Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og

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Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og

05 Sep 98 - 12:18 AM (#37131)
Subject: Mairi Bhan Og
From: Stacy

Hi 'catters!

Does anyone know where I can find an ABC of .gif file of Mairi Bhan Og? I need to learn it for an upcoming wedding.

Thanks!

Stacy

06 Sep 98 - 02:00 PM (#37232)
Subject: RE: Mairi Bhan Og
From: Stacy

Thank you Bruce!

08 Sep 98 - 12:29 PM (#37430)
Subject: RE: Mairi Bhan Og
From: Susan-Marie

Now that we have the tune, how about the words?

14 Sep 98 - 06:20 PM (#38115)
Subject: Lyr Add: FAIR YOUNG MARY
From: lesley

The words to "Fair Young Mary" - courtesy of Helen Hopekirk's collection:

My love to my bride with dear caresses,
And pride, shall ever be shown,
Each virtue most rare her sould possesses,
And fair and sweet has she grown.
My thoughts used to rove in boyish folly
Ere ever her love I had known,
But now I'm her own,
my heart is wholly My Darling's alone,
alone.

Where woodlands are green with trees well nourished
A scene of beauty to view,
I found with delight one stem that flourish'd,
Of bright and beautiful hue:
That bough from above, desiring greatly
With love unto me I drew;
None else could have mov'd that tree
so stately 'Twas only for that me it grew.

29 Jun 03 - 12:47 PM (#974242)
Subject: Lyr Add: MAIRI BHAN OG / FAIR YOUNG MARY
From: Jim Dixon

The above poem has a very unusual and complex internal rhyme scheme. Here's another copy of the song arranged to emphasize the meter and rhyme:

My love to my bride / with dear caresses,
And pride, / shall ever be shown,
Each virtue most rare / her soul possesses,
And fair / and sweet has she grown.
My thoughts used to rove / in boyish folly
Ere ever her love / I'd known,
But now I'm her own, / my heart is wholly
My darling's alone, / alone.

Where woodlands are green / with trees well nourished
A scene / of beauty to view,
I found with delight / one stem that flourish'd,
Of bright / and beautiful hue:
That bough from above, / desiring greatly,
Unto me with love / I drew;
None else could that tree / have mov'd so stately.
'Twas only for me / [that] it grew.

In the version that lesley posted above (which was apparently copied and pasted from http://www.contemplator.com/folk/maribhan.html), the pattern breaks down in the last few lines. I have restored what I think was the intended pattern by moving a few words around. Now it scans perfectly, but I'm still a bit dissatisfied with the result. "So stately" would make more sense modifying "tree" than "mov'd".

29 Jun 03 - 04:33 PM (#974312)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og
From: Helen

Jim.

Lesley runs the Contemplator site (and it is still one of the best music sites on the 'Net in my opinion - Thanks Lesley!.

Helen

29 Jun 03 - 09:06 PM (#974401)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og
From: Malcolm Douglas

Here is the full text of Lachlan MacBean's translation of Duncan Ban MacIntyre's Gaelic, exactly as it appeared in Moffat's Minstrelsy of the Scottish Highlands. Lesley missed the first verse. Whether Jim's suggestions are an improvement I wouldn't know, but as a rule I'd be reluctant to second-guess the translator without a good understanding of the original language.

FAIR YOUNG MARY

Oh, rapture to be, my fair young Mary,
With thee, my beautiful bride:
In love true and strong that ne'er shall vary,
A bond the clergy have tied;
This covenant sure, approved by heaven,
Secure shall ever abide,
And, since with goodwill thy hand is given,
I thrill with pleasure and pride.

My love to my bride, with dear caresses,
And pride, shall ever be shown;
Each virtue most rare her soul possesses,
And fair and sweet has she grown.
My thoughts used to rove in boyish folly,
Ere ever her love I had known,
But, now I'm her own, my heart is wholly
My darling's alone - alone.

Where woodlands are green with trees well nourished,
A scene of beauty to view,
I found, with delight, one stem that flourished,
With blossoms of every hue:
That bough from above, desiring greatly,
With love unto me I drew;
None else could have moved that tree so stately,
'Twas only for me that it grew.

Gaelic to follow when I have time.

29 Jun 03 - 09:18 PM (#974404)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og
From: masato sakurai

It was Hopekirk who missed the first verse. See Seventy Scottish Songs, selected and arranged by Helen Hopekirk (1905; Dover, 1992, pp. 82-83).

29 Jun 03 - 11:52 PM (#974439)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Màiri Bhàn òg
Òran d'a Cheile Nuadh Posd'

A Mhàiri bhàn òg, 's tu 'n òigh th'air m'aire,
Ri'm bheò bhi far am bithinn fhéin;
O'n fhuair mi ort còir cho mór 's bu mhath leam,
Le pòsadh ceangailt' o'n chléir,
Le cùmhnanta teann 's le banntaibh daingean,
'S le snaim a dh'fhanas, nach tréig;
'S e t'fhaotainn air làimh le gràdh gach caraid
Rinn slàinte mhaireann a'm' chré.

