Thugamar Fein An Samhradh Linn waltz

on the score I have, it’s written in 3/8. Maybe I should have put it in 3/4, as a waltz… but it doesn’t seem good in a waltz feeling… I play it as a slow air, and find it very beautiful and haunting… originally it’s a song.
Here’s the Wolftones’ version :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3aqFrEpCg4

play video

and the Chieftains :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e8IOd2beCo&feature=related

play video

3/4 for an air does not mean treating it as a waltz. You’ve beat me to this as I had planned to add it for you but then had computer woes and have been working on that this last week. I also had planned to put some time aside to do at least one more transcription, from the playing of Maire Ni Chathasaigh, harp. I’ll be back… 😉

# Posted on April 12th 2010 by Nikita Pfister
https://thesession.org/discussions/24342

Of course it’s true 3/4 isn’t always a waltz… the “3/8” or 6/8 signature makes me play it with a different feeling than 3/4, which seems just more “right” for this particular tune…
Thanks for all the indication, c, it’s really great.
Now I’m looking for the words : seems there’s a lot of different versions… if anyone has them…. ? if not, I’ll play it as a slow air, with some rubato, long drone-like basses… works also beautifully on hammered dulcimer !

last year, as a matter of fact! But, then I didn’t get to it and Bealtaine came and went, so I thought I’d do it this year--and now I’m too late! Alas! 🙂

I’d prefer it in 3/4… Perhaps I’ll add a version soon…

Thanks for promoting this wonderful air!

I’ve updated the ABC : 3/4, makes it filed in the waltzes since there’s no “slow air” or “other” file on this site… I’coudn’t update the inner meter, which stays 1/8…. and I don’t know if the sheet music version will change… but then, I’ve seen a lot of waltzes and Carolan tunes written in 6/8 and played as waltzes…

Michael Tubridy (in Traditional Irish Music) has two settings:

They are:

X:1
T:Thugamar Féin an Samhradh Linn #1
R:waltz
S:Croabh Naithi Tunebook #1, page 2
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:G
A2 B2 d2|e4 e2|e2 f2 d2|e4 A2|
d3 e f2|g4 e2|f4 d2|B6|
g2 a2 g2|f4 d2|e4 A2|d4 B2|
A2 g2 f2|g4 e2|d4 B2|A6||

and:

X:2
T:Thugamar Féin an Samhradh Linn #2
R:waltz
S:Croabh Naithi Tunebook #1, page 2
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:G
G3 A B2|A4 G2|E4 D2|D6|
G3 A B2|d4 c2|B3 A G2|A6|
d4 d2|c4 c2|B2 A2 G2|E4 D2|
G3 A B2|A4 G2|E4 D2|D6||

X: 1
T: Thugamar Fein An Samhradh Linn
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: Dmix
|: D2 E2 G2 | A4 A2 | A2 B2 G2 | A4 D2 |
G2 A2 B2 | c4 A2 | B4 G2 | E6 |
c2 d2 c2 | B4 G2 | A4 D2 | G4 E2 |
D2 c2 B2 | c4 A2 | G4 E2 | D6 :|

That’s this transcription, Nikita’s. More will follow when I’ve finished sorting out the hell that descended on our computers via McAfee… At least I’ve backed everything up. Fingers crosse we can get things back up and fully running again… 🙁

Muspc, please add your take on it. And thanks Alan…

|“G”DEG | “D”A2A | A“G”BG | “D”A2D | GAB | “C”c2A |“G”B2G | “Em”E3 | “Am”cdc | “G”B2G | “D”A2D | “G”G2E | D“C”cB | “Am”c2A | “G”G2“Em”E |“D”D6/2
|

This piece was also recorded by Empire Brass on their “Kings Court and Celtic Fair” CD. It has vocals by Alannah who performs lyrics which I’ve never heard elsewhere.

In Micheál Ó hAlmhain “Tuile Agus Trá (The Flowing Tide)” album, this is called Eibhlín Gheal Chiúin

Very nice tune ! Melody sure stays with you…the higher part is nice to add to the whole tune…