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Irish Lamentation waltz

Also known as An Graduigteoir Treigte, Caoine Luimnighe, Caoineadh Luimnigh, Cha Till Mor Mo Bhean, Clothier’s March, The Clothiers’ March, Farewell To Lochaber, The Forlorn Lover, The Irish Lamentation, Irish Lamentations, King James’ March To Ireland, King James’ March To Limerick, The Lament For Limerick, Limerick Lamentation, Limerick Lamentations, Limerick’s Lamentation, Lochaber, Lochaber No More, Marbha Luimní, Marbhna Luimni, Marbhna Luimnigh.

There are 57 recordings of this tune.

Irish Lamentation appears in 2 other tune collections.

Irish Lamentation has been added to 12 tune sets.

Irish Lamentation has been added to 162 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Eleven settings

1
X: 1
T: Irish Lamentation
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
GA|"G"B2 B2 Bc|B3 A G2|"Am"a2 A2 A2|"D7"A4 GA|
"G"B2 cB AG|"C"E4 GE|"D7"D2 G2 G2|"G"G4:|
Bc|"G"d2 d2 d2|de dB AB|"C"G2 g2 g2|"D7"g4 ed|
"G"B2 d2 d2|de dB AB|"C"G2 g2 g2|"D7"g4 de|
"F"=f3 e fg|"C"e2 ed eg|"G"d2 ed cB|"D7"A4 GA|
"G"B2 cB AG|"C"E3 GFE|"D7"D2 G2 G2|"G"G4:|
2
X: 2
T: Irish Lamentation
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
"G" B2 B2 Bc|B3 A G2|"Am"{g}a2 A2 AB|"D" A4 GA|
"G" B2 cB AG|"C"E3 GFE|"D7" DE G2 {G}A2|"G" G4:|
"G" B2 d2 d2|de dB AB|"C" {f}G2 g2 g2|"D7" g3 fed|
"G" B2 d2 d2|de dB AB|"C" {f}G2 g2 g2|"D7"g4 de|
"F" =f>e fg fg|"C"e>d eg eg|"G" d2 ed cB|"D7" A4 GA|
"G" B2 cB AG|"C" E3 GFE|"D7" DE G2 GA|"G" G4:|
3
X: 3
T: Irish Lamentation
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
B2 B2 B2|B3 A G2|e2 A2 A2|A4 GA|
B2 dB AG|E2 D2 GA|B3 c BA|G4:|
d2 d2 d2|d2 cB AG|G2 g2 g2|g4 Bc|
d2 d2 d2|ed cB AG|G2 g2 f2|g4 de|
=f3 g f2|e4 g2|d2 cB AG|A4 GA|
B2 dB AG|E2 D2 GA|B3 c BA|G4||
4
X: 4
T: Irish Lamentation
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
GA|B2 B2 B>c|B3 A G2|g2 A2 AB|A4 GA|
B2 c>B A>G|E2 D2 BA|G2 G2 GA|G4:|
|:GA|B2 d2 d2|de dB A>B|G2 g2 ga|g4:|
de|=fef g fg|ede geg|d2 ed cB|A4 GA|
B2 d>B A>G|E2 D2 BA|G2 G2 GA|G4||
5
X: 5
T: Irish Lamentation
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
{c/}B2 B2 {c/}B>c|{A}B3 {A/c/}A G2|{f/}g2 {G/}A2 {c/}A{B/c/}B|{G/}A4 {F/}G>A|
{c/}B2 {d/}c>B A>{B/A/}G|E>{F/}E D2 {A/}B>{A/B/}A|G2 {A/}G2 {A/}G>{A/B/}A|G4:|
{A}B2 d2 d2|{e}d{e/f/}e dB A>B|G2 {f/}g2 {a/}g{a/b/}a|g4:|
{a}=f>e {a}f>{a}g f>g|{e/f/}e>d {a}e>{a}g {a}e>g|d2 {a}ed c{B/c/}B|A4 {F/}G>A|
{A/}B2 d>B A>{/B/A/}G|E>{F}E D2 {B/A/}BA|G2 {A/}G2 {A/}G>{A/B/}A|G4||
B2 B2 Bc|B3 A G2|g2 A2 AB|A4 GA|
