love those modal tunes.

Cap't Bob


21 Oct 99 - 08:42 PM (#126610)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: katlaughing

I love Art Thieme's version of the Great Silkie, and, naturally, he credits Jim Waters.

How could I forget Skye Boat song? I've had it in my brain since I can remember.

M. Ted, there is NOTHING liek a good recording of Jascha Heifitz playing the Beethoven. when my kids were little, we wore out my first LP of him playing it. They each ahd to have a copy when they moved out. Glad your daughter liked it.

Just listened to Art Thieme doing Shake Sugaree, again, today. It is such an eloquent, brief and very haunitng little song.


21 Oct 99 - 09:28 PM (#126623)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: MaryLee

I remember "March To the Rear"! Not the greatest movie in the world, according to some, but I liked it! Also the mewsic was, to me, really "good". But what did a youngster of the late '60's know. Too young to be a beatnik, too old to be hippie! So, I kinda fit in between. "If it sounds Traditional, play it!" (or as the case may be--"Listen to It!")

Anyway, Wasn't Randy Sparks part of one of the 'neo'folk groups. The New Christy Minstrals or ??

But to the point of this thread, "Today" is haunting. I cannot remember things quickly enough to come up with my own ideas!


21 Oct 99 - 10:14 PM (#126635)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Don from Georgia

There are so many but two that stick with me are "Old Blue" and "Bolero"


22 Oct 99 - 12:34 AM (#126677)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: katlaughing

M. Ted, have you tried Keith Bear's page, again? I didn't have any trouble with Real Player when I went back to listen, again. It's well worth the listen.


22 Oct 99 - 01:04 AM (#126680)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Bill D

Country Lassie by Robert Burns...Janice Cole, the lady who sang "Rubber Ducky" for Barry Finn at the Getaway does this, and it melts me everytime I hear it...


22 Oct 99 - 01:30 AM (#126687)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Sandy Paton

Baring-Gould's version of "The Unquiet Grave" found in Songs of the West.
The Shape-Note hymn "Samanthra."
Gustav (sp?) Holst's setting (I think) for "The Corpus Christi Carol."
"Who Killed Cock Robin" as we learned it from Alan Ribback many years ago. I don't know his source, so I'll have to sing it for Bruce O someday, and let him work his awesome magic.

Sandy


22 Oct 99 - 02:09 AM (#126691)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: JennyCurtiss

For me, 'The Loch Tay Boat Song' and 'Golden, Golden' (yeah, Silly Wizard, but still), 'She Moved Through the Fair', 'The Lakes of Pontchartrain', 'The Skye Boat Song'. Of course 'Amazing Grace'.

I get choked up just hearing the melodies, they make my throat ache (but in a good way). Apparently the notion of boats and lakes makes me sentimental.

Flyin' Jenny


22 Oct 99 - 05:31 AM (#126707)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Lady McMoo

Valencia Harbour

mcmoo


22 Oct 99 - 12:35 PM (#126805)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: clj

I've been thinking about this thread since lunch yesterday. Where would one hear Valencia Harbour or Ashoken Farewell or Lorena, for example?? Living where I do makes hearing these difficult at times. My most haunting melodies are Poor Wayfaring Stranger, Shenandoah, Silver Dagger, Peggy Gordon, Jacqui McShee's voice, Scarborough Fair, Eleanor Rigby, Dives and Lazarus, Sheherazade (sp?), the song at the beginning of "A Room With a View", and the music you hear when reading "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" Thanks for making me remember.clj


22 Oct 99 - 01:11 PM (#126818)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: kendall

As I said, I recorded Lorena for folk legacy some years ago, and, unlike some others, I sang all the verses. It can be found on LIGHTS ALONG THE SHORE fsi 57 Thats one of the great things about folk legacy.. they let you do all of it!!


22 Oct 99 - 02:00 PM (#126847)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Bobby brogerso@island.net

Dark Island Dream Angus Carrickfergus I Once Loved a Lass Bonnie Doon and, er----the Ghost of the Barber Sweeney Todd!


23 Oct 99 - 02:10 AM (#127103)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Sandy Paton

Fortunato: Yes, Baez recorded Jim Waters' tune, and her Ballad Book (is that the title?) even credits him, although Vanguard never honored the copyright. Many people have assumed the tune to be traditional, which I think is a great compliment to Jim Waters.

By the way, credit Art Thieme's tune for "Shake Sugaree" to Elizabeth Cotten, although Art did some creative work on the lyrics. That sure is a fun song to sing!

Sandy


23 Oct 99 - 11:34 AM (#127157)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: kendall

Utah Phillip's Ashes on the sea onf my current favorites.


23 Oct 99 - 12:50 PM (#127184)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Pete Peterson

WHICH Lorena? The Carter Family one about the POSSUM and the wild banana or the pre-Civil-War love song? I like them both!
Another vote for Hard Times Come Again No More
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring
Sir John A. Macdonald's Waltz (a Scotty Fitzgerald tune I believe)
White Rose Waltz (I watched two friends getting married to that four years ago this weekend with J.P. Fraley playing it, just as the bride had always hoped)


23 Oct 99 - 01:07 PM (#127190)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: kc

Fare Thee Well (10,000 Miles) by Mary Chapin Carpenter... A Stor Mo Chroi from the Chieftain's cd with Bonnie Raitt on vocals... Gypsy Rover by the Clancys... Fragile by Nanci Griffith...

:-)


23 Oct 99 - 09:09 PM (#127350)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: McBeagle

CORRAL NOCTURNE - Copeland SATURDAY NIGHT WALTZ - Copeland LONG, LONG TRAIL TAPS GARRYOWEN - "after the battle" mood TENNESSEE WALTZ - Page SHENANDOAH

KNOCKIN' ON HEAVENS DOOR - Dylan THE BOXER - Simon & Garfunkel EL CONDOR PASA (I'D RATHER BE..) - Simon & Garfunkel

SOLDIER'S LAMENT??-Harmonica(from TheGood,TheBad,&TheUgly) * Can anybody help with this one please? (Title,Artist) *

more...


23 Oct 99 - 09:37 PM (#127355)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: McBeagle

that came out lookin kinda funny!

LONG, LONG TRAIL

TAPS

GARRYOWEN


23 Oct 99 - 10:27 PM (#127361)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: MaryLee

"La Belle Se Promene", a lovely, dark French waltz gleaned from an old accordion tutor. Recorded by "Nonesuch" of OK. Jackie playes the most haunting, quiet thunder, chords I have ever heard. Cried the first time I heard them play it, get mushy every time I hear it still.


23 Oct 99 - 11:19 PM (#127377)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Martin D

Hallelujah--Leonard Cohen, recorded by Jeff Buckley; Ne Me Quitte Pas--Jacques Brel, recorded by Nina Simone; Speak Low by Kurt Weill;


24 Oct 99 - 01:09 AM (#127401)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: masha A.

the beginning sections of Turceasa (sp? I don't have the CD here) by the Rom band Taraf de Haidouks

Anything recorded by Django Reinhart (sorry about the spelling mangling again) and Stephan Grappelli!

Another vote for So Lonesome I could Cry


24 Oct 99 - 03:01 AM (#127413)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: katlaughing

McBeagle...see the thread I started about The Story of a Soldier from the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Hope it answers your question.


24 Oct 99 - 10:39 AM (#127469)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: BR

Skip James' Cypress Grove Blues.


24 Oct 99 - 05:05 PM (#127562)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: McBeagle

Kat/KatLaughing....I clicked on your name, scrolled up and down the list a few times but I could not find 'THE STORT OF A SOLDIER'(from the Good, Bad, Ugly). Do you have a reference or line number? Thank you...


24 Oct 99 - 06:05 PM (#127577)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: McBeagle

Kat - I finally figured it out and found the album and the request for help that you made. Thank you very much!


25 Oct 99 - 09:21 AM (#127740)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Allen Mordica

I'd have to nominate two sailor's tunes: The Old Fid (you should hear it accompanied by concertina!) and This Dreadful Life.


25 Oct 99 - 09:31 AM (#127742)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: catspaw49

Skip Lake Superior....we're working on the entire Great Lakes system by now...................

...and what list of music around here would be complete (no matter what the topic) unless someone mentioned... "Waltzing with Bears"...so there we go.

Spaw


25 Oct 99 - 10:29 AM (#127753)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)

Sandy Paton, Thank you for bringing the tune Samanthra to my attention. Somehow I've overlooked it for years, but no longer. T.


25 Oct 99 - 10:57 AM (#127766)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: kendall

Old Fid works well on an Apollonio 12 string guitar tuned down to D and played in the Em position.


25 Oct 99 - 12:07 PM (#127781)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Dan Evergreen

Alison Kraus sings a really haunting song named "I don't believe you've met my baby." "Evangeline", the cajun one, evokes visual images that will haunt one a long time: "High on the top of a hickory hill, She stands in the lightning and thunder..." Hey, Martin, where might one hear Nina Simone's "Ne me quitte pas?"


