In Australia, Aboriginal artists use the same cliff-faces
that have been used for 10,000 years. The new generation paint their
pictures on top of those of previous generations. Each generation renews the
art, but keeps alive the ancient tradition. Irish songs are like that. Every
new generation puts new words to old tunes. Though new tunes appear, many of
the songs use airs of great antiquity.
A song I learned at school “Seán Ó Duibhir an Ghleanna” (“John O’Dwyer of the Glen”) was
written in the 16th century to a very ancient air. It is, in fact, a
parody on an older song, which dates back to pre-Christian times. O’Dwyer of the Glen is a dirge, a
sardonic treatment of the old joyful song of salutation to the rising sun, and expresses the depression of that age when Queen Elizabeth's forces had decimated the country and cut down the forests to build the English fleet.
Canon Sheehan wrote an English version that made the song into a rousing rebel ballad.
The following u-tube recording gives an English translation of the 16th century dirge.
The joyful song of salutation, which has been quite forgotten until this moment woud be sung to the original joyful tempo. Below, I give first my translation of the 16th century dirge and then of the premordial Song of Salutation. (I give a short version, which adequately shows the main theme. All of my stanzas are combined to form one stanza of the original, which goes on and on, as you will see in the u-tube rendering here).
Canon Sheehan wrote an English version that made the song into a rousing rebel ballad.
The following u-tube recording gives an English translation of the 16th century dirge.
The joyful song of salutation, which has been quite forgotten until this moment woud be sung to the original joyful tempo. Below, I give first my translation of the 16th century dirge and then of the premordial Song of Salutation. (I give a short version, which adequately shows the main theme. All of my stanzas are combined to form one stanza of the original, which goes on and on, as you will see in the u-tube rendering here).
O’Dwyer of the Glen
The summer sun was
shining;
Along with
songbirds singing
I heard a wail of
pain.
Gun-echoe from the valley
Causing birds to scamper
And noisily alarming
The badger and the hare.
A red fox on a
headland,
A thousand horsemen
shouting,
A woman crying
sadly
For her geese the
fox has slain.
Now the forests they
are felling,
Folk are
emigrating,
And, John O’Dwyer
of the Valley,
You’re left with no
game.
Sun Salutation
As I rise in the
morning,
Just as the day is
dawning,
I hear the
blackbird calling
And nature’s glad
fanfare.
Mountain streams
are gushing;
In the trees the
leaves are rustling;
All nature’s
creatures bustling
To greet the dawn
of day.
As I rise from my
slumber,
I share again this
wonder
And join with
nature’s bustle
To greet the dawn
of day.
Now the sky is
brightening,
All nature’s folk
enlightening,
I share in the
excitement,
Thankful for this
day.
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