Tune names

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:27 pm

Hey all,

I write a column for the newsletter of my local CCÉ branch called "Cúpla Focal" ("A Few Words"). Each issue I offer some words or phrases in Irish, with their pronunciation and meaning. I try to stick to a theme for each column (for example, last month it was "St. Patrick's Day," and we had everything from "Éire go Brách" (Ireland Forever) to "Tabhair póg dom, is Éireannach mé" (Kiss me, I'm Irish).

For the upcoming issue, I want to give some common Irish tune titles. I'm looking for the kind of thing the average, non-Irish, amateur player/session-goer might know (or might have at least seen in a tunebook and wondered about). So far I have "Tabhair Dom do Lámh" ("Give Me Your Hand"), "An Maighdean Mhara" ("The Mermaid" or "The Silkie"), An Ghaoth Aneas ("The Wind from the South," aka "Southwind") and "Fear an Bháta" ("The Boatman"). I'd like to include at least a few more (how many I include depends on how much explanation I provide for each). Suggestions? I'd thought about including "Thugamar Fein an Samhradh Linn," but I'm not sure how many out there are familiar with it. I'm hoping mainly to include tunes that people may already know from their learning, or from having heard/played them at sessions.

So what about you? Are there any Irish tunes out there for which you've seen the title and wondered "what does that mean, and how the heck do you pronounce it?" List 'em here...in return for your troubles, I'll be happy to give you a basic translation and pronunciation guide for each, and I'll use some of them, at least, in my column. Bear in mind, however...my pronunciation is very Ulster, so your mileage may vary!

Redwolf

feadogin · Post by **feadogin** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:53 pm

Na Ceannabhan Bhana
Cailleach an Airgead
Taim gan Airgid
Bimis ag Ol

(I know what they mean, but just in case others are interested)

J.

djm · Post by **djm** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:55 pm

Why not do the names for the winds from the other directions, as well?

How about "Pull the Knife and Stick It Again" or "Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her" or "My Darling A Sheep"?

djm

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:05 pm

djm wrote:Why not do the names for the winds from the other directions, as well?

How about "Pull the Knife and Stick It Again" or "Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her" or "My Darling A Sheep"?

djm

Well, if the other winds have commonly known tunes named after them, I'm happy to do it.

As for the others, I'm looking for tune names that most people are used to seeing (and struggling to pronounce) in Irish. I don't think I've ever seen those in anything but English.

I got the idea to do this when at a local session I heard someone call for "TAB-er dome doh lamb" and it took me several minutes to figure out that he was trying to say "Tabhair dom do lámh." I figure if you're going to play it, it doesn't hurt people to know how to pronounce it!

Redwolf

djm · Post by **djm** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:46 pm

Yes, I understand your purpose, but when you start something like the names of the directions it can spur people's curiosity. Besides, there are other wind names included in some tune names: "An Ghaoth Aniar Andeas" (The South-West Wind), Cold and Rough the North Wind Blows (aka "As I Roved Out (Mar Siublais Amac)), "Sean Reid's Reel" (aka "The West Wind" (An Ghaoth Aniar)), and there's an album called An Gaoth Aduaidh (but not a tune I know of to match).

djm

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:17 pm

Excuse me, but isn't "Tabhair Dom do Lámh" "Give Two hands to me"?
And I thought that was "Bimid ag Ol" (or is that a different tune?)
But yes, I'm struggling with some names, and I'd appreciate a bit of help.

How's about
Rosc Catha na Mumhan
Anach Cuan
Fáinne Gael an Lae
An Leanbh Sí (is that really "The young Fairy"?)
Fáth Mo Bhuartha

and there seem to be a few words in Taimse Im mo Chodladh which I just can't find in my dictionary... but maybe that will do another time.

MarkB · Post by **MarkB** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:30 pm

Southwind aka the f*rt!
Northwind aka the belch!

Sorry, don't the Irish for those words

MarkB

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:36 pm

burnsbyrne · Post by **burnsbyrne** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:14 pm

How about these. I have no idea if they are spelled correctly:

Mo Ghile Mear
Nil Se Ina La
Oro Se Do Bheatha 'bhaile

Mike

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:41 pm

OT:

djm wrote:"My Darling A Sheep"?

ah... shouldn't that be "My Darling ASleep"

It isn't one of those Canadian things, eh?

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:00 pm

Denny wrote:OT:

djm wrote:"My Darling A Sheep"?
ah... shouldn't that be "My Darling ASleep"

It isn't one of those Canadian things, eh?

I think David was having fun with word play... I thought it pretty funny.

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:20 pm

Innocent Bystander wrote:Excuse me, but isn't "Tabhair Dom do Lámh" "Give Two hands to me"?
And I thought that was "Bimid ag Ol" (or is that a different tune?)
But yes, I'm struggling with some names, and I'd appreciate a bit of help.

How's about
Rosc Catha na Mumhan
Anach Cuan
Fáinne Gael an Lae
An Leanbh Sí (is that really "The young Fairy"?)
Fáth Mo Bhuartha

and there seem to be a few words in Taimse Im mo Chodladh which I just can't find in my dictionary... but maybe that will do another time.

No..."dó" (note the accent) CAN mean "two" if you're just counting (a haon, a dó, a trí, etc.) but "two" would be "dhá" before an object like that ("dhá bhád": two boats). "Do" (no fada) is "your." "Tabhair dom do lámh": "Give me your hand."

Rosc Catha na Mumhan: Battle chant of Munster
Fáinne Gael an Lae: The Bright Ring of Day (an idiom refering to the dawn)
An Leanbh Sí: The Fairy Child
Fáth mo Bhuartha: The Cause of my Trouble

"Anach Cuan" is a place name, and I never can remember what it means. "Cuan" is "harbor." I'll have to do a check on that one.

Redwolf

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:26 pm

Your language column won't be complete without An Phis Fluich, which is Irish for "O'Farrell's Welcome to Limerick."

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:33 pm

burnsbyrne wrote:How about these. I have no idea if they are spelled correctly:

Mo Ghile Mear
Nil Se Ina La
Oro Se Do Bheatha 'bhaile

Mike

Mo Ghile Mear: "My Dashing Darling" is how it's usually rendered in English, but "gile" actually means "brightness," and in endearments is used to mean "my beloved." "Mear" means "spirited" or "lively."

Níl sé an lá: It's not (the) day (for some reason this keeps getting written "na," even though "lá" is masculine...I'm not sure why)

Óró, 'Sé do Bheatha 'Bhaile: "Oro, Welcome Home."

Redwolf

Cynth · Post by **Cynth** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:53 pm

djm wrote: "My Darling A Sheep"? djm