Saddest Tune

lowas · Post by **lowas** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:49 pm

Hi,

Late as usual, I nominate the Swedish tune Ljugaren. It is probably the saddest I've ever heard, especially when played on a säckpipa (Nordic bagpipe), an instrument which always makes me feel gloomy just by the sound it makes. There are a couple of recordings on the internet, check out either my band: http://www.myspace.com/hnao, with special guest star Gudrun Ebbinghaus on the säckpipa, or Ljugaren/The Miller of the Dee played by Olle Gällmo on http://user.it.uu.se/~crwth/bagpipes/sw ... c.swe.html

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:11 pm

I can tell you the saddest song is NOT in the form of a limerick.

WyoBadger · Post by **WyoBadger** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:38 pm

FJohnSharp wrote:I can tell you the saddest song is NOT in the form of a limerick.

!!!

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:42 pm

lowas wrote:Hi,

Late as usual, I nominate the Swedish tune Ljugaren. It is probably the saddest I've ever heard, especially when played on a säckpipa (Nordic bagpipe), an instrument which always makes me feel gloomy just by the sound it makes. There are a couple of recordings on the internet, check out either my band: http://www.myspace.com/hnao, with special guest star Gudrun Ebbinghaus on the säckpipa, or Ljugaren/The Miller of the Dee played by Olle Gällmo on http://user.it.uu.se/~crwth/bagpipes/sw ... c.swe.html

That is indeed beautiful!

pastorkeith · Post by **pastorkeith** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:03 pm

blackhawk wrote:
lowas wrote:Hi,

Late as usual, I nominate the Swedish tune Ljugaren. It is probably the saddest I've ever heard, especially when played on a säckpipa (Nordic bagpipe), an instrument which always makes me feel gloomy just by the sound it makes. There are a couple of recordings on the internet, check out either my band: http://www.myspace.com/hnao, with special guest star Gudrun Ebbinghaus on the säckpipa, or Ljugaren/The Miller of the Dee played by Olle Gällmo on http://user.it.uu.se/~crwth/bagpipes/sw ... c.swe.html
That is indeed beautiful!

I heartily agree!

pastorkeith

evenstr · Post by **evenstr** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:00 pm

Marcus Hernon's Air. I tear up every time I hear it.

HDSarah · Post by **HDSarah** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:37 pm

pastorkeith wrote:
As you rightly point out, how the musician interprets the piece is key, no?

Yet, might not some laments in the hands of a master - musician and tune together - produce something truly evocative - touching sadness and loss, the ephemeralness, as it were, of life? Do not at least some tunes carry something of that in their very construction (even if a gifted musician could make them sound as jolly a driking song?)

I agree that the musician brings out the sadness in a tune, but that there is something in the tune itself -- some intervals that just ache (but in a beautiful way). Personally I find Carolan's "Blind Mary" sadder than his "Farewell to Music."

Neil Gow's "Farewell to Whiskey" is sad when played as a lament, but I've also heard it played as a fast dance tune. I like the slow, sad version better.

synecdoche · Post by **synecdoche** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:14 pm

Donall Og from the Chieftains 2 LP was one of the first airs to really make me cry. I think it was the combination of it being so raw-sounding (being an LP) and also so haunting.

But Brauch Na Carrige Baine is also a favorite. Never fails to make me somewhat emotional.

Thomas-Hastay · Post by **Thomas-Hastay** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:58 pm

Most definately "I am Stretched On Your Grave" By Kate Rusby.

pastorkeith · Post by **pastorkeith** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:42 pm

evenstr wrote:Marcus Hernon's Air. I tear up every time I hear it.

That's a great lament!
I bought Joannie's songbook just so I could play it!

Blessings
pastorkeith

chas · Post by **chas** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:31 am

WyoBadger wrote:
Peter Laban wrote:One the one hand I think it's a bit of a silly exercise, it's a good musician who puts his touch of sadness on the tune, not necessarily the tune itself.
Well, you think lots of things are silly exercises, Peter. You're probably right, too. But then, so is running on a treadmill, but lots of people still do it.

I got on a treadmill once when trying on a pair of running shoes. That was about 25 years ago; never since. I accidentally brush up against one occasionally at my brother's house (he lives in New Hampster; he sometimes can't get to the head of his driveway, nevermind out for a few miles).

As for tearjerker tunes, there are just so many. Helicon (Chris Norman and Ken Kolodner) do a slow version of Woman of the House that gets me every time I hear it. If there is such a thing as a perfect rendition of a piece of music, that may be it.

PallasAthena · Post by **PallasAthena** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:12 pm

The West Coast of Clare, as played by Planxty

Amazing Grace

Carrickfergus

Key_of_D · Post by **Key_of_D** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:06 pm

Hm I'd give Seamus Ennis' playing of Gentle Philip Fahy on Fourty Years of Irish Piping, a strong contestant, and Liam O'Flynn's playing of Eire on The Fire Aflame - Matt Molloy, Liam O'Flynn and Sean Keane, just a brilliant album period. The Wild Geese is always a downer too.

oleorezinator · Post by **oleorezinator** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:10 pm

from an old post.

June Tabor sang the role of The Mother in Peter Bellamy's ballad opera The Transports.

The Leaves in the Woodland
Oh the grass in the meadow, the reeds by the mere,
The sad boom of the bittern is all that I hear.
And the leaves in the woodland and the gulls by the shore cry.
You never shall sit by your loved-ones no more.
You never shall sit by your loved-ones no more.

When I was a young girl the world did seem gay,
But these cruel hard times do drive comfort away.
And the leaves in the woodland and the gulls by the shore cry.
You never shall dance with your sweetheart no more.
You never shall dance with your sweetheart no more.

Once I gathered wild flowers in the sweet countryside,
But my garlands have withered, my posies have died.
And the leaves in the woodland and the gulls by the shore cry.
You never shall lie with your husband no more.
You never shall lie with your husband no more.

Once I went a-courting, but now my man's gone,
Once I was a mother, but now I'm alone.
And the leaves in the woodland and the gulls by the shore cry.
You never shall walk with your men-folk no more.
You never shall walk with your men-folk no more.

Come all you young women that's free from all care,
Don't you never get married, all sorrows lies there.
For the leaves in the woodland and the gulls by the shore cry. The heart that is given no man may restore.
The heart that is given no man may restore

Now the fields are all empty, the hedgerows are bare,
Only wild desolation is all I find there.
I'll go down to the river to ease all my pain
And who knows, but I might find my dear ones again. Who knows, but I might find my dear ones again.

a snippet: http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop- ... WNA6001007

riverman · Post by **riverman** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:15 pm

evenstr wrote:Marcus Hernon's Air. I tear up every time I hear it.

I was going to vote for that one. I just learned it--and I play it and play it.