Monday, February 28, 2011

Friday, February 25, 2011

English Country Garden

A tradtional song about the flowers and insects in a English country garden

How many kinds of sweet flowers grow

In an English country garden?
We'll tell you now of some that we know
Those we miss you'll surely pardon
Daffodils, heart's ease and flox
Meadowsweet and lady smocks
Gentian, lupine and tall hollihocks
Roses, foxgloves, snowdrops, blue forget-me-nots
In an English country garden

How many insects come here and go
In an English country garden?
We'll tell you now of some that we know
Those we miss you'll surely pardon
Fireflies, moths, gnats and bees
Spiders climbing in the trees
Butterflies drift in the gentle breeze
There are snakes, ants that sting
And other creeping things
In an English country garden

How many songbirds fly to and fro
In an English country garden?
We'll tell you now of some that we know
Those we miss you'll surely pardon
Bobolink, cuckoo and quail
Tanager and cardinal
Bluebird, lark, thrush and nightingale
There is joy in the spring
When the birds begin to sing
In an English country garden

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Red-Haired Boy

A traditional Irish Reel, here played on a clawhammer banjo

Sunday, February 20, 2011

La Blanche Hermine

A Song of Gilles Servat that became the unofficial hymne of Brittany


Friday, February 18, 2011

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond (pronounced /ˈloʊmənd/), (Scottish Gaelic Loch Laomainn) is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest loch/lake in Great Britain, by surface area, and contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh water island in the British Isles. It is a popular leisure destination and is featured in song.

The song has been recorded by many performers over the years including the Mudmen and Scottish-Canadian punk band the Real McKenzies. Both Runrig and Quadriga Consort used to perform Loch Lomond as their concert's final song. The original author is unknown. One story is that the song was written by a Scottish soldier who awaited death in enemy captivity; in his final letter home, he wrote this song, portraying his home and how much he would miss it. Another tale is that during the 1745 rebellion a soldier on his way back to Scotland during the 1745-6 retreat from England wrote this song. The "low road" is a reference to the Celtic belief that if someone died away from his homeland then the fairies would provide a route of this name for his soul to return home.

Monday, February 14, 2011

At the End of a Pointed Gun

"Grit" Laskin is the writer responsible for this, having put new words to a haunting traditional tune. He is a very fine writer and musician from Ontario, Canada who, as we are writing and singing, builds some of the finest acoustic instruments in North America.
Grit has put himself in the position of the father of one of the Israeli athletes killed at the Munich Olympic Games. We feel he describes perfectly the personal thoughts and feelings of a father embittered by useless violence and death. The pain and anguish felt at the loss of his only son should be a reminder to us all that, no matter what colour, politics or religion we might have, the loss of a loved one is equally painful.


Sheet music of an intro

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Doon the Brae

A slow Scottish Reel, Sooner or later a Scottsman will come along and tell us what "Down the Brae" means. In the mean time we are left guessing.


Thursday, February 10, 2011

Charles O'Connor

Another tune from the collection of Turlough O'Carolan

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Roisin the Bow

A real PUB song

Monday, February 7, 2011

Changing your Demeanor

A traditional hornpipe, used by the chieftains to built on this beautifull song


Sunday, February 6, 2011

Saturday, February 5, 2011

The Boys of Bluehill

a traditianol hornpipe from Northumberland, here played on a cittern


Thursday, February 3, 2011

Baptist Johnson

A tune from the collection of Turlough O'Carolan.
Baptist Johnson, of Tully, was High Sheriff of County Monaghan in 1728 and M.P. for the borough of Monaghan from 1747-1753. He died in April 1753.
http://youtu.be/R3ZnBElI1qM

Tuesday, February 1, 2011