B2 cB AG|EE D2 BA|G2 G2 GA|G4:|
B2 d2 d2|de dB AB|G2 g2 ga|g4:|
=fe fg fg|ed eg eg|d2 ed cB|A4 GA|
B2 dB AG|EE D2 BA|G2 G2 GA|G4||
6
X: 6
T: Irish Lamentation
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
G2A2|B4 dB3 AG3|A4 G4 G2 A2|B4 dB3 AG3|A4 A4 G3A|
BG3 cA3 BG3|E3D E4 G3A|B4 G4 G2 A2|G4 G4 G2 A2||
B4 B4 B2 c2|B4 B4 AB3|a4 A4 A2B2|A4 A4 G2 A2|
BG3 cA3 BG3|E3D E4 G3A|B4 G4 G2 A2|G4 G4 G2 A2||
B4 d4 d2 e2|d2 c2 B2 A2 G2|G4 g4 a2 b2|g4 g4 G2 A2|
B4 d4 d2 e2|d4 c2 B2 A2 G2|G4 g4 g2 a2|g4 g4 d2 e2|
=fe3 =f2 g2 a=f3|e2 d2 e2 =f2 ge3|d2 e2 g2 B2 A2 G2|A4 A4 G2 A2|
BG3 cA3 BG3|E3D E4 G2A2|B4 G4 G3A|G4 G4||
# Added by JACKB .
7
X: 7
T: Irish Lamentation
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
G>A|B2 d<B A<G|A2 G2 G>A|B2 d<B A<G|A4 ~G>A|
B<G c<A B<G|E>D E2 G>A|B2 G2 G>A|G4:|
|:G>A|B2 d2 d>e|d2 cB A>B|G2 g2 g>a|g4 G>A|
B2 d2 de|d2 cB A>B|G2 g2 g>a|g4 de|
=f>e f>g a>f|e>d e>=f g>e|d>e gB AG|A4 GA|
B<G c<A B<G|E>D E2 G>A|B2 G2 G2|G4:|
8
X: 8
T: Irish Lamentation
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
GA|:B2 TB3/2A/ Bc|B2 A2GA|B2 d2 gB|A4 GA|
BG cB AG|E2 DE GA|B2 G2 GA|1 G4 GA:|2 G4 dc||
BG AB dg|ed cB AG|GD GA Bd|e3 g/e/ g/e/d/c/|
Bc/B/ AD G/A/B/d/|ed cB AB|GA Bd ga|g4 de||
=f2 f2 g/f/e/d/|e2 e=f/e/ d/e/f/e/|dc Bd gB|A4 GA|
BG cB AG|E2 D/G,/A,/B,/ D/E/G/A/|Bc/B/ A/B/c/d/ e/d/c/A/|G4 z2||
"Variation"Tg2 a/g/e/d/ ed/B/|d2 e/d/B/A/ BA/G/|A2 G/E/D/E/ GG|G4 z2||
9
X: 9
T: Irish Lamentation
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
G>A|B2 d<B A<G|A2 G2 G>A|B2 d<B A<G|A4 G>A|
B<G c<A B<G|E>D E2 G>A|B2 G2 G>A|G4 G>A|
B2 B2 Bc|B2 B2 A<B|a2 A2 A>B|A2 A2 G>A|
B<G c<A B<G|E>D E2 G>A|B2 G2 G>A|G4||
G>A|B2 d2 d>e|d2 cB A2|G2 g2 g>a|g4 G>A|
B2 d2 de|d2 cB A2|G2 g2 g>a|g4 de|
=f>e f>g a>f|e>d e>=f g>e|d>e gB AG|A4 GA|
B<G c<A B<G|E>D E2 G>A|B2 G2 GA|G4||
# Added by JACKB .
10
X: 10
T: Irish Lamentation
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
G2|GAB2d2|B3A Bd|e2A2c2|A4 GA|B2 cB AG|D2 G2 A2|B2 AG B2|G4:|
|:G2|Bc d2 d2|d2 cB AG|G2 g2 f2|g4 G2|B>c d2 d2|ed cB AG|G2 g2 f2|g4d2|
e3 g e2|d2 e2 g2|a2 A2 c2|A4 GA|Bc dB AG|D2 d3 c|B2 AG B2|G4:|
11
X: 11
T: Irish Lamentation
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Amix
|:A>Bc2c2|c<ec2B2|c<ef2B2|B<cc2B2|
A>Bc2e<a|e>cB2A<G|A>Bc2A2|B2A4:|
|:e>fg2g2|f>ef2a2|a>fe2c2|B>AB4|
A>Bc2e<a|e>cB2A<G|A>Bc2A2|B2A4:|

Thirty-two comments

AKA Limerick Lamentations

Liam O’Flynn recorded this tune on his first solo LP in 1988.
The transcription is by John Chambers.
Another Title is “The Forlorn Lover”

