Siúil a ruin
- benhall.1
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Siúil a ruin
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.
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.
- Nanohedron
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Re: Siúil a ruin
Órla Fallon, maybe?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9jMDk9pVo
You get the lyrics in the video, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9jMDk9pVo
You get the lyrics in the video, too.
"If you take music out of this world, you will have nothing but a ball of fire." - Balochi musician
- Mr.Gumby
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Re: Siúil a ruin
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.
My brain hurts
- benhall.1
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Re: Siúil a ruin
That would be brilliant, if you're able, Mr G.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.
- benhall.1
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- Tell us something.: I'm a fiddler and, latterly, a fluter. I love the flute. I wish I'd always played it. I love the whistle as well. I'm blessed in having really lovely instruments for all of my musical interests.
- Location: Unimportant island off the great mainland of Europe
Re: Siúil a ruin
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.Nanohedron wrote:Órla Fallon, maybe?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9jMDk9pVo
You get the lyrics in the video, too.
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.
- Mr.Gumby
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Re: Siúil a ruin
I'll give it a go tomorrow, if I have time.That would be brilliant, if you're able, Mr G
You may perhaps check Skylark's recording of it on their recording 'All of it', Len Graham singing it : here
My brain hurts
- benhall.1
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- Location: Unimportant island off the great mainland of Europe
Re: Siúil a ruin
Thanks Mr G. You've been extremely helpful.Mr.Gumby wrote:I'll give it a go tomorrow, if I have time.That would be brilliant, if you're able, Mr G
You may perhaps check Skylark's recording of it on their recording 'All of it', Len Graham singing it : here
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 ...
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Re: Siúil a ruin
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.
- benhall.1
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- Tell us something.: I'm a fiddler and, latterly, a fluter. I love the flute. I wish I'd always played it. I love the whistle as well. I'm blessed in having really lovely instruments for all of my musical interests.
- Location: Unimportant island off the great mainland of Europe
Re: Siúil a ruin
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.
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.
- fiddlerwill
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Re: Siúil a ruin
The version I like is a on the solas album sung by Karen Casey
The mind is like a parachute; it only works when it is open.
Heres a few tunes round a table, first three sets;
http://soundcloud.com/fiddlerwill/werty
http://soundcloud.com/fiddlerwill/jigs-willie
http://soundcloud.com/fiddlerwill/jigs
Heres a few tunes round a table, first three sets;
http://soundcloud.com/fiddlerwill/werty
http://soundcloud.com/fiddlerwill/jigs-willie
http://soundcloud.com/fiddlerwill/jigs
Re: Siúil a ruin
Bridget Fitzgerald recorded it on Two Sides of a Coyne. Lovely
- michaelpthompson
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Re: Siúil a ruin
When I sing it, I usually do verse, verse, chorus with six verses total. Comes out a pretty good length, not overly repetitive.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.
For vocal renditions, I've always favored a version by a band called Siucra, but I don't see anything online from them.
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Re: Siúil a ruin
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.
- michaelpthompson
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Re: Siúil a ruin
Just sang it in the pub last evening. You shoulda been there.