25 Oct 99 - 12:13 PM (#127784)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: M. Ted (inactive)

I am going to be away for a while, but will check this compendium when I get back--

I will leave you with a couple, first, no one has mentioned "Somewhere over the Rainbow" which, in recent years, I cannot hear without crying--

Someday I will get my tape recorder and a gun and force every guitarist that I know to play their secret arrangement of this song, because everyone fools around with it, though few will admit it--

I also love "Ali Pasha", which is a Turkish song, a story of a great and beloved leader who went off on a campaign and was ambushed and murdered--it is in 5/4, whcih gives it the very peculiar quality of lingering on the end of every phrase--


25 Oct 99 - 12:32 PM (#127789)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Liam's Brother

Hi!

I got a copy of the new Folk-Legacy CD, "Ceol Anum," today and it's absolutely beautiful... two guitars playing lovely (mostly) Irish tunes.

All the best,
Dan Milner


25 Oct 99 - 12:44 PM (#127797)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jack (who is called Jack)

Re: El Condor Pasa. I have heard, but never made the effort to verify, that the tune for El Condor Pasa is a folk melody from South America and is one of the oldest folk tunes known. The person who told me this said that some estimates trace it back 900+ years.

The lyrics were added for S & G's recording.


25 Oct 99 - 01:41 PM (#127811)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Brad Sondahl

here's my favorite original MIDI haunting melody... http://www.camasnet.com/~asondahl/felicity.mid

Bradhttp://www.camasnet.com/~asondahl/bradindex.html


25 Oct 99 - 02:14 PM (#127820)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: MTM

Ne Me Quitte Pas by Nina Simone might be found on her CD of the same name, or on "The Best Of Nina Simone"--try this page: http://www.boscarol.com/nina/html/album/670030.html Hope it helps. Shirley Bassey did it too.


25 Oct 99 - 02:27 PM (#127825)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Bert

La Vie en Rose


25 Oct 99 - 03:13 PM (#127843)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: MTM

Lili Marlene Snowy Breasted Pearl (Wolfetones)


25 Oct 99 - 03:52 PM (#127862)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: kendall

jenny, I'm glad you also like the Loch Tay Boat song. It has been rattling around in my head since I saw it in the thread. Problem is, I cant sing it.. painful memories.. I'd also like to mention Come Back to Sorrento.


25 Oct 99 - 11:13 PM (#128020)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: McBeagle

RE: RE: El Condor Pasa - FASCINATING!


26 Oct 99 - 12:33 AM (#128045)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: ddw

One of the most haunting things I've ever heard is Loreena McKennitt's (SP?) All Souls Night. The fiddle/cello player on that a few other tracks from her Mask and Mirror album and The Visit is absolutely demented. Chilling stuff!

david


26 Oct 99 - 01:55 AM (#128076)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Lonesome EJ

I have felt, since first I heard it, that The Fireside Largo from Vivaldi's Four Seasons is the most emotive piece of music ever written. It stirs the Soul.

After that, I would agree with others on So Lonesome I could Cry, Long,Long Trail, and Shenandoah. To those I would also add McCartney's Yesterday, Gram Parson's Hickory Wind, and Corral Nocturne from Copland's Rodeo.


26 Oct 99 - 02:54 PM (#128266)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Meg

For me the most haunting songs are 'By yon castle wa'at the close of the day' and 'The Highland Widow's Lament".


30 Apr 05 - 08:00 PM (#1475334)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Julia

The phantom of the opera..the vocals are just soo haunting


30 Apr 05 - 10:28 PM (#1475406)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: jaze

Tonight My Sleep Will Be Restless-Alisdair Fraser


01 May 05 - 12:21 PM (#1475761)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Stephen L. Rich

For me it's Tom Paxton's "Dance In The Shadows".

Stephen Lee


01 May 05 - 01:05 PM (#1475787)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Navigator

Angel Eyes { Sinatra's version }


01 May 05 - 01:47 PM (#1475828)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Ebbie

One of the most haunting tunes I know is 'Lament for the Reverend Archie Beaton'. It is such a visual piece.


01 May 05 - 02:51 PM (#1475875)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Cruiser

Wind That Shakes the Corn (Irish Rovers)
Mary of the Wild Moor (Heart Songs, Dolly Patton)
Sally Garden
Quentin's Theme (Shadows in the Night)
In the Pines
Barbara Allen
Whispering Pines (Johnny Horton)
Wayward Wind (Gogi Grant)
Aura Lee
Streets of Laredo
Springtime in Alaska (Johnny Horton)

Crusier


01 May 05 - 02:58 PM (#1475881)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Peace

"Prince's Day" by Alan Sylvestri (sp?). It was the opening piece from the movie "Blown Away" (1994). Terrible movie. Good soundtrack. And the aforementioned piece will stay with you forever.

October Winds (Castle of Dramore).


01 May 05 - 03:01 PM (#1475887)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Nick

Canyon Moonrise - John McCann
Floating to Skerry - Lynn Tocken
Calliope House - Dave Richardson
Sheebeg and Sheemore - O'Carolan


01 May 05 - 04:39 PM (#1475958)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,cromdubh

Farewell to Weaverly Park, a very strange haunting reel composed by Cathal McConnell of the Boys of the lough.

Can be heard on his solo album "Long Expectant comes at last"


02 May 05 - 07:12 AM (#1476331)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,James

The Minstrel Boy, Will Ye Go Lassie, The Parting Glass, Ballad of Springhill, Crazy Man Michael( Fairport) oh, sooooooo many.


02 May 05 - 07:25 AM (#1476333)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,JTT

Brad, your midi gave me a 404.

The Coolin
The Snowy-Breasted Pearl
Fill, Fill, a Rún Ó
and of course....

...a wim a weh, a wim a weh...


02 May 05 - 09:49 AM (#1476406)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Neighmond

Two come to mind at present:

Bittersweet Waltz (Leon Redbone sang it)

When Johnny Comes Marching home Again


02 May 05 - 12:03 PM (#1476496)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,MTflyfisher

O mio caro bambino
The French Girl
Constant Billy
The refrain from Los Hojas de Veranos
Plaisir d'Amour

This is a great thread.


02 May 05 - 02:25 PM (#1476629)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

"Dalnabreac", written and performed by John McKusker on the Battlefield Band "Quiet Days" album tops my list of most haunting melodies. Gives me goosebumps, it does.

I heard a song performed at a Dundee Strathspey & Reel Society fiddler's rally in Caird Hall (1979 or 80) called "Kishmul" (not "Kishmul's Galley" of The Corries fame.) The arrangement featured a solo flautist and was absolutely beautiful.

Moira Kerr's "MacIain of Glencoe" also comes to mind, as does "The Dark Isle", especially played on accordion.

"By the Water's Edge", tune on the Schotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band album of the same name will grab you, if you're into pipe music.

There's loads more, but I'll stop there.

SND


03 May 05 - 10:03 AM (#1476977)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

Avalanche - Leonard Cohen


04 May 05 - 08:13 AM (#1477769)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: RobbieWilson

Considering the number of melodies mentioned in this very old thread I am surprised not to see any of these Flowers of the Forest, Banks of Sicilly or the false bride.


04 May 05 - 11:01 AM (#1477883)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Peter T.

One thing not discussed on this thread are moments inside melodies that give you goose bumps. Three that come to mind:

In "Every Time You Go Away" by Cole Porter ("But how strange the change from major to minor") -- that change is so brilliant.

"I Could Have Danced All Night" -- There is a moment just before "...I only know when he, began to dance with me," when the chord movement just takes the breath away.

The Beatles have hundreds of them. Maybe my favourite is in "I'll Follow the Sun" when they go to the "B" section -- "But now the time has come, and so my love I must go, and though I lose a friend, in the end you will know, whoaoh...." or that extraordinary moment in "Ask Me Why" when the augmented pops up":"I can't believe it's happened to me-e-e-e, I can't conceive, of any more misery!"

yours,

Peter T.


04 May 05 - 11:15 AM (#1477899)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: JulieF

Way,Way back someone asked who wrote Dark Island and I don't think it was answered.   - Iain MCLachlan from Benbecula.    It has long been my favourite tune and I would love it played at my funeral - one lone highland piper on a hill top will do nicely.    It is a wonderful tune to sing , although I was never happy with any of the words so I had to write my own.

J


04 May 05 - 10:51 PM (#1478464)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Mary in Kentucky

I know this is an old thread...but being a tune person myself, I often relate to instrumentals instead of songs with words. I often like various opera arias where I don't even understand the words. Somehow the emotion is expressed in the tune.