Lamentation ~ singular, not ‘s’… & the John Chambers transcription

X: 1
T: Irish Lamentation
T: King James’ March to Limerick
O: England c.1735
Z: 1997 by John Chambers <jc@trillian.mit.edu>
N: Compare O’Neill’s 275 (“The Forlorn Lover”)
N: Barnes (dates c.1735)
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|: GA |\
“G” B2 B2 Bc | B3 A G2 | “Am”{g}a2 A2 AB | “D” A4 GA |
“G” B2 cB AG | “C”E3 GFE | “D7” DE G2 {G}A2 | “G” G4 :|
|: GA |\
“G” B2 d2 d2 | de dB AB | “C” {f}G2 g2 g2 | “D7” g3 fed |
“G” B2 d2 d2 | de dB AB | “C” {f}G2 g2 g2 | “D7”g4 de |
“F” =f>e fg fg | “C”e>d eg eg | “G” d2 ed cB | “D7” A4 GA |
“G” B2 cB AG | “C” E3 GFE | “D7” DE G2 G-A | “G” G4 :|

N: Not a transcription of Liam O’Flynn’s playing…

“The Forlorn Lover” ~ from O’Neill

X: 2
T: Forlorn Lover, The
B: “O’Neill’s Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies”, 1903, page 48, tune #275
N: Moderate
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: Air
K: Gmaj
|: G2 |\
B2 B2 B2 | B3 A G2 | e2 A2 A2 | A4 GA |
B2 dB AG | E2 D2 GA | B3 c BA | G4 :|
B2 |\
d2 d2 d2 | d2 cB AG | G2 g2 g2 | g4 Bc |
d2 d2 d2 | ed cB AG | G2 g2 f2 | g4 de |
=f3 g f2 | e4 g2 | d2 cB AG | A4 GA |
B2 dB AG | E2 D2 GA | B3 c BA |G4 |]

I like the O’Flynn take on this one but haven’t that recording on hand. It would be great to see a transcription, if anyone would be kiind enough to offer it…

My transcription from O’Flynn’s playing

X:1
T: Irish Lamentation
T: the Forlorn Lover
T: Limerick’s Lamentation
D:Liam O’Flynn 1988
M:3/4
L: 1/8
K:G
GA| B2 B2 B>c | B3 A G2 | g2 A2 AB |A4 GA |
B2 c>B A>G | E2 D2 BA | G2 G2 GA | G4 :|
|: GA | B2 d2 d2 | de dB A>B |G2 g2 ga | g4 :|
de | =fef g fg | ede geg | d2 ed cB | A4 GA |
B2 d>B A>G | E2 D2 BA | G2 G2 GA | G4 ||

Probably mislabelled

It’s named Limerick’s Lamentation on the album but it seems to be definitly the Irish Lamentation.

“The Forlorn Lover” ~ courtesy of Liam O’Flynn & swisspiper

Sorry I’m late getting back to this. Thanks Pierre for the transcription. Here it is again adorned and stripped down…

X: 4
T: Irish Lamentation
T: Forlorn Lover, The
T: Limerick’s Lamentation
D: Liam O’Flynn 1988
N: whistle & uilleann pipes
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: G
|: {F/}G>A |\
{c/}B2 B2 {c/}B>c | {A}B3 {A/c/}A G2 | {f/}g2 {G/}A2 {c/}A{B/c/}B | {G/}A4 {F/}G>A |
{c/}B2 {d/}c>B A>{B/A/}G | E>{F/}E D2 {A/}B>{A/B/}A | G2 {A/}G2 {A/}G>{A/B/}A | G4 :|
|: {F/}G>A |\
{A}B2 d2 d2 | {e}d{e/f/}e dB A>B | G2 {f/}g2 {a/}g{a/b/}a | g4 :|
{d/e/}d>e |\
{a}=f>e {a}f>{a}g f>g | {e/f/}e>d {a}e>{a}g {a}e>g | d2 {a}ed c{B/c/}B | A4 {F/}G>A |
{A/}B2 d>B A>{/B/A/}G | E>{F}E D2 {B/A/}BA | G2 {A/}G2 {A/}G>{A/B/}A | G4 |]
N: sans the jewels
|: GA |\
B2 B2 Bc | B3 A G2 | g2 A2 AB | A4 GA |
B2 cB AG | EE D2 BA | G2 G2 GA | G4 :|
|: GA |\
B2 d2 d2 | de dB AB | G2 g2 ga | g4 :|
de |\
=fe fg fg | ed eg eg | d2 ed cB | A4 GA |
B2 dB AG | EE D2 BA | G2 G2 GA | G4 |]