'N uair bha mi gu tinn 's mi 'n cinnseal leannain,
Gun chinnt cò theannadh rium fhéin,
'S ann a chunna' mi'n òigh air bòrd taigh-leanna,
'S bu mhòthar ceanailt' a beus;
Tharruinn mi suas r'i, 's fhuair mi gealladh
O'n ghruagaich bhanail bhi 'm réir;
'S mise bha aobhach t'fhaotainn mar 'rium,
'S crodh-laoigh a' bharain a'd' dhéigh.

Maduinn di-luain, ge buan an t-slighe,
'N uair ghluais mi, ruithinn mar ghaoth,
A dh'fhaicinn mo luaidh 's rud uainn n-ar dithis
Nach dual da rithist gu'n sgaoil
Thug mi i'n uaigneas uair a bhruidhinn,
'S ann fhuair an nighean mo ghaol,
A's chluinneadh mo chluas an fhuaim a bhitheadh
Aig luathas mo chridhe ri'm thaobh.

Sin 'n uair chuir Cupid an t-uidach am bhroilleach;
D'a shaighdean corranach, caol,
A dhrùl air mo chuislean, chuir luchd air mo choluinn,
Leis an do thuit mi ge b'oil leam 's gu'n d'aom.
Dh'innis mi sgeul do'n tè rinn m'acain,
Nach lèigh a chaisgeadh mo ghaòid;
'S e leighis gach creuchd i féin le feartan
Theachd réidh a'm' ghlacaibh mar shaoil.

Bheirinn mo phòg do'n òg-mhnaoi shomult'
A dh'fhàs gu boinneanta, caoin,
Gu mìleant, còmhnard, seòcail, foinneamh,
Do chòmhradh gheibh mi gu saor,
Tha mi air sheòl gu leòir a'd' chomain,
A bhòid sa chuir thu gu faoin
Do m'smaointean gòrach, pròis nam boireannach
'S còir dhomh fuireach le h-aon.

Chaidh mi do'n choill' an robh croinn a's gallain,
Bu bhoisgeil sealladh mu'n cuairt,
'S bha miann mo shùl do fh'fhlùran barraicht'
An dlùthas nam meanganan suas;
Geug fo bhlàth o bàrr gu talamh,
A lùb mi farasda nuas;
Bu duilich do chàch gu bràth a gearradh,
'S e' n dàn domh 'm faillean a bhuain.

Shuidhich mi lìon air fior-uisg' tana,
'S mi strìgh 'ga tharruinn air bruaich,
'S thug mi le sgrùib air tìr a' ghealag,
'S a lìth mar eal' air a' chuan.
'S toillicht' a dh'fhàg e'n là sin m'aigneadh,
An roinn a bh'agam san uair;
B'i coimeas mo cheud mhna' reuil na maidne,
Mo chéile cadail 's mi 'm shuain.

'S e b'fhasan leat riamh bhi ciallach, banail,
Ri gnìomh, 's ri ceanal mna-uails';
Gu pàirteach, bàigheil, blàth, gun choire,
Gun ghìomh, gun ghainne, gun chruas;
Gu dèirceach, daonntach, faoilidh, farasd',
Ri daoine fana, bochd, truagh;
Is tha mi le' d' sheòl an dòchas ro-mhath,
Gur lòn do t'anam do dhuais.

Chuir mi air thùs ort iùl a's aithne,
Le sùgradh ceanalta, suirc,
'N uair theannainn riut dlù, bu chùraidh a' anail
No ùbhlan meala 'gam buain:
Cha bhiodh sgeul-rùin, a b'iùl domh aithris,
A b'fhiù, nach mealladh i uam.
Nan cuireadh i cùl rium 's dlùtadh baileach,
Bu chùis domh anart a's uaigh.

Do bhriodal blàth 's do mhàran milis,
Do nàdur grinneas gach uair,
Gu beulchair, gàireach, alùinn, coimhneil,
Gun chàs a thoilleadh dhuit fuath;
Chuir i gùin-bàis fad ràith' am mhuineal
Dh'fhàg làn mi' mhulad 'sa ghruaim,
'N uair thuig i mar bha, 'sa thàr mi'n ulaidh,
Ghrad spàrr i 'n cunnart ud uam.

'S ann thog e mi 'm prìs o'n tìm seo 'n uiridh,
An nì 'san urrainn a fhuair,
'Sguab do'n ìre fhior-fhlain chruineachd,
An sìol is urramaich' buaidh.
Sin na chuir mi cho rìomhach umad,
Bha t' inntinn' bunailteach, buan:
Lìonadh do sgiamhachd miann gach duine,
An dreach, fiamh, an cumachd, 's an snuagh.

