The Genial Hearth
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Archive for Music
December 1, 2008 at 12:58 pm · Filed under Music, Singing
I thought I didn’t know this one (some information here), but once I found recordings of it (.mp3 here or listen on YouTube here), I realised it was on the Nana Mouskouri tape we used to listen to as we drove.
Vair me o, ro van o
Vair me o ro ven ee,
Vair me o ru o ho
Sad am I without thee.
When I’m lonely, dear white heart,
Black the night and wild the sea;
by love’s light my foot finds
The old pathway to thee.
Vair me o, ro van o
Vair me o ro ven ee,
Vair me o ru o ho
Sad am I without thee.
Thou’rt the music of my heart,
Harp of joy, o cruit mo chridh,
Moon of guidance by night,
Strength and light thou’rt to me.
Vair me o, ro van o
Vair me o ro ven ee,
Vair me o ru o ho
Sad am I without thee.
(Edited to correct the things Elaine pointed out in the comments!)
November 1, 2008 at 8:14 pm · Filed under Family, Music, Singing
Once again, there’s a midi file here and an mp3 here.
Clementine
In a cavern, in a canyon,
Excavating for a mine
Dwelt a miner forty niner,
And his daughter Clementine
Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine!
Thou art lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
Light she was and like a fairy,
And her shoes were number nine,
Herring boxes, without topses,
Sandals were for Clementine.
Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine!
Thou art lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
Drove she ducklings to the water
Ev’ry morning just at nine,
Hit her foot against a splinter,
Fell into the foaming brine.
Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine!
Thou art lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
Ruby lips above the water,
Blowing bubbles, soft and fine,
But, alas, I was no swimmer,
So I lost my Clementine.
Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine!
Thou art lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
How I missed her! How I missed her,
How I missed my Clementine,
But I kissed her little sister,
I forgot my Clementine.
Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine!
Thou art lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
October 12, 2008 at 8:21 pm · Filed under Bilby, Domestic Life, Family, Music, Singing
Egg song (to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle… Negg, negg, negg, negg…)
Nursing song (to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle… Nurse, nurse, nurse, nurse…)
Meat song (to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle… Meat, meat, meat, meat…)
You get the idea:-) It’s a very versatile tune:-)
October 8, 2008 at 11:30 pm · Filed under Music
This evening, I’ve been distracted by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain… You Don’t Bring Me Flowers is my favourite example so far:-) Although, I was also keen on Shaft..
October 1, 2008 at 10:51 am · Filed under Family, Home Education, Music, Singing
You can find a midi here. I know this one, but there’s a couple of mp3s here.
I wish I was in the land of Cotton
Old times there are not forgotten
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land
In Dixie Land where I was born in
early on one frosty morning’
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land
Then I wish I was in Dixie
Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I’ll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie
Away! Away! Away! Down South in Dixie.
Away! Away! Away! Down South in Dixie.
Ole Missus marry “will the weaver”
Willum was a gay deceiver
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land
But when he put his arm around er,
He smiled fierce as a forty pounder,
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land
Then I wish I was in Dixie
Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I’ll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie
Away! Away! Away! Down South in Dixie.
Away! Away! Away! Down South in Dixie.
His face was sharp as a butcher’s cleaver
But that did not seem to grieve ‘er
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land
Ole Missus acted the foolish part
And died for a man that broke her heart
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land
Then I wish I was in Dixie
Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I’ll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie
Away! Away! Away! Down South in Dixie.
Away! Away! Away! Down South in Dixie.
Now here’s a health to the next ole Missus
An’ all the gals that want to kiss us;
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land
But if you want to drive ‘way sorrow
Come and hear this song tomorrow
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land
Then I wish I was in Dixie
Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I’ll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie
Away! Away! Away! Down South in Dixie.
Away! Away! Away! Down South in Dixie.
There’s buckwheat cakes and Injun batter,
Makes you fat or a little fatter;
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land
Then hoe it down and scratch your gravel,
To Dixie’s Land I’m bound to travel,
Look away! Look away! Look away!
Dixie Land
Then I wish I was in Dixie
Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I’ll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie
Away! Away! Away! Down South in Dixie.
Away! Away! Away! Down South in Dixie.
September 1, 2008 at 11:02 pm · Filed under Family, Home Education, Music, Singing
You can find a midi (and some history) here. There’s also an mp3 here.
How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood
When fond recollection presents them to view
The orchard, the meadow, the deep tangled wildwood,
And ev’ry loved spot which my infancy knew
The wide spreading pond, and the mill that stood by it,
The bridge and the rock where the cataract fell;
The cot of my father, the dairy house nigh it,
And e’en the rude bucket that hung in the well.