Liam does a lot of sliding up from the note below ~ for example F to G ~ |: {F/}G>A |\

c,
brilliant trabscription, I just miss the regulator work 😉

Damn, I knew I was forgetting something…

My Version

X: 1
T: Limerick’s Lamentation
M: 3/2
L: 1/8
K: G
|: G2A2|B4 dB3 AG3|A4 G4 G2 A2|B4 dB3 AG3|A4 A4 G3A|
BG3 cA3 BG3|E3D E4 G3A|B4 G4 G2 A2|G4 G4 G2 A2||
B4 B4 B2 c2|B4 B4 AB3|a4 A4 A2B2|A4 A4 G2 A2|
BG3 cA3 BG3|E3D E4 G3A|B4 G4 G2 A2|G4 G4 G2 A2||
|:B4 d4 d2 e2|d2 c2 B2 A2 G2|G4 g4 a2 b2|g4 g4 G2 A2|
B4 d4 d2 e2|d4 c2 B2 A2 G2|G4 g4 g2 a2|g4 g4 d2 e2|
=fe3 =f2 g2 a=f3|e2 d2 e2 =f2 ge3|d2 e2 g2 B2 A2 G2|A4 A4 G2 A2|
BG3 cA3 BG3|E3D E4 G2A2|B4 G4 G3A|G4 G4||

Posted by .

Also known as Marbhna Luimni (which means the dead of Limerick) but more usually called in English Limerick’s Lamentation. It is a Jacobean tune lamenting the defeat of the Irish-Jacobean forces at the siege of Limerick in 1691. As a lament it is usually played very slowly and with feeling.

Sharon Shannon does a great version on her self-titled album, perhaps the moderators could link it up

Garbage….

With regard to alternative titles - where the f@@k’s “Lochlaber”?

Posted by .

Sean Ó Riada memorial concerts: “Limerick’s Lamentation” / “The Lament for Limerick”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p97TCMuGkjM


Sean Ó Riada’s Ceoltóirí Chualann
Highlights from two memorial concerts ~ 1972 & 1981
Seán Ó Riada ~ born August 1st, 1931 - died October 3rd, 1971

The second tune in, started by Sean Potts on whistle… 05:45

Lament for Limerick as film score

Throughout the movie “Miller’s Crossing”, there is a haunting melody that sounds like this tune. The credits seem to call it “Come Back to Erin”.

Lochaber no More - the song

The words for the song Lochaber No More are in “The poems of Allan Ramsay, Volume 2” published in 1800 (Google Books has it). Some web sources say that it was first published in his “Tea-Table Miscellany” of 1724 but I don’t see it in the copy of that on archive.org.

The words, titled “Lochaber”, and tune (with a harmony part) are in Vol 2 of W. Thomson’s “Orpheus Caledonius” of 1733 - http://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/pageturner.cfm?id=91481498&mode=transcription. It was in the 1755 edition - the link from a search at digital.nls.uk is too long to give.

Page 371 of James Hogg’s “The Forest Minstrel” of 1810 (Google books has it), referring to the song, links the tune to one called “Lord Ronald my son”.

Rats ! - 1725 edition of Orpheus Caledonius, not 1755

(I screwed up correcting it from 1975 !)

Can anyone recommend an air that would go well with this?

Posted by .

marbhna luimnigh

the definitive version of marbhna luimnigh is the ceoltoiri chualann rendering in the gaiety concert dublin in 1969. sean potts is magnificent at the start of the piece on tin whistle and the air is played beautifully with perfect timing by the whole group. mind you, the reformed ceoltoiri chualann did a great job of it in 1972 at the tribute concert to o riada with paddy moloney on the pipes in charge.

Sharon Shannon does a fabulous version of this tune with Alan Connor @ the musican

Irish Lamentations, X:7

This setting, probably the best I’ve come across, appears as “Caoine Luimnighe ”in the Roche Collection, Vol 4, No. 65. For consistency with other postings, I have transposed from the Amix in which it appears there, and also removed the various slurs, grace notes etc. in order to improve readibility. Anyone seeking the original can find it at http://www.itma.ie/digitallibrary/scorch_file/roche_vol-4/10829/750. The ‘variation’ shown, which I presume is for a “last time only” ending, comes with the note “olagón”, which is Irish for “lament” (but with loud wailing rather than quiet sobs).

Today is…

…the 325th anniversary of the Treaty of Limerick.

Tune #8973 reflects the harshness, sadness and despair of the time. A brilliant piece of music.

All the best

Brian x

Lochaber No More, X:11

This setting is transcribed from the title track on the Boys of the Lough album, “Lochaber No More”. They describe it as a Slow March and on the recording play it quite slow and will often draw out notes at the end of phrases. I feel like Irish Lamentation is different enough from this setting that they could be considered different tunes but maybe I’m just not understanding the connection. Perhaps the BOTL setting is just real out there considering the lyrics for the song Lochaber No More are frequently sung to the tune of Irish Lamentation…..

Anyways, I really love this tune and will often play it in either Amix or Gmix. Both get a slightly different feel.