The Moreen

“The Minstrel Boy” is an emotionally stirring and inspirational song. It was written by Irish poet Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852) who set the words to the melody of an ancient Irish aire called “The Moreen.” It is widely thought that Moore composed the song in remembrance of a number of his friends, whom he met while studying at Trinity College, Dublin and who had participated in the 1798 rebellion of the United Irishmen. As the story goes, one friend was wounded, another friend died in prison, and a third was captured and later hung. Yet through it all, Moore refused to testify against his friends.

The song gained widespread popularity and became a favorite of many of the Irish who fought during the United States Civil War. The third verse of the song was added at that time by unknown authors.

The song is notably associated with many U.S. organizations that historically had many members of Irish descent. These organizations include various city police departments and fire departments. The melody is frequently played, typically on bagpipes, at funerals of members and/or officers of such organizations who have died or been killed in service. The song is also associated with the Irish Army and with traditionally Irish regiments and/or Irish Brigades found in other armies.

This song is quite popular and has been heard in many movies, such as the 2001 film “Black Hawk Down,” and in many television series. Fans of Star Trek may remember that the song’s first verse was sung by the character Miles O'Brien (actor Colm Meaney) in the Star Trek: The Next Generation fourth-season episode entitled “The Wounded.” During the run of the spin-off series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine the tune became an unofficial theme song for the O’Brien character, and can be heard in several episodes.

The Minstrel Boy

The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone
In the ranks of death you will find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;
"Land of Song!" said the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
Could not bring that proud soul under;
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;
And said "No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and brav'ry!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free,
They shall never sound in slavery!"

The third verse, added during the 1860s:

The Minstrel Boy will return we pray
When we hear the news, we all will cheer it,
The minstrel boy will return one day,
Torn perhaps in body, not in spirit.
Then may he play on his harp in peace,
In a world such as Heaven intended,
For all the bitterness of man must cease,
And ev'ry battle must be ended.

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To review the history, the text, or to listen to the melody, check out this page from the “Songs of Ireland” section of "Contemplations from the Marianas Trench - Music and Deep Thoughts" - http://www.contemplator.com/ireland/minstrel.html

To see a GIF image file of the score of the song, or to download an ABC file of the score, visit this page of "The Session" - http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6782

The following link has JPEG image files of an 1895 edition of the score, including a solo line and piano accompaniment. It is two pages in length and presents the first and second verses. The link is on the website called Library Ireland, a free online reference library of Irish material:
http://www.libraryireland.com/Irish-Melodies/The-minstrel-boy-1.php

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Heart of Oak

“Heart of Oak” is an 18th century song of the sea. The tune was written in 1759 by Dr. William Boyce (1711 - 1779). The English words were written by the famous actor David Garrick (1716 - 1779). Garrick is also credited with the theatrical blessing, “Break a Leg” as he was reportedly so involved in his performance of Richard III that he did not notice the pain of a fracture he incurred.

Heart of Oak

Come cheer up, my lads! 'tis to glory we steer,
To add something more to this wonderful year;
To honour we call you, not press you like slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?

Chorus:

Heart of oak are our ships, heart of oak are our men;
We always are ready, steady, boys, steady!
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.

We ne'er see our foes but we wish them to stay,
They never see us but they wish us away;
If they run, why we follow, and run them ashore,
For if they won't fight us, we cannot do more.

(Chorus)

They swear they'll invade us, these terrible foes,
They frighten our women, our children, and beaus;
But should their flat bottoms in darkness get o'er,
Still Britons they'll find to receive them on shore.

(Chorus)

We'll still make them fear, and we'll still make them flee,
And drub 'em on shore, as we've drubb'd 'em at sea;
Then cheer up, my lads! with one heart let us sing:
Our soldiers, our sailors, our statesmen and Queen.

(Chorus)

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The song has developed many variations to its words over the years. Fans of Walt Disney motion pictures may recall that actors Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette sung a version in the 1968 Walt Disney film Blackbeard’s Ghost. And fans of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation may remember an episode from the third season, entitled “Alegience,” in which another version was sung. Below is the first verse and the chorus sung in that episode.

Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
To find something new in this wonderful year;
To honour we call you, as freemen not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?

Chorus:
Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
we always are ready; Steady, boy, steady!
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again!
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In the above chorus, the word “tar” is a slang term that was used for a sailor. Their hats and clothes were treated with tar to waterproof them. The tar-impregnated cloth, or tarpaulin, provided protection in harsh conditions. Because of this, a sailor was called a “tarpaulin,” or “tar” for short. Fans of Gilbert and Sullivan may remember a song from the musical HMS Pinafore entitled “A British Tar.”

To review the history, the text, or to listen to the melody, check out this page from the "Songs of the Sea" section of "Contemplations from the Marianas Trench - Music and Deep Thoughts" - http://www.contemplator.com/england/heartoak.html

To see a GIF image file of the score of the song, or to download an ABC file of the score, or other notations, visit this mirror site of Digital Tradition -
http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiHEARTOAK;ttHEARTOAK.html

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Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Skye Boat Song

Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), the Young Pretender (to the throne), led the Jacobite uprising, but was defeated by the Duke of Cumberland on Scotland’s Culloden Moor in 1746. Aided by a Jacobite heroine named Flora MacDonald, who disguised him as her serving maid, Charles escaped from Uist to the island of Skye. He was later taken by a French vessel to Morlaix on the coast of Bretagne. Unlike the hope expressed in the song, and despite various political and religious maneuvers that took place over the following forty years, Charles did not return to take up the fight again. He died in Rome in 1788.

The words of the song were written in 1884 by business man, philanthropist, and song writer Sir Harold Boulton, Bart. (baronet) who lived from 1859 to 1935. The first half of the tune (the chorus) is said to be an old sea shanty (in this case, a Gaelic rowing song called “Cuachag nan Craobh,” or “The Cuckoo in the Grove”); the second half of the tune (the verse portion) is traditionally attributed to Miss Annie MacLeod (Lady Wilson). The song was not considered a traditional Scottish favorite until recent times. It is sometimes sung as a lullaby in a slow rocking time, or danced as a waltz.

The Skye Boat Song


Chorus:

Speed bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye

Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunder clouds rend the air;
Baffled our foe's stand on the shore
Follow they will not dare

(Chorus)

Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep
Ocean's a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head

(Chorus)

Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore could wield
When the night came, silently lay
Dead on Culloden's field

(Chorus)

Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet, e'er the sword cool in the sheath,
Charlie will come again.

(Chorus)

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To review the history, the text, or to listen to the melody, check out this page from the Scottish Folk Music section of “Contemplations from the Marianas Trench - Music and Deep Thoughts” - http://www.contemplator.com/scotland/skyboat.html

To see a GIF image file of the score of the song, or to download an ABC file of the score, visit this page of “The Session” - http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3690

Skye Boat Song. (2002). Digital Tradition Mirror.
http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiSKYEBOAT;ttSKYEBOAT.html

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Diversity of Aim

You may recall the proverb, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." This proverb first appeared in the 1659 collection "Proverbs in English, Italian, French and Spanish" by James Howell. The expressed sentiment was first recorded by the Egyptian sage Ptahhoptep, who in circa 2400 B.C. wrote, "One that reckoneth accounts all the day passeth not a happy moment. One that gladdeneth his heart all the day provideth not for his house. The bowman hitteth the mark, as the steersman reacheth land, by diversity of aim."

That is the general purpose of this blog—diversity of aim. And as noted in the title, it is of a musical sort. Here I will present commentaries and creations. I hope you enjoy them.

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