Un Bel Di (One Fine Day from Madama Butterfly)
Vissi d'Arte (from Tosca)
Prelude to Act III (from Carmen, sounds like The Minstrel Boy)

and then all the melancholic Scottish tunes...(the ones I like to play on the piano when the electricity goes off ;-))
Ye Banks and Braes (Bonnie Doon was mentioned above)
What Ails This Heart Of Mine
Rare Willie

and then most of Chopin...
Ballade in G (I'm Always Chasing Rainbows - the words spoiled it IMO)

the second movement of Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata (I loved it before I ever heard Carl Haas use it for the theme music to his program.)

and that gorgeous 18th variation on a theme of Paganinni by Rachmaninoff (was it used in a coffee commercial?)

what about Max Bruch's Scottish Fantasy where he uses the Scottish folksongs "I'm a Doun for Lack o' Johnnie" and "Thro the Wood Laddie discussed at Mudcat here and here.

Lonesome EJ - I love the waltz that follows Copland's Corral Nocturne. It is really "I Ride an Old Paint" with a different rhythm (my opinion).

Julia - I guess you know that "Music of the Night" from Phantom is the same opening interval as in "Come to Me, Bend to Me" from Brigadoon.

Peter T - you once mentioned "Humming Chorus" from Madama Butterfly. It's the same as "Bring Him Home" from Les Miz. Also, you mentioned above about moments inside melodies - how about the anticipation in Copland's Waltz - where you are waiting to start the tune/emotions and just lean into it as it finally starts!

clj (from way back in '99) - if you like Scheherazade, by Rimsky-Korsakov, you'd also love all the Polovtsian Dances by Borodin, another Russian. (made into popular tunes in the musical Kismet... Stranger in Paradise, And this is My Beloved, etc.)

But I still like the tunes without the words.


05 May 05 - 12:27 AM (#1478515)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Arne Langsetmo

Tom Anderson's "Da Slockit Licht"

Jay Ungar's "Ashokan Farewell"

Dick Gaughan's rendition of "The 51st Highland Division's Farewell to Sicily" (words, Hamish Henderson, music, Pipe-Major J. Robertson)

"Farewell to Whiskey" (as a slow air, not a reel)

"Carrickfergus"

"Anachie Gordon" (particularly done by Mary Black)

Joni Mitchell's "Urge For Going"

"Strange Affair" (performed by June Tabor, author unknown [to me])

"Pull Down, Lads" (by John Tams and Roger Watson, perfomed by June Tabor)

"Angel From Montgomery" (by John Prine, performed by Raitt and Prine)

"If I Were A Feather Bed" (John McCutcheon)

So many others too....


05 May 05 - 01:39 AM (#1478535)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Arne Langsetmo

"Kilkelly" (Moloney, O'Connell, and Keane)

"There Were Roses" (MOK + Liz Carroll)

"School Day's Over" (Ewan McColl)

"I Will Arise" (done by Trapezoid)

"A Mother's Dying Words To Her Daugter" (done by Critten Hollow String Band)

. . .


05 May 05 - 03:39 AM (#1478578)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Elfcall

Currently listening to No Nighean Donn, Gradh Mo Chridhe. by Silly Wizard


05 May 05 - 04:13 PM (#1478908)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Allen

The Basque tune Martin Carthy used for the Wife of Usher's Well.


06 May 05 - 12:46 AM (#1479191)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: number 6

Two songs previously mentioned in this thread ...

"She move through the Fair" by anyone and "Ashokan Farewell" especially by Jay Unger and Molly Mason

One hanting song (not previously mentioned) that really moves me is Tecumseh Valley by Townes Van Zandt.

sIx


06 May 05 - 05:06 AM (#1479231)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: fat B****rd

Songs To Aging Children
The string part of You Only Live Twice
Goodnight Irene
The Promenade from Pictures At An Exhibition
and loads more......


06 May 05 - 06:28 AM (#1479260)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Uncle Jaque

I study and collect music of the early 19th Century up to the Civil War - and there was a LOT of haunting going on back then!

Some of the songs in these tattered old books (most of which I've never heard about, and a lot of them have NEVER been recorded as far as I know) will really reach deep into your chest and muckle on to your heart.

One particularly poigniant one is "Mother's Lament", to the tune of "Sweet Afton":

Yon spot in in the Church-yard
How sad is the gloom;
That Summer flings 'round it
In flowers and perfume;
'Tis thy dust, my Darling
Gives life to each rose;
'Tis because thou hast withered...
The violet grows.

Some of the ones that have survived include "Lorena" - which has a bittersweet association for me, as it brings back memories of my own "Lorena", loved and lost long ago.
A little over a year ago, she died of bone cancer at the age of 54.

Aren't there about 6 verses to that, Kendall? I usually keep it down to 4. Given the average American's attention span, one does well to get through the third before people start getting up and wandering off or falling asleep and tipping over.

Then there's "Angel Band". As my Brother and I kept vigil by our Mother as she died, i "sang her home" with that like the old timers used to.

Speaking of mothers, there's "Rock Me to Sleep, Mother" which was very popular from when it was written in 1860 through the CW. It's a beautiful song, and a shame that we don't hear it much, if at all any more.

A couple of tunes that I like to do on the low "G" flute are a really old one - "Brave Wolfe", and the ghostly "Mary's Dream".

After the first rousing, patriotic marches of the American Civil War, people stated getting a hard dose of reality and experienced the terrible loss and grief that any war brings.

It wasn't long before we had "The Vacant Chair" "The Pickett Guard" and "Tenting Tonight", all of which can be pretty "haunting".
These also represented some of the earliest "anti-war" protest songs to appear in America, albeit in a rather discrete form.

Someone in the South wrote "Somebody's Darlin'", which is deeply touching, and one of my favorites.   

Another nomination would be "Wayfaring Stranger". There's something to that song that gets to me from time to time.

More music was written in America during the CW than at any other time in our History. Most of it has since settled into the mouldy catacombs of obscurity, and a lot of it probably deserved to, frankly.

But there are still some wonderful old songs still waiting to be re-discovered.


06 May 05 - 11:44 AM (#1479441)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Allen

Another good one is the Galician song La Sombre Negra (Black Shadow).


06 May 05 - 01:31 PM (#1479501)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Nancy King at work

Margaret's Waltz


06 May 05 - 11:38 PM (#1479833)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Genie too lazy to log in

Hmm...

Here's a list of songs that you folks have already mentioned that are also on my list:

Lorena
Ashokan Farewell
Midnight On The Water
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Angel
Skye Boat Song
Wayfaring Stranger
Scarborough Fair
Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring
El Condor Pasa
The Boxer
Ne Me Quitte Pas
La Vie En Rose
Hallelujah (Leon
Dodi Li
Torna A Surriento (Come Back To Sorrento)
Yesterday
Shenandoah
Barbry Allen
Sheebeg & Sheemore (Hills Of Haversham)
The Minstrel Boy
O Mio Bambino Caro
Un Bel Di
Bring Him Home
Polovetzian Dance #9 (?) - Borodin (Stranger In Paradise)
Tecumseh Valley
Angel Band
Hallelujah! (Leonard Cohen)

Some that I would add are:
Con Te Partiro (sung by Anrea Bocelli)
To Where You Are (sung by Josh Groban)
The Prayer (Andrew Lloyd-Weber)
Brahms's Violin Concerto In D Minor (I think it's violin) - very moving and haunting main theme
Silkie (as sung by Joan Baez)
Take This Waltz (Leonard Cohen)
La Paloma
Blues In The Night (melody: Harold Arlen)
Over the Rainbow (melody: Harold Arlen)
Stormy Weather (melody: Harold Arlen
It Was A Very Good Year
Those Were The Days
Otchee Tchornya (Dark Eyes)
Rozhinkes Mit Mandlen (Yiddish lullabye)
Erev Shel Shosanim (Israeli folk song and dance)
Samba De Orfeo (from "Black Orpheus")
Manha De Carnival (from "Black Orpheus")
Windmills Of Your Mind
Forbidden Games (I forgot the older melody this song is se to)
Sheherezade main theme
Memory (Grizabella's song from "Cats" -- Lloyd-Weber)
Black Is The Colour Of My True Love's Hair
Home On The Range (I don't care if it's overdone, it's beautifully hauntine)
Londonderry Air (ditto)
La Paloma
High Barbary
Farewell to Tarawathie
Haul Away, Joe
Rollin' Down To Old Maui
Greensleeves (How could we forget?)
Louie, Louie - §;-D
Star Of The County Down
Bridget O'Malley
Blue Bayou
Gulf Coast Highway (James Lee Hooker & Nanci Griffith)
Spooky (Well, it IS haunting!)
Sakura (Japanese "Cherry Blooms" song)
In My Life (Beatles)
Here, There, & Everywhere (Beatles)
Blackbird (Beatles)
Kiss From A Rose (Seal)
The Rose (Amanda McBroom)
Now Is The Hour (Maori melody learned by Allied forces in WWII)
The Rebel Jesus (Jackson Browne)
Anathea (as sung by Judy Collins)
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (Es Ist Ein' Roz' Entsprungen)
Geordie (as sung by Joann Baez)
Mountains O' Mourne/Bendemeer's Stream
Loch Lomond
Mo Mary
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Stardust
Isle Of Innisfree (Richard Farelly)
Do You Love An Apple?
Tumblin' Tumbleweeds (Bob Nolan)


That oughta fill up my iPod for a while. §:-D


07 May 05 - 12:23 AM (#1479839)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Genie

OK, now I'm 'legit'. :-)

I forgot to mention
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Ewan McColl's original melody).


