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02 Nov 13 - 11:06 PM (#3572352) Subject: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: 4ADiva I'm singing at an Irish Christmas event here in Canada (I'm not Irish or of Irish background). I've been trying to find some Irish Christmas songs to perform and am finding that many "Irish" or "Celtic" Christmas CDs feature the standard carols. I'm happy to sing those, but the event is geared toward Irish ex-pats and I'd really like to present music that would remind them of Christmas back home. So this is less of a scholarly debate about "real" Irish music than a question about what people in Ireland listen to at Christmas. What I'd like is input from Mudcatters in Ireland or those from Ireland as to what they like to hear at Christmas. I have the Wexford Carol. Some of the others I'm considering are: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen I Saw Three Ships Silent Night The First Noel What Child is This? Deck the Halls Angels We Have Heard on High Hark the Herald Angels Sing The Coventry Carol (Lullee, Lullay) (I know--Coventry is in England!) Would any of these be offensive or just not suitable? Christmas in Killarney makes me cringe a bit (it seems a bit stereotypical) but I'm willing to consider it if it's actually a popular song. Also, I sing Danny Boy and How are Things in Glocca Morra? Neither of which are Christmas songs but wondering if they would be appropriate for an ex-pat audience. Is Danny Boy really close to Irish hearts or considered too schmaltzy? Would Irish people be offended if someone non-Irish sang it? Is Glocca Morra pooh-poohed as an American song? I'll be the only ballad singer at the event, though there will be an band doing up-tempo Irish songs and tunes. Thank you so much for your input and suggestions! |
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03 Nov 13 - 10:03 PM (#3572612) Subject: RE: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: GUEST,pattyClink Refreshing the thread before it slips off the page. Not from The Auld Country so I can't give you any valid input. I'm also wondering what would remind somebody of home. That Chieftains Bells of Dublin album had the Boar's Head Carol and The Holly Bears a Berry. Are those 'comfort songs' commonly heard at Christmastime or just old curiosities that turned up on that album? Would the Cherry Tree Carol ever be heard? As for Danny Boy, I will leave the floor open for the usual dissing and whingeing. |
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04 Nov 13 - 03:57 AM (#3572647) Subject: RE: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: Phil Cooper 4Adiva, I'd think those were good choices. I would think many of the ex-pats would have listened to holiday music on the radio and tv from all over. Have you thought, since there is going to be another band sharing the bill, about doing some holiday songs that deal with being somewhere else for Christmas? Stan Rogers First Christmas Away From Home comes to mind. Some people think that's a real downer, but if you have a listening audience, many of them will connect with it. I've been part of a Christmas band every December where we do many of the songs listed, plus other songs dealing with all sorts of aspects of the holidays. |
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04 Nov 13 - 05:33 AM (#3572675) Subject: RE: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: Jim Martin Fairytale of New York - might not suit everybody but it's become a classic? |
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04 Nov 13 - 07:06 AM (#3572690) Subject: RE: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: MartinRyan Depends on how "ex" the "pats" are! Older generations will welcome both standard carols and some Irish-American nostalgia. Younger folk will happily see the latter replaced with Fairy Tale... - which, BTW, I think is one of the great songs. Regards |
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04 Nov 13 - 09:12 AM (#3572715) Subject: RE: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: Jim Carroll There's a wonderful emigration song entitled 'The Christmas Letter' (aka known as Blessed Christmas Day) - can be mawkish if badly handled, but so many good emigration songs are Jim Carroll |
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04 Nov 13 - 11:20 AM (#3572744) Subject: RE: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: Vic Smith The Kilmore Carol - in fact the whole repertoire of the Kilmore Fishermen's Choir. They were at the Sheffield Festival of traditional carols a few years ago and were spine-chillingly brilliant. http://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/922-christmas-tv-past/287756-kilmore-carols/ |
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05 Nov 13 - 06:13 AM (#3572971) Subject: RE: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: GUEST,mg Irish rovers have a newish one called bellsnover Belfast which is quite nice. I never heard of Danny boh being done at Christmas. Adeste Fidelis.In Latin all the way tbrougb |
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05 Nov 13 - 05:17 PM (#3573137) Subject: RE: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: GUEST,Tinker from Chicago The Wexford Carol and Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake come to mind. |
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06 Nov 13 - 11:25 AM (#3573351) Subject: RE: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser) 'Last Summer At Cloonacool' by Terry Clarke, from his 1992 CD 'The Shelley River'. A neglected Irish Christmas classic. Can't stand that bloody Pogues song. |
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06 Nov 13 - 09:59 PM (#3573495) Subject: RE: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: GUEST,Julia L How about a Wren Boys' song? That Night in Bethlehem and Christ Child Lullaby are also beautiful and appropriate Julia |
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08 Nov 13 - 02:55 AM (#3573817) Subject: RE: Need input from Irish on Christmas songs From: 4ADiva Thank you everyone for your suggestions! I think the other band might do Fairytale of New York and we have some Wrenboys coming in, so I assume they'll do their own songs. I appreciate the input. |