I put this in as an answer to a request. It is used as a hymn tune, and like many such is called both by its opening words and by the name of a place associated maybe with its composition or use, or history that inspired it. The tune is said to be an Irish folk tune, deriving the title "Slane" from the association of Slane Hill, Co. Meath, with St. Patrick.
The tune, with an altered ending, also carries the song "The Banks Of The Bann"; the last four bars of this version go:
|G3 B AG|E2 D2 DE|G3 B AF|G4 ||
Four comments
Be Thou My Vision / Slane
Be Thou My Vision
key of C, but we like the G7
Dallan Forgaill c. 700
Tr. Mary E Byrne
Ancient Irish Hymn (Slane)
Thanks
I used this tune years ago with my middle school choir and began to wonder about it’s origin. So many tunes have a simple annotation of "Irish Folk tune." Thanks for the additional information.
Brent
Bluegrass Version
The third setting has a cut time feel with the traditional melody. I used this for inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkmAjPh75RA