07 May 05 - 11:40 AM (#1480044)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Allen

BTW, what is the tune used by Bellamy for En-Dor?


19 May 05 - 11:07 PM (#1488793)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,carnex

Try the theme to "Picnic at Hanging Rock" George Zamfir pan pipe.


20 May 05 - 12:19 AM (#1488825)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: TIA

Waves of Kilkee


Comes into my head unbidden all the time


20 May 05 - 06:31 PM (#1489571)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Firecat

I think that "Hine e Hine" and "Pokarekare Ana" when sung by Hayley Westenra are beautiful, and the opening "Scene Of The Swans" from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

From more modern songs, "Hello" and "My Immortal" by Evanescence, from their "Fallen" album are very haunting, and Amy Lee's voice adds to the effect.

Haunting show tunes, as far as I'm concerned, include "On My Own", "Bring Him Home" and "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Miserables (I've only just learnt how to stop myself crying when I hear them), "Where Is Love" and "As Long As He Needs Me" from Oliver!, "Superheroes" from Rocky Horror, "Lament" from Evita, "Memory" from Cats, and "Last Night Of The World", "Movie In My Mind" and "Bui Doi" from Miss Saigon.


16 Jun 05 - 10:36 PM (#1502693)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: ranger1

Two that immediately come to mind for me are:
"The Crossing" by Johnny Clegg
"Smile in Your Sleep," sung by just about anyone (but written by Jim McLean!)


16 Jun 05 - 10:55 PM (#1502704)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: number 6

The theme to the 1971 movie (penned by the outstanding playright Harold Pinter) ... the Go Between.

that is one haunting melody.

sIx


17 Jun 05 - 12:45 AM (#1502753)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Kaleea

There was a tune on Cherish The Ladies "Out & About" called "If Ever You Were Mine" which has always been haunting to me. A few years ago when I was playing in a Ceili band in Oklahoma, we were listening to the (then) new CD, & the tune wouldn't let me go. I told the boys in the band that I knew it was a SONG--with lyrics. Of course, at the time there was no way to find out. Not too many years later, after I was online, I emailed Joanie & she told me I was correct, & sent me the lyrics.


17 Jun 05 - 04:24 PM (#1503185)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Highlandman

Oh, lots and lots... hauntingness is one of the things that attracts me to tunes to begin with. Lesseee....
Dittos on "Ashokan Farewell" and "Smile In Your Sleep." If someone asks me to play a haunting melody on short notice, they'll probably get one of those.
I also think of the slow tune I know to "Green Linnet," (not the one in the DT), and "Are Ye Sleeping, Maggie." And O'Carolan's "Hewlitt."
One I discovered by accident was the pipe tune "Donald McLean of Lewis" slowed WAY down (one discovers such things when one can't play them up to tempo) played on guitar in an open tuning.
But for sheer earwormish-ness, how about "Storybook Love" from "The Princess Bride"? -grin-
-HM


17 Jun 05 - 05:13 PM (#1503228)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Ian Nottingham

Brilliant thread!

Hurt


17 Jun 05 - 05:17 PM (#1503232)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Ian Nottingham

Hurt. Johnny Cash
Loch Lomand. Runrig
Who Knows Where The Time Goes? Sandy Denny
Samba pa ti. Santana
Time has Told me. Nick Drake

Ian


17 Jun 05 - 11:42 PM (#1503439)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

The church hymn Be Thou My Vision trad Gaelic.



Sincerely,

Gargoyle


18 Jun 05 - 12:44 AM (#1503464)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: thespionage

Joan Baez's version of Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall."

Russ


18 Jun 05 - 01:01 AM (#1503472)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Matt_R

"Little Ben" - Donovan


18 Jun 05 - 12:33 PM (#1503671)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

a Liz Carroll fiddle tune from way back, whose name escapes me (unhelpfully)

Ave Maria

Kol Nidre


18 Jun 05 - 01:16 PM (#1503699)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: DavidHannam

Anthem By Leonard Cohen. A Masterpiece.


16 Jul 05 - 10:56 AM (#1522500)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Le Scaramouche

Bluz Kna'ani (Canaanite Blues) by Ehud Banai. He's a Persian Israeli roots musician. Excelent lyrics and melodies.


16 Jul 05 - 01:10 PM (#1522584)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Arkie

I do like threads such as this as I discover so much good music.   Ashokan Farewell, Loch Tay, Kilkelly, Sheebeg Sheemore, and Star of the County Down, are also on my list as well as these which I did not see mentioned above:


16 Jul 05 - 01:14 PM (#1522588)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Arkie

I must have pushed the wrong button. I definitly pushed the wrong button. Sorry. Now the list.
Rose of my Heart
Sisters of Mercy
Suzzane
In My Life (the way Judy Collins sings it)
Largo from the New World Symphony
Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts
Every Bush and Tree
Cornflower Blue
The King of the Faries
Tam Lane
Widdicombe Fair
Sunday Morning Coming Down


24 Aug 05 - 01:23 AM (#1548308)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Jonathan

Mozart's Requiem


24 Aug 05 - 04:16 AM (#1548341)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Domnull

Lady Grinning Soul (on Aladdin Sane)


24 Aug 05 - 12:03 PM (#1548652)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Lighter at work

There's just something about Jay Ungar's "Ashokan Farewell" that gets me right here (points to heart). Maybe it's the association with Ken Burns's Civil War series. I agree that it's one of the grandest sad melodies ever.


24 Aug 05 - 12:14 PM (#1548667)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: number 6

Lighter ... it is a beautiful tune. was one of my slections for this thread also. I heard someone play that last Monday night on a fiddle ... always moves me when I hear it.

sIx


24 Aug 05 - 12:25 PM (#1548679)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: JennyO

Te Deum by Berlioz.


24 Aug 05 - 12:45 PM (#1548692)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Bunnahabhain

Brahms 'Ein Deutesches Requiem', especially the opening.

Various slow Gaelic pieces I will not even try and spell, but are mostly laments of some kind.

Halleleugh and The Night Comes on. Various Leonard Cohen really.
Coal Not Dole- Kay Sutcliffe
The band played Waltzing Matilda


29 Aug 05 - 08:59 PM (#1552586)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Genie

Firecat, one of the most haunting melodies ever, I think, is Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Bali Hai," from South Pacific.

Then there's the old Celtic ballad, "Silkie" (The Great Silkie Of Sule Skerry), which was also adapated for lament for the victims of the Hiroshima bombing.

I'd also nominate "The Water Is Wide" (O, Waly Waly).


29 Aug 05 - 08:59 PM (#1552588)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Genie

Firecat, one of the most haunting melodies ever, I think, is Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Bali Hai," from South Pacific.

Then there's the old Celtic ballad, "Silkie" (The Great Silkie Of Sule Skerry), which was also adapated for lament for the victims of the Hiroshima bombing.

I'd also nominate "The Water Is Wide" (O, Waly Waly).


30 Aug 05 - 02:06 PM (#1552897)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Sandra

Harlem Nocturne


30 Aug 05 - 06:26 PM (#1553060)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Tootler

Two very old ones;

Mille Regretz composed by Josqin Després about 1520
Pavan Lachrymae composed by John Dowland about 1590

plus (among others)

Brigg Fair
Rothbury Hills - Jack Armstrong
Sounds of Silence - Paul Simon

I can post or point to midis if anyone is interested


31 Aug 05 - 02:02 AM (#1553263)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: darkriver

well, I've always found "O little town of Bethelhem" to be haunting.
Not to mention "O Tannenbaum". Very wistful tunes, those.

A couple of people mentioned "A Soldier's Story," Ennio Morricone's tune for The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly. There was another haunting tune in that movie. You first hear it when Clint and Eli Wallach are made prisoners of war by the northern army, as they march into the camp--played as (of course) a march. Immediately afterward, when the dying fort commander struggles to the window, you hear the same melody again, but played as a dirge.

Doug


31 Aug 05 - 03:16 PM (#1553607)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

Soul of a Wanderer


31 Aug 05 - 03:50 PM (#1553639)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: PoohBear

Rainbow Connection (Kermit)
Parting Glass
Star of the County Down
Calypso (yes, I know it's John Denver!)
Nautical Wheeler (Jimmy Buffett)
Waltzing with Bears (I'd forgotten about that one!)
Fragile Magic (also Jimmy Buffett)
and I'm sure many more my brain can't find right now. . .
PB


31 Aug 05 - 03:51 PM (#1553642)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: PoohBear

You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (LOL - don't deny it, it will get stuck in your head and haunt you. . . )


31 Aug 05 - 03:56 PM (#1553647)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Lighter

"Santa Lucia" and "Funiculi, Funicula" ( Yeah, I know. ) "Funiculi" may not be "haunting," strictly speaking, but it's got to be one of the catchiest.

