Lyr Req: Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhòidheach

03 Sep 02 - 08:32 AM (#776106)
Subject: an Irish song
From: brioc

Need lots of help here! This is a beautiful song I have heard. It is in Irish, and I do not have the title. However , phonetically this is the way the first line goes: "O ro mo nin donn Bhoia" -with lots of hopeful waiting Brigid

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03 Sep 02 - 09:18 AM (#776134)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: Malcolm Douglas

I can think of a couple of possibilities, but they are Scottish, not Irish, Gaelic. So many brown-haired girls have been the subject of lovesongs! Perhaps if you can give us a little more information, like where you heard it, and so on? Meanwhile, have a look at these links to see if either is at all close; they do at least begin with the right words, I think:

Ho Ro Mo Nighean Donn Bhòidheach
Horò Mo Nighean Donn Bhòidheach nan Gormshùil Meallach

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03 Sep 02 - 09:44 AM (#776152)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: Malcolm Douglas

That is a "poetic" translation into English of the first of the two songs I mentioned above. The DT file is missing a verse; mind you, the example I linked to is short by five! Just something for Brigid to check, for now. If it turns out to be the right one, the whole thing can be posted.

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04 Sep 02 - 10:23 AM (#776803)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: brioc

thank you so much. !I still am not sure if it is the right song or not!! Humming the first two lines to the computer won't get me anywhere...........do either of you happen to have the notation? Thanks a lot Brigid

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04 Sep 02 - 10:41 AM (#776808)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: GUEST

Brigid,

I don't know how they do the "blue clicky" thing, but here's at least a link you can type in your browser's address bar to a site where you can download a midi version of the song. The lyrics are there as well.

When you opened this thread, you used the word "beautiful" to describe the song you had in mind. I'm not sure if I'd call "Nutbrown Maiden" beautiful, and that makes me a little unsure that it is indeed the song you are hunting for. It is a pleasant, catchy tune though, but it's distinctly Scottish (if there is such a thing, from a musical perspective.)

http://www.contemplator.com/folk/nutbrown.html

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04 Sep 02 - 10:42 AM (#776810)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: GUEST

Errr, excuse me, I got the name wrong. That post was meant for Brioc. Sorry

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04 Sep 02 - 10:51 AM (#776814)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: masato sakurai

Musical notations are HERE (JC's ABC Tune Finder).

~Masato

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04 Sep 02 - 02:12 PM (#776967)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: GUEST,JTT

Seems to be Scots rather than Irish. Take a look on cdnow.com and if you have Windows Media you can listen to an instrumental version by Silly Wizard.

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05 Sep 02 - 12:09 PM (#777503)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: brioc

Dear Guest, thank you, I find the sound of the song beautiful!!! Now that I have the English lyrics too and the notation (thank you masato sakurai) we can have a go. Brioc and Brigid are one and the same!!

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05 Sep 02 - 01:36 PM (#777576)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: GUEST,Guest - Momma

I agree Brioc, It is a beautiful song. Check out The Rankins' 'North Country' CD. Spine Chillin'

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05 Sep 02 - 02:35 PM (#777613)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: GUEST,Ard Mhacha.

Momma, I have a recording of the Rankins singing Nut brown Maiden and as you say, its superb. Ard Mhacha

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06 Sep 02 - 04:43 AM (#777972)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: GUEST

Surprised no one has yet mentioned the version of this song by the Black sisters, Mary and Frances. Its on a compilation CD of singers which is titled 'Éist Arís' (Listen Again). For those who tend to think of songs in Irish or Scots Gaelic as purely traditional this CD will demonstrate that they can readily survive the same kind of 'up-dating' treatment that so many English-language traditional songs have undergone over the years. Purists may frown but it brings the songs before new audiences and helps draw the traditional versions along for yet another generation.

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21 Jun 08 - 01:21 PM (#2371483)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: GUEST,Treasure

Dear Mr. Guest,
I looked up cdnow.com and found the Silly Wizard cd's. However, I was unable to find this tune. Could you point out which cd and which selection number? Did anyone else find it? I thought I reviewed thoroughly but I might have missed it. Thank you.
P.S. On a sentimental note, just yesterday I took an old shoebox tape recorder with me to my Mother's assisted living facility. I recorded her singing this song in gaelic. Although her mind is pretty muddled now with the alzheimers, she could still remember and sing this song which her father taught her in gaelic when she was about 5 or 6 years old. He was the son of a Scottish immigrant to Canada from the island of South Uist, Scotland.

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21 Jun 08 - 03:06 PM (#2371539)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: Fliss

The Corries do a lovely version.
Fliss

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26 Jun 08 - 01:21 AM (#2374561)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: Jim Dixon

The title varies somewhat, but Allmusic.com lists recordings of HO RO MO NIGHEAN DONN BHÒIDHEACH (or something like it) on:

The Rankin Family, "North Country," 1993.
Mary Jane Lamond, "Suas E!" 1997.
Unknown, "Scottish Collection: Songs of the Gaels," 1999.
Frances Black and Friends, "This Love Will Carry," 2006.
Mary Johnston, "Gaelic Songs of Scotland: Women at Work in the Western Isles," 2006.
Flora MacNeil, "1951 Edinburgh People's Festival Ceilidh," 2006.

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26 Jun 08 - 03:17 AM (#2374595)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: an Irish song
From: GUEST,JTT

The Rankins are on YouTube with it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZX8fr_ijGE

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