The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket,
The moss covered bucket that hung in the well.
The moss covered bucket I hailed as a treasure,
For often at noon, when returned from the field,
I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure,
The purest and sweetest that nature can yield.
How ardent I seized it, with hands that were glowing,
And quick to the white pebbled bottom it fell
Then soon, with the emblem of turth overflowing,
And dripping with coolness, it rose from the well.
The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket,
The moss covered bucket that hung in the well.
August 1, 2008 at 4:23 pm · Filed under Home Education, Music, Singing
You can listen to a midi file here. There’s a copy of the sheet music here. There’s a Wikipedia article here.
Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes
Drink to me only with thine eyes
And I will pledge with mine.
Or leave a kiss within the cup
And I’ll not ask for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove’s nectar sip,
I would not change for thine.
I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
Not so much hon’ring thee
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be;
But thou thereon did’st only breathe,
And sent’st it back to me,
Since when it grows and smells, I swear
Not of itself, but thee.
July 15, 2008 at 3:37 pm · Filed under Bilby, Music, Puggle
I found this an interesting article. Puggle’s current favourite song is The Skye Boat Song (he told me so just before his nap), which I found surprising as he generally doesn’t enjoy the slower folksongs as much:-) For the most part, our listening is not child-marketed. He does like the Uke’n'Play Ukulele CD—but I think that’s mostly because he likes the idea that he can play (he often gets out the ukulele to accompany himself:-) ) Bilby’s favourite seems to be most things with a beat—Middle Eastern drumming will get her dancing every time:-)
July 1, 2008 at 2:47 pm · Filed under Domestic Life, Family, Home Education, Music, Singing
You can find a midi and brief history here. I’m not too worried about finding an .mp3, as I’m fairly familiar with this one, but if you scroll down this page you’ll find one.
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
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
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
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
Many’s the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore could wield
When the night came, silently lay
Dead on Culloden’s field
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
Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet, e’er the sword cool in the sheath,
Charlie will come again.
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
June 1, 2008 at 9:48 am · Filed under Family, Home Education, Music, Singing
We’ve already done John Brown’s Body, and it proved popular… so I’m expecting a similar reaction this time around:-) There’s a midi file here. I’m not worrying too much about finding an .mp3 as I am quite familiar with the tune:-)
Mine eyes have seen the glory
Of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage
Where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning
Of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watchfires
Of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar
In the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence
By the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have read a fiery gospel writ
In burnished rows of steel:
“As ye deal with My condemners,
So with you My grace shall deal”:
Let the Hero born of woman
Crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet
That shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men
Before His judgement seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him;
Be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies
Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom
That transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy,
Let us die to make men free;
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
May 8, 2008 at 10:25 pm · Filed under Domestic Life, Family, Puggle, Singing
I’ve never had such a step-by-step awareness of illness developing, as since I have been home with the kids. Every day I sing at least twice, before Puggle’s quiet time and nap (usually it’s many more than that… just not predictably). As a result, I can watch the progress of the oncoming cold or flu. I noticed it last year, but sadly it’s come to my attention again.
On the plus side, I’ve been singing fewer songs to Puggle as a result. Instead, he’s been singing to me… Most interesting songs, a wide range of recognisable tunes (Black Velvet Band is a particular favourite, along with Yankee Doodle), and words from a surprising variety of places (I can’t remember them at the moment, but I remember thinking I should note them as the song was a good example of narration:-) )
May 1, 2008 at 2:53 pm · Filed under Family, Home Education, Music, Singing
You can find a midi file here. You can find an .mp3 here (as well as chords) and another version here.
The cruel war is raging, Johnny has to fight
I long to be with him from morning ’till night
I want to be with him, it grieves my heart so
Won’t you let me come with you? No, my love, no.
Tomorrow is Sunday, Monday is the day
That your captain will call you and you must obey
Your captain will call you, it grieves my heart so
Won’t you let me come with you? No, my love, no.
I’ll tie back my hair, men’s clothing I’ll put on
I’ll pass for your comrade as we march along
I’ll pass for your comrade, no one will ever know
Won’t you let me come with you? No, my love, no.
Oh Johnny, oh Johnny, I feel you are unkind
I love you far better than all of mankind
I love you far better than words can e’er express
Won’t you let me come with you? Yes, my love, yes.