Also beautiful is the Irish "The Wild Geese." Can't remember which Tradition LP I heard it on or who which fiddlers were playing it.


01 Sep 05 - 08:50 PM (#1554344)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: 8_Pints

"Lament for Ian Dickson" Anthony Robb: arranged by Carole Robb
"Mist Covered Mountains" Junior Crehan
"Wild Hills O'Wannies" Traditional
"Bonny at Morn" Traditional
"Blackwaterside" Traditional
"Miner's Wife's Lament" Ewan MacColl
"The Wild Rover" collected by Dónal Maguire from Pat Ushant

plus most of those already mentioned .......

Bob vG


01 Sep 05 - 08:52 PM (#1554347)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: 8_Pints

Oops!

Don't quite know why Donal's "o" has been mangled?

Bob vG


01 Sep 05 - 08:59 PM (#1554354)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: ranger1

Chickahominy River - Jed Marum
Nor'land Wind - Battlefield Band


28 Oct 05 - 01:22 PM (#1592462)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Zandor

The "Lake Isle of Innisfree" by Kiltartan Road


29 Oct 05 - 12:31 AM (#1592920)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jimmy C

Hard to select just one, but I like


Mise Eire - Sean O'Riada
Ashokan Farewell
The Coolin
The Dark Island
Lorena
Boolavogue
Ave Maria
Farewell to Tarwaithe
She Moved Through the Fair
Danny Boy
Maid on the Mountain

my favourite being " The Coolin"


29 Oct 05 - 11:58 AM (#1593174)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Joe_F

For me, some of the most haunting melodies are among the simplest, such as "Malbrouck s'en va-t-en guerre / For he's a jolly good fellow / The bear went over the mountain". One might suspect that that was just because I have known them so long; but I feel the same about Bok's "Dillan Bay". Among the more grown-up tunes, I go for sentimentality -- "Hatikvah" & "Greensleeves", say.

--- Joe Fineman    joe_f@verizon.net

||: The decadence of the bourgeoisie coincides with that of the human species. :||


03 Jan 06 - 12:07 AM (#1640161)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

Breathe me by sia
Just breathe (mitsubishi commercial)
True colors (cindy lauper)

and the indisputed haunting song

Somewhere over the rainbow by Isreal Kamakawiwo


03 Jan 06 - 11:16 AM (#1640374)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Obie

Susan-Marie puts forth "Neil Gows Lament For His Second Wife".
I agree! A sample can be found here:
         http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000003M4M/202-0188466-0021471


03 Jan 06 - 11:17 AM (#1640376)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

The Grey Funnel Line as sung by The Silly Sisters, The Drunken Piper, Natalie MacMaster and Cookie Rankin, Agincourt Carol, Barbara Allan.


03 Jan 06 - 12:08 PM (#1640426)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: mooman

Here are a few more I like and play (in no particular order):

Inisheer
The Little Heathy Hill (played as a medley with:
The Lark in the Clear Air)
Lord Mayo (the lament version)
The Resting Chair
Margaret's Waltz
Farewell to Govan
Loftus Jones (played slowly)
Lord Inciquin
Gaudete

Peace

moo


03 Jan 06 - 02:26 PM (#1640497)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Franz S.

Most of the above, plus "Strange Fruit" and "Beloved Comrade".


03 Jan 06 - 02:48 PM (#1640511)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

Starry,starry night, Don Maclean. Will Ye go to Flanders, especially the version by Ossian. Willie O Winsbury,The Picketts Lament, Bonnie Portmore as sung by Loreena MacKennitt.


03 Jan 06 - 07:07 PM (#1640704)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Stewie

O'Carolin's 'Eleanor Plunkett' as performed by Colum Sands on concertina.

'The march of Anton The Younger'

--Stewie.


03 Jan 06 - 08:45 PM (#1640784)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: patriot1314

I have to agree with quite a few, but for me it's Stan Rogers "Tiny Fish For Japan" it always strikes a chord with me


04 Jan 06 - 04:50 PM (#1641303)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Dilligaf

Peggy Gordon sung by my old man (brings back memories of a perfect summer day in Broadstairs when he sang it with Brixton Bert and Pete Chopin in a pub garden) and Come by the Hills by the Dubliners


04 Jan 06 - 10:08 PM (#1641577)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Stephen L. Rich

Stan Rogers' "Giant" and Tom Paxton's "Dance In The Shadows" have haunted me for years.

Stephen Lee


04 Jan 06 - 10:25 PM (#1641607)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Madeleine

hello from chapel hill, north carolina.

i wish i could join you in person but i'd have to swim since i hate planes.

i may be incorrect in suggesting this song in this forum since, techniquely, it's bluegrass, which i don't care for. but, it's a heartbreaker by laurie lewis sung a cappella with 4 men. the title is "who will watch the old place."

we all know here that our folk music traveled from the british isles, though this may not be one.

regards


04 Jan 06 - 10:56 PM (#1641649)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Amos

Welcome to the Mudcat, Madeleine.

I recently started learning a song by Al Grierson, "'Til the Circle Is Complete", which is one of the finest collection of lyrics in honor of another person Ihave heard in a long time; its thoughts linger long after the song ends.

It was recently entered in a Lyrics Add: thread for anyone to peruse.

A


04 Jan 06 - 10:59 PM (#1641654)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Peace

"The Three Bells" by the Browns.


05 Jan 06 - 04:20 AM (#1641786)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Paco Rabanne

200 by Motorhead.


05 Jan 06 - 11:38 AM (#1642031)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

Willie McBride has got to be in there,along with The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.And how about Rising Sun?


25 Mar 06 - 10:48 AM (#1702553)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

Inisheer by a brilliant composer Thomas Walsh.


25 Mar 06 - 08:54 PM (#1702842)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

For really haunting melodies what about Far Away by Peter Jung, or Roslin castle, both played freely, and very slowly with feeling!


25 Mar 06 - 11:35 PM (#1702912)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,James Kelly

Hi all,

The Old Man - Furey Brothers and Davey Arthur
The Lonesome boatman - Furey Brothers and Davey Arthur

All the best
James


26 Mar 06 - 03:31 AM (#1702977)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Rusty Dobro

'Dimming of the Day' - Bonnie Raitt's version.
'September Song' - horribly mawkish when I was young, serious food for thought now I ain't.


14 Jul 06 - 11:21 PM (#1783977)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,sissy

"Ghost of a Rose" Blackmore's Night, Fare thee Well--Mary Chapin Carpenter, I'll be loving You Always--Frank Sinatra.


15 Jul 06 - 02:42 AM (#1784037)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Stewie

O'Carolan's 'Eleanor Plunkett' played by Colum Sands (concertina) and Martin Mcallister (guitar) on Colum's 'All My Winding Journeys' album.

--Stewie.


15 Jul 06 - 07:15 AM (#1784125)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: The Sandman

Cape Clear,played by Dick Miles on NAUTICAL AND., Rodneys Glory , Sailortown, by C fox smith.Yesterday, Eleanor rigby, Shes leaving home, and I love her[ Paul Macartney]My Old Kentucky Home[S foster].Chief O niells Favourite.


15 Jul 06 - 07:25 AM (#1784127)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: gnu

Foggy Dew version by Sinéad O'Connor with The Chieftan's. Goosebump city.


15 Jul 06 - 08:00 AM (#1784138)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)

Flowers Of The Forest on the bagpipes

Loreena Mckinnets Bonny Portmore

Clannad Theme from Harrys Game

All Through The Night (sung in Welsh)

For Those In Peril on The Sea (naval hymn)


15 Jul 06 - 09:12 AM (#1784169)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,sissy

Speaking of Sinead O'Connor she did a great haunting version of Danny Boy.


15 Jul 06 - 05:55 PM (#1784471)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Mr Fox

'Both Sides of the Tweed' - Dick Gaughan

'Rumours of War' - Billy Bragg


16 Jul 06 - 09:52 AM (#1784811)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: kendall

Lara's Theme


16 Jul 06 - 01:10 PM (#1784920)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)


16 Jul 06 - 02:21 PM (#1784974)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: gnu

Come to think, Sinéad O'Connor is kinda haunting all one her own.


08 Dec 06 - 09:10 AM (#1903401)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: SouthernCelt

How about the main theme in the soundtrack to the most recent version of "Last of the Mohicans"?


08 Dec 06 - 09:25 AM (#1903414)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,pattyClink

Dang, SouthernCelt!! Where ya been lurking?   All this time Khandu and I thought we were the only Mississippians on the Mudcat!   Glad to hear from you, and pipe up more often!


08 Dec 06 - 10:31 AM (#1903449)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Scoville

Dylan's "Blind Willie McTell"


08 Dec 06 - 12:02 PM (#1903538)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

Waltzing's for Dreamers

Lakes of Pontchatrain

Si Beg Si Moore ( spelling?) - Planxty did a lovely version


08 Dec 06 - 01:13 PM (#1903594)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,DriveForever

Wow ! Some great songs on this thread !

