Tune Req: Song of the Seals (from Jean Redpath)

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Tune Req: Song of the Seals (from Jean Redpath)

14 Nov 01 - 03:59 PM (#592658)
Subject: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: celticblues5

Hi, all -

Can anyone give the notation for Jean Redpath's Seal Song (not sure of the exact title, but it's about seals!)? Particularly interested in the notation for the chanting-sort-of prelude and ending that brackets the actual lyrics. Thanks for your help.

14 Nov 01 - 05:41 PM (#592754)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: Sorcha

Could it be "Grey Silkie"? Sheet music here! If not, I'll look again.

14 Nov 01 - 06:25 PM (#592784)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: Malcolm Douglas

In the DT as SONG OF THE SEALS, oddly enough. No tune, and unfortunately no information as to where Jean got the song.

14 Nov 01 - 06:32 PM (#592786)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: katlaughing

I have her CD of it. I'll dig out the liner notes and see what they say, tomorrow. Could also send the tune via email, I think.

kat

14 Nov 01 - 07:19 PM (#592821)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: Stewie

Here is Jean's note on the sleeve of the vinyl issue [Philo PH 1054, 1978]. I don't know how it stacks up with liner notes in the CD reissue:

'Those of you who have read the Dan nan Ron, the Song of the Seals, will recall how Manus MacCondrum, himself one of the seal-folk, would be knowing when the tide was ebbing across the great Reef of Berneray – how he would hear the call of the skua on the rocky promontory, and the wailing of the moon-restless plover on the hill behind – how, after the earthing of his love, and the tide had ebbed in his heart, he would be crossing the Sound of Berneray continually and making for the old Pictish tower known as Dun Sticir in the shadow of Beann Bhreac – how the island folks would be seeing him at low tide upon the Reef of Berneray, singing wild and strange runes'. (MacGregor: 'The Peat Fire Flame).
So does Alasdair Alpin MacGregor's book talk of one of the descendants of the seal-folk – those creatures which could cast their sealskins and assume mortal form, and with whom other clans too claimed kinship.
This rather arty song (poem by Harold Boulton; music Granville Bantock) has a chorus which touches something so close to the heart that it has been 'recognised' by those born as far from the Hebrides as the Calabrian Hills of Italy. I learned it from the singing of Father (now Canon) Sidney McEwan.

--Stewie.

14 Nov 01 - 07:38 PM (#592832)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: Stewart

Here's a sound clip of JR singing Song of the Seals CLICK HERE.

Also, here's a great site on the Silkie Folk CLICK HERE.

S. in Seattle

14 Nov 01 - 07:39 PM (#592833)
Subject: Tune Add: SONG OF THE SEALS (from Jean Redpath)
From: MMario

found this:

14 Nov 01 - 08:52 PM (#592876)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

Wonderful links, Stewart- thank you! I've done a bit of research on the selkies and most of what I've learned was on that second link!

14 Nov 01 - 09:24 PM (#592893)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: Stewie

For those interested, I previously posted the full epic 'The Lady Odivere', of which 'The Grey Silkie' is but a fragment, to the forum:

The Lady Odivere

--Stewie.

14 Nov 01 - 11:14 PM (#592937)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: celticblues5

Thanks, everyone, for all of the input. Stewart, that really IS a great link! :-)

15 Nov 01 - 04:41 AM (#593052)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: Frailin Gill

I have been singing a version of the Great Silkie for a while, but never come across The Lady Odivere. Thanks very much, Stewie for posting this. I'll go away and enjoy it with a cup of tea.

15 Nov 01 - 12:50 PM (#593345)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: Stewart

Here's a link to another selkie web page CLICK HERE, with some other good links. Then there's that beautiful Irish film "Secret of the Roan Inish" based on the novella "The Secret of Ron Mor Skerry" by Rosalie K. Fry (1957). Here's an excerpt from that CLICK HERE which became the basis for the movie. It is really an enchanting movie - beautiful scenery and music - that I highly recommend if you can find it at your video store.

I have collected a version of The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry from the Orkney Islands CLICK HERE, and my friend Paddy Graber sings a very similar Irish version where the selkie visits Ireland rather than Norway.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

16 Nov 01 - 10:03 AM (#593931)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Jean Redpath's Song of the Seals
From: Art Thieme

We have 18 LPs by the great man himself, JOHN McCORMACK. One of the albums is a compilation of 78s and this song is from relatively late in his career---

SONG OF THE SEALS (Boulton-Bantock) Piano accomp. by E. Schneider---June 27th, 1935

LP title: The Great John McCormack -- Fiesta Records--1619 Broadway--New York, N.Y.---FLPS 1856

Art Thieme