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Liner
Notes
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 1.
The Youngest Daughter
This spirited reel appears in O’Neill’s Music of
Ireland (1903) and also in Ceol Rince na hEireann No. 1 by
Breandan Breathnach as Baintreach na Radaireacht where it
is attributed to Sean Potts, a whistle player, formerly of
The Chieftains. |
2. All Things Bright and Beautiful
This tune was written by Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander (1823-1895)
and first appeared in her Hymns for Little Children in 1848.
Mrs. Alexander lived in Derry, Ireland and was the wife of
the Archbishop of Armagh. The melody was borrowed from a 17th
century English composition titled Royal Oak. It has been
said that Genesis 1:31 was Mrs. Alexander’s inspiration
for this hymn. This beloved song is also included in The Episcopalian
Hymnal.
All
things bright and beautiful,
All
creatures great and small,
All
things wise and wonderful:
The
Lord God made them all.
• Brek Renzelman: viola • Karl Lavine: cello •
Arranged by Eric Segnitz
 3.
The Grenadier and the Lady
This ballad has been found in both England and Scotland and
dates back to the 17th century or earlier. It goes by many
names—The Nightingale, The Souldier’s Rare Musick,
and Maides Recreation, to name a few. In the ballad, the Grenadier
is always very charming but never hers for the keeping.
"O
come,"said the soldier, "Tis time to give o’er."
"O
no," said the fair maid, "We will have one tune
more,
I
do like your music and the tune of your string,
I
do like to see the flowers grow and hear the nightingale sing."
4. Be Thou My Vision (Bí thusa
Mo Shúile)
This melody is based on a very old Irish hymn titled Slane.
It was on Slane Hill (County Meath) that St. Patrick is said
to have defied the will of the pagan king Laoghaire by lighting
the Pascal candle on Easter Eve.
The lyrics of this song came from an ancient Irish hymn that
dates back to 8th century monastic tradition. Mary E. Byrne
translated the hymn into modern prose in 1905, and it was
then put into verses by Eleanor Hull for her work Poem Book
of the Gael (1912).
Be
thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught
be all else to me save that thou art
Thou
my best thought by day or by night
Waking
or sleeping thy presence my light.
• Brett Lipshutz: wooden flute (flute in D, made by G.
French,
London 1850’s)
5. I’m a Doun for Lack o’
Johnnie
This Scottish poem, attributed
to Robert Burns (1759-1796),was put to the music of a traditional
melody probably in the late 18th century. It has become one
of the four parts of The Scottish Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra
by German composer Max Bruch (1838-1920), first performed
in 1879.
I’m
o doun, doun, doun
I’m
a doun for lack o’ Johnnie
Gin
Johnnie kent I was ne weel
I’m
sure he would come to me
But
o gin he’s forsaken me
Och
hone what will come o’ me
6. The Boys of Ballisodare
Joining the harp on this traditional Irish slip jig is George
Winston performing on his seven string acoustic guitar (tuned
C-D-G-D-G-B-D, from the lowest pitched string to the highest).
George has also recorded a solo guitar version of this jig
on his soundtrack recording Sadako and The Thousand Paper
Cranes (Dancing Cat Records).
• George Winston: guitar. George Winston appears courtesy
of Dancing Cat Productions.
 7.
Poor Wayfaring Stranger
One of the most popular hymn-ballads in North America, this
solo harp arrangement captures the more plaintive side of
this
classic Appalachian song.
I
am a poor wayfaring stranger,
While
traveling through this world of woe.
Yet
there’s no sickness, toil, nor danger,
In
that bright world to which I go.
8. Maya’s Return
Written by Kim Robertson. © Kim Robertson Publishing
(BMI)/Gourd Music (BMI).
A new arrangement of Kim Robertson’s original composition
Maya. This piece features live sound effects made with the
tuning key of the harp. Played in an exotic mode, it evokes
Maya, the Goddess of Illusion, and also a favorite cat named
Maya, who returns at the end (listen for “meow”
sounds).
9. Searching for Lambs
This English folk song was collected by Cecil Sharp in his
One Hundred English Folk Songs (1916). Though the lyrical
content may vary from version to version, the theme is always
the same—the shepherdess is searching for her lambs on
a May morning and the young man is searching for her love.
O
stay! O stay! you handsome maid,
And
rest a moment here,
For
there is none but you alone
That
I do love so dear.
10. Since You’ve Asked
Written by Judy Collins. © Universal Music Corp (ASCAP)/The
Wildflowers Company (ASCAP). A classic love song from Judy
Collins’ album Wildflowers (Elektra Records 1967). This
lyrical performance features the cello and English horn of
fellow Gourd artists Barry and Shelley Phillips.
• Shelley Phillips: English horn • Barry Phillips:
cello
11. My Love is Like A Red, Red, Rose
This poem was written by Robert Burns (1759-1796), and was
originally set to a tune called Major Graham by Neil Gow,
from Oswald’s Companion Book, 1745. In 1799, the poem
appeared in Original Scottish Airs, set to the tune of Wishaw’s
Favourite. In 1821, Robert Archibald Smith placed the poem
with the tune Low Down in the Broom in his Scottish Minstrel.
Oh,
my love is like a red, red rose
That’s
newly sprung in June
Oh,
my love is like a melody
That’s
sweetly played in tune
12. The Victor’s Return
This Irish jig is one of many tunes praising Napoleon Bonaparte.
Bonaparte was seen as a hero by the Irish in their continuing
conflict with the English.
13. Beauty In Tears
This melody has been attributed to the blind Irish harper
Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738). Also known as For Ireland
I’ll Not Tell Her Name, its melody seems to be a musical
cousin to the Welsh tune The Ash Grove.
14. Cape Clear
This beautiful and mystical air is named for the small island
of Cape Clear, which rests eight miles off the coast of West
Cork, Ireland. Saint Ciarán is the patron saint of
this romantic Irish island that is just three miles long by
one mile wide. A 14th century castle, myriad stone walls,
harbors, wild birds, megalithic standing stones, and hills
covered with heather and wild flowers all grace this island.
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