Ones that have always gotten me;

    Days of Wine and Roses - Tony Bennett
    Blonde In the Bleachers / Urge for Goin - Joni Mitchell
    The Wagoner's Lad - by the Duhks -
    Lady of Shallot - by Loreena McKennit
    Minstrel of the Dawn - Gordon Lightfoot
    Ah, May The Red Rose Live Always - Stephen Foster
    Ned Of the Hill
    Invisible Ink - Aimee Mann
    Lullaby - Arcady's Version


08 Dec 06 - 02:08 PM (#1903669)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: shepherdlass

Bonny at Morn
"Bridges" - Milton Nascimento
"Les Roses d'Ispahan" - Faure

Something about the yearning quality in all of them.


08 Dec 06 - 04:19 PM (#1903813)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: oldhippie

"Kilkelly Ireland", as sung by Phyllis Morrissey


08 Dec 06 - 11:17 PM (#1904190)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Kajikit

It doesn't look like anyone's mentioned the Eriskay Love Lilt yet... 'fair me o-oh ro van oh
fair me oh, ro van ee
fair me oh, ro van o-ooh
sad am I without thee...'

I'm also haunted by:
Drink to me only with thine eyes
Danny Boy
Greensleeves
The Skye Boat Song

What do they have in common? Lilting, slow-paced melodies that seem to soar through the air when sung well (but are rather painful if done badly.)

On a less romantic note, a lot of Eric Bogle's songs send cold chills down my spine and stay with me because of that...


09 Dec 06 - 12:45 AM (#1904230)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Slag

Ahhh, No one has mentioned Kristofferson's SUNDAY MORNING COMMING DOWN, however I did read through rather fast. J. Cash's version was also quite haunting. Even more so is CASEY'S LAST RIDE and especially John Denver's rendition.

I can see that I have really missed a lot of good music. Some of these titles are so intriguing. Apparently anything from Ireland, about Ireland and in a minor key IS haunting. I want to hear it all.

Tom Paxton's THE LAST THING ON MY MIND. J. Cash and THE BALLAD OF IRA HAYES. AMAZING GRACE played on the bagpipes. How about the "Hosti" in Verdi's Requiem Mass. The tenor's part is ensconced with virually the entire work framing that one brief passage which is echoed by the other voices and is then swallowed up in the massive dynamics of the body of the piece. It jst blazes itself into your memory! MOONLIGHT SONATA. Even Lloyd Nolan's COOL WATER has a haunting quality to it. Sarah Vaughn's BROKEN HEARTED MELODY? I THINK ITS GOING TO RAIN TODAY. Great thread!


09 Dec 06 - 02:19 AM (#1904257)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Selchie - (RH)

In Flanders Fields

R


09 Dec 06 - 04:32 AM (#1904292)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: eddie1

This might sound really corny but on a re-run of MASH, I saw the episode where Col Potter arrives at the 4077. It finishes with Potter, Hawkeye and PJ drinking 'shine and harmonising on "A Long Long Trail A-winding". Lump in throat time.
Another, particularly because of the season. I was gathering material for my radio prog and listened to John McCutcheon singing "Christmas In The Trenches". Tissue time!


Eddie


09 Dec 06 - 09:13 AM (#1904450)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Lighter

A couple of months ago on another thread I asked if anyone could identify the fiddle tune played behind the current Dow Chemical commercials. Nobody could then. How 'bout now?

It really is haunting.


09 Dec 06 - 11:48 AM (#1904573)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Slag

When I was sixteen and a long way from home, out in the wilds of Montana or Wyoming or some such, I was fishing around on the radio trying to bring in some distant station when I first heard Barry McGuire's EVE OF DESTRUCTION. It was late at night and the station was fading in and out and I was straing to hear, rapt by the music and when the harmonica accompanyment came in, WOW! The combination of factors gave such a desolate and mournful feeling.

I also wanted to include Middler's THE ROSE for consideration.


09 Dec 06 - 03:38 PM (#1904736)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Cruiser

Pleases to see this thread revived.

I have 2 others, in addition to the ones I mentioned above.

"I Wish My Baby was Born"

The owl the owl is a lonely bird he fills my heart with dread and terror.

That someone's blood there on his wing, that someone's blood there on his feather.

_____________________________________________________________________


And, one of my absolute favorite, beautiful mournful melodies"

"Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto

Sukiyaki


There was an excellent YouTube video of a memorial showing past programs Kyu was on and the plane crash site but I could not find that.

____________________________________________________________________


09 Dec 06 - 04:03 PM (#1904761)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Cruiser

_____________________________________________________________________


Here is the Poignant
Memorial Video of Kyu Sakamoto

_____________________________________________________________________


09 Dec 06 - 04:32 PM (#1904787)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Big Mick

Sean Tyrell is on a CD called (I think) Shadow Hunter. The title refers to a song called "The Walker of the Snow" which is one of the haunted hunter genre songs. Tyrell's voice is such an amazing instrument, and he does it full interpretive justice on this track. The melody is absolutely haunting. At one point in the song, Davey Spillane takes off on an interlude that will make the hair stand up on your arms. Between Tyrell's voice and Spillane's pipes, this track is absolutely haunting and beautiful. I have sung this song at Getaways, sing-arounds, and concerts. It always elicits a response, but I have always wanted to do it with a good Uilleann Piper. It is a stunner and exactly fits this thread.

Mick


09 Dec 06 - 05:52 PM (#1904839)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Cruiser

I know this is more contemporary music, but the fuzz guitar, and the diminished and minor chords in this song give it that haunting quality.

Nancy Sinatra - Bang Bang (my baby shot me down)

Bang Bang fit the soundtrack of Kill Bill perfectly.

____________________________________________________________________


10 Dec 06 - 03:07 AM (#1905127)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Slag

This just might be the strangest entry but don't prejudge it! A little one verse tune, as far as I know, entitled SWEET VICTORY from an episode of the Spongebob Squarepants cartoon show. It's one where the denizens of Bikini Bottom have put together a marching band for a half time show at a football game. Check it out.


10 Dec 06 - 07:28 AM (#1905230)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: the lemonade lady

Going Home
Dire Straits
Sal


10 Dec 06 - 01:25 PM (#1905445)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: webfolk

Going Home, from the movie, Local Hero,(incidently, also the tune that Newcastle United run out onto the pitch to) is actually by
Mark Knopfler, of course of Dire Straits.

Geoff
webfolk.net


10 Dec 06 - 03:15 PM (#1905546)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Slag

GOING HOME as in the old gospel hymn? That's the one A. Dvorak incorporated into his Symphany No. 4, FROM THE NEW WORLD (1893).


10 Dec 06 - 07:04 PM (#1905766)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Slag

Don't know if I'm remembering this correctly but how about the arrangement of WALTZING MATILDA in the SciFi (or was it "Future History") flick "On The Beach"??? As I remember it had a plaintive quality that grew and permeated then replaced the sound of the Jolly Swagman as he and his "Matilda" danced of into the Out back in the "Never Again" dreamtime.   Ooooo! Heady stuff.


10 Dec 06 - 09:38 PM (#1905923)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Slag

Or "...softly, as I leave you..."


16 Dec 06 - 10:25 AM (#1910997)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh

It's a long, long thread a-winding, and I'd second (third, fourth &c) many of the melodies already mentioned, and add one which I don't think has been mentioned yet, and that's "Roisin Dubh" (I notice a few mentions of O'Riada's "Mise Eire", mind you). Incidentally, "Ned of the Hill" is "Eamonn a' chnuic" (said to have been made by the man himself in the late C17th), and "Danny Boy" is "The Air from County Derry", taken down from the playing of a fiddler in Limavady in the 1850s. Add also "Ban chnuic hEireann O" ("The fair Hills of Ireland")


17 Jun 07 - 01:47 AM (#2079056)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,me

The Green Leaves of Summer


17 Jun 07 - 12:21 PM (#2079310)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Lighter

Still need an ID of the background of the Dow Chemical commercial.

Haunting.


27 Feb 08 - 09:35 AM (#2273645)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,langham selby

McCrimmons lament,there are 3 versions on youtube Davy Stewart in a pipe medley,probably closest to the original,then two vocal versions from Barbara Dixon and Sheila Chandra


27 Feb 08 - 12:31 PM (#2273824)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Volgadon

Poor Wayfarin' Stranger.
Cobbler's Hornpipe.
Turpin Hero.
Flowers of the Forest.
Lord Franklin.
She Moved Through the Fair.
Nottamun Town.
Jack Orion.
Follow Me Up to Carlow.
The Cuckoo.
The Road to Moscow.
Leaf and Stream.
Darkness, Darkness.
Farewell, Farewell (that is, the melody often used for Willy o'Winsbury)
Bruton Town.

Russian and Ukrainian:
Lyubo, Bratzi, Lyubo.
Chyorny Voron.
Polyushko Polye.
Vzyav By Ya Banduru.

Hebrew:
Hatikva
Yerushalaim Shel Zahav.
Deror Yikra.
Bluz Knaani.
Ruti. The melody is Russian, but I can't remember the song.