Do chuach-falt bàn air fàs cho barrail,
'S a bhàrr làn chamag a 's dhual;
T'aghaidh ghlan, mhàlda, narach, bhanail,
Do dhà chaol mhala gun ghruaim;
Sùil ghorm, lìontach, mhìn-rosg, mheallach,
Gun dìth cur fal' ann ad' ghruaidh,
Deud geal ìobhraidh, dìonach daingean,
Beul bìdh nach canadh ach stuaim.

Shiùbhladh tu fàsach àiridh glinne
'S an àit' a cinneadh an spréidh,
G' am bleothan mu chrò, 's bhi chòir na h-innis,
Laoigh òg a' mirreadh 's a' leum;
Cha mhiosa do làmh 's tu làimh ri coinnil
Na 'n seòmar soilleir ri gréin,
A' fuaidheal 's a' fàitheam bhàn a 's phionar,
An àm chur grinnis air greus.

30 Jun 03 - 12:01 AM (#974441)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Do chneas mar an èiteag ghlan, fallain,
Corp seang mar chanach an t-sléibh;
Do bhràigh cho-mhìn, 's do chiochan corrach
'S iad lìontach, soluis le chéill:
Gaoirddean tlà geal làmh na h-ainnir.
Caol mheòir, glac thana, bàs réidh;
Calpa deas ùr, troigh dhlù 'm bròig chuimir
Is lùghor, innealta ceum.

'S ann fhuair mi bhean chaoin aig taobh Màm-charal'
'S a gaol a' m' mhealladh o 'm chéill:
Bha cridhe dhomh saor, 'nuair dh' fhaod mi tharruinn,
Cha b'fhaoin domh bharail bhi d' réir:
'S ioma fuil uasal, uaibhreach, farumach,
Suas ri d' cheann-aghaidh fhéin,
Ga d' chumail am prìs an Rìgh 's Mac-Cailean
'S tu shìol nam fear a bha 'n Sléibht'.

'Nam faighinn an drùst do chàradh daingean
An àite falaich o 'n eug;
Ge d' thigeadh e d' dhàil, a 's m' fhàgail-falamh.
Cha b'àill leam bean eil' a'd' dhéigh:
Cha toir mi gu bràth dhuit dranndan teallaich,
Mu'n àrdaich aileag do chléibh,
Ach rogha' gach màrain, gràdh a's furan,
Cho blàth 'sa b'urrainn mo bheul.

Dheanainn duit ceann, a's crann, a's t-earrach,
An àm chur ghearran an éill,
A 's dheanainn mar chàch air tràigh na mara,
Chur àird air mealladh an éisg:
Mharbhainn duit geòidh a 's roin, a 's eala,
'S na h-eòin air bharra nan geug;
'S cha bhi thu ri d' bheò gun seòl air aran,
'S mi chòmhnaidh far am bi féigh.

30 Jun 03 - 12:03 AM (#974442)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og
From: Malcolm Douglas

Blimey, that's rather longer than the Moffat set! Is that all Duncan Ban, or what? Do you have a translation?

30 Jun 03 - 07:29 AM (#974558)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

I do.

The Moffat bit is just a small portion of the whole thing.

He was quite verbose about the glories of his new wife.

When I get time I will do the other half.

30 Jun 03 - 07:15 PM (#974740)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og
From: Malcolm Douglas

Good man.

23 Jan 07 - 03:37 PM (#1945832)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og
From: GUEST

session tunes

25 Sep 08 - 05:44 PM (#2450284)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og
From: GUEST,Morag

I'm also attempting this for a wedding - I'd really like a literal translation of the verses I'm singing ("A Mhairi bhan og...", then "Chaidh mido'n choill' an robh..." then "'Nam faighinn an drasd..." so I have a real sense of what I'm singing. Anyone able to help?

04 Oct 08 - 08:28 PM (#2457392)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Mairi Bhan Og
From: GUEST,Morag

I've asked around some gaelic speaking friends and we've come up wiht the following for the 3 verses that are usually cited - thought I'd post this just in case anyone else is interested. It may not be entirely accurate, but it's interesting to compare this slightly more literal take with Lachlan MacBean's translation,and helps you make sure you smile ot frown at the right lines!

O fair young Mary, you're the maid of my dreams,
My life wish is to be with you.
Now I have claimed you, as I have yearned,
Our marriage sealed by the clergy,
With solemn oaths and strong bonds,
With a knot that will last and not perish,
And winning your hand, with our friends' goodwill,
Fills me with lasting joy.

I went to the woodlands where the trees
Made a scene of beauty all around.
I looked with longing at the loveliest flower
That grew on the high branches.
The stem bearing this bud far above the ground,
I gently drew down,
No other could attain this blossom
It was I who was fated to harvest the bough.

If I now find your steadfast solace
Gives me comfort and safe haven,
Though I should come to linger on alone
I would not desire another wife after you,
I will never bring strife to our home,
Like an arrow to your breast
But most harmoniously with love I'll greet you,
As warmly as my lips are able.