Chiff and Fipple Forums

I have a feeling that I am on a fool's errand with this one ... Not because no-one will be able to help me around these parts. Far from it. I think I'll get lots of help. But I can't help thinking I won't be up to the task ...

I would really like to be able to play the air to the song Siúil a ruin. I don't care what I play it on - fiddle, whistle, low whistle, flute, but first I have to get the air, and the words, very thoroughly in my head.

So I've been looking for a really good version. I've looked on YouTube, and I've endured a large amount of complete dross (including an absolutely abysmal version by Judy Collins, who ought to have known better). There's a lovely version by Clannad, from 1978, but it's very much of its time, and fairly individual and esoteric. I don't think it's the best for me to learn from. I've found at least one other version which I would characterise as poor but better to learn from.

Now what I need is a version that is good, and, at the same time, good to learn from.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Preferably with links, although I'd buy something if I could be persuaded that the version was worth it.

Órla Fallon, maybe?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9jMDk9pVo

You get the lyrics in the video, too.

In a documentary about Eithne Ní Uallacháin a few years ago, she sang a lovely informal version with her children. I liked that one a lot. It was on youtube for a while but I think it was taken down. I may be able to lift it from the version I downloaded at the time.

Mr.Gumby wrote:In a documentary about Eithne Ní Uallacháin a few years ago, she sang a lovely informal version with her children. I liked that one a lot. It was on youtube for a while but I think it was taken down. I may be able to lift it from the version I downloaded at the time.

That would be brilliant, if you're able, Mr G.

Nanohedron wrote:Órla Fallon, maybe?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9jMDk9pVo

You get the lyrics in the video, too.

The basic tune's there. It's a bit New Agey for me. Also, it's sung differently from what seems to be the usual version of the song, in a way that seems partly taken from the old Clannad version.

One of the things that appeals to me about the song is the - as it seems to me - very odd structure, made up of three lines of verse followed by a chorus line; then three line of chorus, followed by the chorus line. I don't recall hearing another song with anything like that structure. Órla has deviated from that structure in her version. It's fair enough, but perhaps not ... I don't know what the word is ... standard(?) enough for what I want.

That would be brilliant, if you're able, Mr G

I'll give it a go tomorrow, if I have time.

You may perhaps check Skylark's recording of it on their recording 'All of it', Len Graham singing it : here

Mr.Gumby wrote:

That would be brilliant, if you're able, Mr G

I'll give it a go tomorrow, if I have time.

You may perhaps check Skylark's recording of it on their recording 'All of it', Len Graham singing it : here

Thanks Mr G. You've been extremely helpful.

I now have a sort of 'working model' of a version that maybe I can do something with. One of the remaining issues is the perennial problem of time. It's really very short. I might normally play a slow air just twice, but that can take a good five minutes or, often, more. If I play this just twice, it's over before it's hardly begun; but three times, just instrumentally, seems a bit much ... unless I can get a bit more inventive with it, without spoiling the simple beauty of the tune ...

I may have to learn to sing the thing. I haven't the greatest voice, but it works sometimes, on some songs, so you never know ...

One of the reasons I love Chiff and Fipple is I find out new things or am reminded old things I have forgotten. I used to listen to the Skylark version on the CD The Celts Rise Again. It is on my shelf and hasn't been dusted off for some time. Lovely.

I think I'm getting there ... gradually ...

My main difficulty at the moment is getting all of the lyrics in my head. If I had those, I think I'd have it. Nothing for it then; I'll have to learn the song.

The version I like is a on the solas album sung by Karen Casey

Bridget Fitzgerald recorded it on Two Sides of a Coyne. Lovely

benhall.1 wrote:I think I'm getting there ... gradually ...

My main difficulty at the moment is getting all of the lyrics in my head. If I had those, I think I'd have it. Nothing for it then; I'll have to learn the song.

When I sing it, I usually do verse, verse, chorus with six verses total. Comes out a pretty good length, not overly repetitive.

For vocal renditions, I've always favored a version by a band called Siucra, but I don't see anything online from them.

The choral group Anúna has recorded this, available on their new Collections album. See http://www.anuna.ie/music for a sample. Definitely worth a listen.

Just sang it in the pub last evening. You shoulda been there.