27 Feb 08 - 12:49 PM (#2273854)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego

"Mountains of Mourne"
"Black is the Colour of my True Love's Hair"
"Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go? (or Wild Mountain Thyme)"
"Song for a Winter's Night" - Lightfoot
"Believe Me, If All These Endearing Young Charms"
"The Grandfather's Clock"
"McPherson's Lament (or Last Farewell)"
"Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye"
"The River is Wide"
"City of New Orleans"

I would guess that I rate the songs that resonate in memory by how indelibly the melody lingers and connects to certain powerful events or themes. All of the above qualify for me, at some time or other, in some place or other.


27 Feb 08 - 04:37 PM (#2274050)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: robomatic

Randy Newman: "Dixie Flyer"


27 Feb 08 - 05:26 PM (#2274107)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Rog Peek

Ashoken Farewell by Jay Ungar

Rog


27 Feb 08 - 06:29 PM (#2274174)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Jaze

Mary From Dungloe


27 Feb 08 - 06:45 PM (#2274193)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Volgadon

Russian:

Vashe Blagorodiye.
Murka.
Zhuravli.
Beryozy.

Hebrew:

Erev Shel Shoshanim
El Ginat Egoz
Shecharchoret.


27 Feb 08 - 11:40 PM (#2274404)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,singeroo

"Four Green Fields" - T. Makem
"Which Side Are You On" - P. Seeger
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (the author's name escapes me but it has a lovely minor-key melody)


28 Feb 08 - 09:18 PM (#2275347)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Joe_F

Sally Free and Easy


28 Feb 08 - 10:52 PM (#2275382)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: LeTenebreux

Anything by Leonard Cohen.


29 Feb 08 - 12:11 PM (#2275805)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: cptsnapper

Portrait Of My Love by Matt Monroe
Every December Sky - Beth Neilsen Chapman
'Twas On One April Morning
I Live Not Where I Love
Dark Eyes


03 Jun 08 - 11:50 PM (#2356859)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Jim Peden

Jed Marum is too modest. One of the most haunting melodies is his own Chickahominy River......


04 Jun 08 - 01:24 AM (#2356884)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Volgadon

Papirosen.
Vzyav By Ya Banduru.


04 Jun 08 - 05:48 AM (#2356985)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Kevin Parker

Crazy Man Michael...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5ksWNvFbME&feature=related


04 Jun 08 - 09:25 AM (#2357128)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: closet-folkie

"Into Temptation" by Crowded House takes some beating. So beautiful, it hurts.
Steve R.
...oh...and a second vote for "Lady Grinning Soul". Magnificent.


04 Jun 08 - 01:28 PM (#2357344)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: quokka

Lonesome Boatman
Angel (Sarah McLaughlin)
Hallelujia (Jeff Buckley live verson)
Sailing to Philadelphia (Mark Knopfler&James Taylor)
Theme from Cal (Mark Knopfler)
Night Visiting Song (Kate Rusby)
Shoheen (KR)
Soundtrack to Barry Lyndon (the Chieftains)
Haunted by the Ghost(Sinead O'C & Shane McG.)
One More Cup of Coffee (Dylan)
Rainy Night in Soho (Pogues)
The Last Resort (Eagles)
Sad Cafe - ditto
The River (Springsteen)
The Circle Game (Joni)
Ride On (Christy)
Walk Away Renee (Billy Bragg version)
I Was Only Nineteen (Redgum)
Tell Laura I Love Her (Billy Connolly) just thought I'd throw that one in!;-} I may think of some more...check back in a few days.
Cheers
Quokka


31 Mar 09 - 06:46 PM (#2601712)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,knowicki

Gymnopédies - Erik Satie
Scarborough Fair- Lorena McKinnet version is best
Junk - Paul McCartney
Those Were the Days
Thank You - Dido, first half of the song in minor key
Ennio Morricone - Take your pick of the spaghetti trilogy, Ecstasy of gold
Love - John Lennon
Theme from Puppet Master 1
Some Cranberries tune That I forget the name of

There's a few more, but those melodies are all strange but good


01 Apr 09 - 01:54 AM (#2601896)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Gweltas

"Siege Of A Nation" (composed by Mikis Theodorakis, Greece) as played by the Furey Brothers, Ireland............I think it may also be called A Nation Under Siege?
"Morning On A Distant Shore", "Banshee", "The Lonesome Boatman" ....all composed by Finbar Furey.
"Boadicea" by Enya, Ireland
"Song For A Winter's Night" by Gordon Lightfoot, Canada.
"White Squall" by Stan Rogers, Canada.
"Da Ewan" by Alan Stivell, Brittany.
"Arrane Voirrey" (composed by Peter Cubberly) as played by Mactullagh Vannin, Isle of Man
"The Terrace Of Celebrations" ("Follow me Down To The Sea") by Arkadia, Canada.
"The Missing Piece" by Cherish The Ladies, USA.
"So Near And Yet So Far" by the Hanging Johnny Shanty Crew, of Cornwall and Plymouth, UK.
"Courting Too Slow" as by John Spiers & Jon Boden, UK
"Widecombe Fair" (Not the traditional song of the same title!) as sung by Steve Knightley, of Show Of Hands, UK.
"Clohinne Winds" as sung by Niamh Parsons, Ireland.


01 Apr 09 - 01:24 PM (#2602384)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Tim Leaning

Whenever I hear the Spice Girls
I'tell you what I want what I really really want etc.
I am haunted by it for days.
IS that sad enough?


03 Apr 09 - 09:33 AM (#2603866)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Minerva

What a great thread, with so many fantastic songs.

But going strictly by the criterion of haunting, rather than merely great, good, or moving, THE most haunting song in the world is, "Llorando", sung a capella, by Rebekah del Rio. Unbelievable.

Another beautifully haunting song I don't see listed above is "Lonesome Road".

Also, the whales' melodic accompaniment to Judy Collins' "Farewell to Tarwathe" (sp?) haunts me to this day.


03 Apr 09 - 10:12 AM (#2603902)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Jack Campin

A few years ago I heard trumpet player play a beautiful new composition called Prayer to St. Gregory, I can't remember the composer but I remember how spellbound I was hearing it ringing through a church on a snowy December night.

The composer was Alan Hovhaness. Several versions on YouTube.

One that haunted me for a long time was "You got to cross that lonesome valley", after reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". The way he weaves it into the end of the story is very moving.


03 Apr 09 - 10:37 AM (#2603919)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Amos

I have always been haunted by "Foggy Dew", "Lili Marlene", and more recently by Kate Wolfe's "Nobody Lives Here Anymore".


A


03 Apr 09 - 11:17 AM (#2603950)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Bryn Pugh

Banks of the Bann (hymn tune "Slane" ?)

The Maid of Coolmore

O'Carolan's "Morgan Meggann[sp. ?]

The Morris tune "Bumpus o' Stretton".


03 Apr 09 - 11:42 AM (#2603959)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Ebbie

A tune that I've never gotten over is from the late 50s-early 60s. It quickly became bastardized into a written song not nearly as memorable as the original.

It is 'Moon over Naples', which then became a hit under 'Blue Spanish Eyes'. It became a fragmented, almost jarring tune.

Moon over Naples's pure melody with its soaring violins... lovely.


04 Apr 09 - 08:29 AM (#2604461)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Ron Davies

It's awfully hard to distinguish between "haunting" and "catchy"

But trying to do so, I still have a sizable list, including many already mentioned:



Tarrega--Recuerdos de la Alhambra

Bizet--    Symphony in C (second movement)

Schubert   Symphony in C (second movement)

Bruch       Scottish Fantasy--esp the part derived from "Doun for Lack o' Johnny"

Vaughn Williams:   Lark Ascending

Vaughn Williams    Fantasia on Greensleeves

Vaughn Williams    Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis

Lorena--esp. when sung by Kendall Morse

Both Sides the Tweed--esp sung by Mary Black

Beethoven: Symphony #7--second movement--as a violist I particularly appreciate this melody

Lakes of Pontchartrain

Skye Boat Song

Rimsky-Korsakov--Scheherezade--several melodies

Long Long Trail--esp for association with World War I

Til We Meet Again (1918)

Samanthra

Lili Marleen--even more now that I've read a book about the song:   poet, composer, and the singer who made it famous (Lale Andersen)

Puccini--O Mio Babbino Caro--even though I know she is singing to her father, not her baby

Flowers of the Forest--esp when sung by Joe Hickerson

In Old Chicago--when sung by Art Thieme

Beethoven--second movement of Pathetique

Borodin--Polevetsian Dances--several melodies

Tenting Tonight

Those Were The Days

California Dreamin'

Ashokan Farewell

Rodrigo--Concierto de Aranjuez--several melodies

Rodrigo--Fantasia para un Gentilhombre--several melodies

Ave Maria--as set by several composers, esp the Ave Maria from the Rachmaninoff
Vespers and sung in Russian

Rachmaninoff--Piano Concerto #2--several melodies

Ich hatte einen Kameraden

Who'll Watch the Home Place?

