Wednesday, March 17, 2010

"Let Erin Remember the Days of Old" w/ notation in D! (but for bagpipe)

A song by Thomas Moore, the 19th-century Irish poet. It's one of a family of tunes including "The Red Fox" and, according to some authorities, the fiddle tune "Red Haired Boy." In O'Neill's collection of Irish fiddle tunes but known chiefly in America as a pipe tune. The embedded video shows the Newport AOH [Ancient Order of Hibernians] Pipe and Drum Band in the city council chambers, Newport, R.I., in February. They're playing "Let Erin Remember" as they march in.



Here they are again at Newport's Irish Waterfront Festival in 2009. And in a St. Patrick's parade in Pawtucket. And here's the Irish American East Side Pipes and Drums in New York City.

Perhaps the best version for learning the song is by Irish-American folk singer Tommy Makem in a medley with "The Minstrel Boy" ... from an old album. "Let Erin Remember" begins at 0:48. Also an evocative piano arrangement - perhaps the one you see in 19th- and early 20th-century sheet music - performed by "writerpaul," a YouTube member from Yorkshire. Lots of grace notes, counterpoint and passing tones that bring out things in the melody that would be well worth adapting for the dulcimer.

D-for-dulcimer alert!

The Pipes and Drums of the Jersey Shore Shillelaghs have printable standard notation in D (or E dorian)? The band is sponsored by the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh of the Jersey Shore, Belmar N.J. Lyrics are widely available on line, including a version with
guitar chords in G ...

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