I'll Be Seeing You

As Time Goes By--esp with the opening verse

Bonny at Morn

Eriskay Love Lilt

Mahler--Symphony #1

Dvorak--New World Symphony--several melodies

Dvorak--Symphony #8--several melodies

Parting Glass

Mountains of Mourne

Brahms--Marienlieder--several melodies

Mozart--Piano Concerto #21--esp the slow movement melody, also used in "Elvira Madigan"

Sibelius--Finlandia

Farewell To Tarwaithe--esp in "Whales and Nightingales"

Mendelssohn--Violin Concerto in e--several melodies

Mendelssohn--Hebrides (overture) AKA Fingal's Cave--several melodies

Mendelssohn--Symphony #3 (Scottish)--several melodies

Brahms--Ein deutsches Requiem--virtually the whole thing

Allegri--Miserere

Saint-Saens--Introduction and Rondo Capricioso--several melodies

Saint-Saens---Piano Concerto #2--several melodies

Debussy--Afternoon of a Faun

Hanson--Romantic Symphony--several melodies

Bizet--Carmen--several melodies

Bizet--L'Arlesienne Suites--several melodies

Tchaikovsky--Serenade for Strings--several melodies

Tchaikovsky--Capriccio Italien--several melodies

Grieg--Peer Gynt Suites--several melodies--esp. "Solveig's Song"


And a bunch more, classical and non-classical


04 Apr 09 - 08:32 AM (#2604463)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: number 6

"Bibo no Aozora" by Ryuichi Sakamoto.


biLL


04 Apr 09 - 09:46 AM (#2604481)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Ron Davies

Also, many Sephardic songs are particularly haunting. One I really recommend is "Adio, Qerida". I have it on a CD called "'Songs of the Sephardim" by a local group called "La Rondinella", which I also saw in concert. Truly amazing.

And some Balkan songs--among many others "Sto Mi e Milo"


04 Apr 09 - 09:49 AM (#2604483)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,leeneia

Bryn Pugh mentioned a certain Carolan song, upthread. That song is 'Planxty Morgan Magan,' and it can be heard on Contemplator's site:

http://www.contemplator.com/carolan/caroltun.html

Bryn's idea puts me in mind of one of my favorites, 'Blind Mary,' also by Carolan.


04 Apr 09 - 10:11 AM (#2604495)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Ron Davies

Also: Mascagni:   Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo. Never should have left that one out.


04 Apr 09 - 04:27 PM (#2604707)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Cruiser

Two more haunting melodies/songs, especially the first one:

'If I Only had Time' (Instrumental version or by John Rowles, or Earl Grant)

'It's Not the End of Everything' (Tommy Edwards)


05 Jun 09 - 08:03 PM (#2649515)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Igor

Lili Marlen
Colonel Bogey's March (Bridge on the river Kwai)


20 Oct 09 - 06:24 PM (#2749015)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,rayvongeezer

Through the Barricades by Spandau Ballet. The pipes & drums end refrain just stays in your head man


21 Oct 09 - 12:40 PM (#2749533)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: meself

I have refrained from reading this thread for this reason: to me, the description of a tune as "haunting" is the equivalent of an exorcism - once someone says, "That's a haunting tune", all the haunting just flies out of it, and it's never haunting again ....


21 Oct 09 - 01:45 PM (#2749582)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Old Vermin

The Dark Island and Lilli Marlene get mentions above of course.

The couple or so I think worth mentioning:

are Dirty Old Town in its original - Ewan McColl - version

Pleasant and Delightful

and especially something Home Lads Home

http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=7819

similar to or the same as something sung at Horsham round about Remembrance Sunday


21 Oct 09 - 02:16 PM (#2749591)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: VirginiaTam

Song of the Siren?


21 Oct 09 - 05:04 PM (#2749713)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Stringsinger

Most of them have been covered. There is an obscure one called" Beautiful Lake Anconi",
a fiddle tune from Cape Breton by a Laurie ( ? )

One of the most simple plaintive tunes to me is "Little Birdie".

Pete's songs would qualify. Where have" All the Flowers Gone" and" Turn Turn", "Bells of Rhmyney".

"Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies",    "Pretty Saro", "Wagoner's Lad"

One of the great early popular songs written which is a jazz standard is Jerome Kern's
"All The Things You Are".

Thomas Moore. "Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms"

"Tiurse Moi Chroi" from Ireland

Texas Gladden's version of "I Never Will Marry".

"The Foggy Dew" from Ireland

"Been In The Storm So Long" (sung during the Civil Rights Movement)

"Summertime" George Gershwin

Cole Porter could write a melody.

For a simple, clear heart-felt tune "Dink's Song" collected by Lomax.


21 Oct 09 - 08:51 PM (#2749881)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,McGee

Jay Unger and Molly Mason's Ashokan Farewell   still brings shivers....


11 Dec 10 - 07:25 PM (#3051296)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,rob_o

"Gold Wedding Ring" by Barry & Barry; "Evergreen" by The Stone Poneys; "Winter Winds" and "Banks Of The Nile" by Fotheringay; "Evening Falls" by Enya;


03 Jan 11 - 02:40 PM (#3066409)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,rob_o

"Aisling" by Anuna (Ireland), from Behind The Closed Eye Album


03 Jan 11 - 10:59 PM (#3066719)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Curtis

Many Stan Rogers songs had that haunting effect on me to the point where I had listened to some of them over and over again before I ever paid attention to the words.


10 Feb 17 - 03:38 AM (#3837912)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Joe Offer

Listening in the dark to Peggy Lee singing "Fever."


10 Feb 17 - 04:06 AM (#3837919)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Mr Red

Salut d'Amour

Made the career of one man.


10 Feb 17 - 04:09 AM (#3837920)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Iains

Starry night. A traveller's song with a provenance earlier than Davy Spillane and Sean Tyrrell. This song has several threads on mudcat.


10 Feb 17 - 05:57 AM (#3837956)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Sol

Wonderful Land -The Shadows
The good the bad and the ugly - Hugo M.....
American trilogy - Elvis
Aria -Acker Bill
The Shian Road -Isla St Clair
The Flowers o'The Forest (on the bagpipes)
Hector the Hero


10 Feb 17 - 05:59 AM (#3837958)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,David Carter (UK)

Ewan MacColl's "You and I" (from Hot Blast)


10 Feb 17 - 10:23 AM (#3838028)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,silver

"Koppången" by Per Erik Moraeus/Py Bäckman, look for Sissel Kyrkjebö's version on Youtube

Dark Eyed Molly (Archie Fisher/Stan Rogers)

The Loch Tay Boat Song

Jane's Whistle (Anne Dodson)

Dark Old Waters (Gordon Bok)

The tune most often mentioned throughout this thread is "Ashokan Farewell". I agree, it's a gem. So is the "Eriskay Love Lilt" (Bheir Me O).


10 Feb 17 - 10:43 AM (#3838030)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST,Tom Mycock

Springhill Mine Disaster
Spring of '65
Boys of Bedlam


10 Feb 17 - 11:22 AM (#3838040)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

Chopin's etude Op. 10, 3


10 Feb 17 - 12:38 PM (#3838056)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Thompson

Liam Ó Raghallaigh
Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó
Samhradh, Samhradh

(to start with)


10 Feb 17 - 02:08 PM (#3838094)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: David Carter (UK)

Farewell to Fiunary. My wife is learning an arrangement by Stephen Wood at present, superb tune and certainly deserves to be described as "haunting".


10 Feb 17 - 03:04 PM (#3838114)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Elmore

Dawn on the Moscow River by Mussorgsky.


10 Feb 17 - 03:12 PM (#3838117)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: robomatic

Give a listen to Randy Newman's "Dixie Flyer". It has a haunting melodic line between verses. Was used for years on the Cartalk program (United States, National Public Radio) by the Magliozzi Brothers. Heard it and was hypnotized by it long before I traced it down.


10 Feb 17 - 08:46 PM (#3838170)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: GUEST

Try listening to Reynardine or Lucy Wan by Martin Carthy & David Swarbrick. Very haunting and beautiful in a melodramatic way.


11 Feb 17 - 06:16 AM (#3838217)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: gillymor

Tjonneblomen


11 Feb 17 - 06:29 AM (#3838221)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: gillymor

Stella Splendens


11 Feb 17 - 08:16 PM (#3838363)
Subject: RE: Most haunting melodies?
From: Tattie Bogle

Currently leaving out those from "classical music" (in its broadest sense, and of which there are many) my list would include:
Several by Ivan Drever: Leaving Stoer, The Rose of St Magnus, El Caballo Blanco.
A bigger several by Phil Cunningham: Sarah's Song, The Pearl, Bright Star in Cepheus, The Gentle Light that Wakens Me, Loch Katrine's Lady and Irish Beauty.
Some of Shetlander's Tom Anderson's: Da Slockit Light, Shingly Beach.
Scott Skinner's: Hector the Hero, The Music o' Spey
and I could go on......into my Irish favourites!