They marched into battle, she never left his side
‘Til a bullet shell struck her and love was denied
A bullet shell struck her, tears came to Johnny’s eyes
As he knelt down beside her, she silently died.
April 7, 2008 at 10:48 pm · Filed under Domestic Life, Family, Home Education, Music, Singing
You can find a midi here. This site has a collection of different versions, as well as a melody line. You can find an mp3 here.
The ash grove, how graceful, how plainly ’tis speaking,
The harp through it playing has language for me;
Whenever the light through its branches is breaking,
A host of kind faces is gazing on me.
The friends of my childhood again are before me,
Each step wakes a mem’ry, as freely I roam;
With soft whispers laden, its leaves rustle o’er me;
The ash grove, the ashgrove alone is my home.
My laughter is over, my step loses lightness,
Old countryside measures steal soft on my ear;
I only remember the past and its brightness,
The dear ones I mourn [long] for again gather here.
From out of the shadows their loving looks greet me
And wistfully searching the leafy green dome,
I find other faces fond bending to greet me,
The ash grove, the ash grove alone is my home.
My lips smile no more, my heart loses its lightness,
No dream of the future my spirit can cheer;
I only can brood on the past and its brightness,
The dead I have mourned are again living here.
From ev’ry dark nook they press forward to meet me;
I lift up my eyes to the broad leafy dome,
And others are there, looking downward to greet me;
The ash grove, the ash grove alone is my home.
March 15, 2008 at 11:10 pm · Filed under Domestic Life, Family, Music, Singing
We made more music today, and we’ve begun to work on acquiring a common répétoire:-)
We’ve been going through the songbooks we have from the ABC radio’s singing programme (while you’re there, you can search for a song and see if they’ve included it—much easier than scanning all the indexes:-) ), and have chosen about a dozen possibilities. Today we kind of ‘fiddled’ through them, and from that we’ve (I think!) chosen a couple to work on.
I’d like to attempt to learn them on both the violin and piano, which both present ‘problems’:-) I’m much more proficient at the violin, but I still am really only comfortable in the key of D (two sharps… fingers on the lines… I did Suzuki). So anything that is not in that key requires extra concentration—and that’s most of the songs we’ve chosen:-) Piano is different. I can pick out a melody line, but two hands is in no way intuitive. The books give a melody line and chords for guitar. I have no clue about chords, but I do have a chord finder. So I figured the best option is for me to write out the melody line and then detail the notes for the chords on the bass clef (of course, then I have to read the bass clef to play them, and my bass clef skills are rather lacking!)
To do that though, I needed manuscript paper. I thought I had some, but it had been used up years ago. Obviously the next idea was the web, and there were plenty of options:-) From plain staffs with nothing else, treble/bass/tenor clefs and piano staffs, and the one I ended up using. This allows you to select layout, number of staffs per page, which clefs, key signatures and time signatures and you can even include bar lines. When I know what I’m wanting to do, that all helps me to end up with a sheet of music I might have a hope of reading:-)
And the best bit… unlike most of the manuscript paper I’ve seen sold, because I’m printing it myself it’s A4, which means it fits nicely in those plastic loose leaf books, so it can be kept neatly and together:-) I’m printing the words out as well, to go opposite (I don’t like my chances of writing neatly enough as well as writing the notes clearly!) Given I don’t really want to investigate and experiment with software to do this (I’m figuring it will take us some time to work on any given song, so I’m only going to need to do about one song a month!), this is a solution I’m happy with:-)
(I also wanted to note this site, and this, which are set up for various ensembles. I haven’t got to it yet, but I’m still hoping that I’ll get to play with others, and these may be handy:-) )
March 14, 2008 at 9:35 pm · Filed under Bilby, Domestic Life, Family, Music, Paddington, Puggle, Singing
Puggle started questioning me about the meaning of “band”. As we’re doing “The Black Velvet Band“, I thought he meant in that context, but he told me he meant like Huge Henry (I had to go and read it to work out what he meant). Henry gets all the other animals together to form a band.
Later, he was playing the piano. Bilby decided she wanted to do that as well, so then he went to get the ukulele. They had a lovely time making ‘music’:-) I pointed out to him that they were being a band. He got very excited, and told me that when Dada got home, he would ask him to play his guitar, and that would make the band even bigger and louder! I said I might even get out the violin as well. That was even more exciting:-)
So, after dinner, when they were both ready for bed, we jammed (for some definitions of the word—there wasn’t much music!) We had the guitar, violin, ukulele, piano, recorder, tapping sticks, egg maracas and voice… it was great, aside from the small matter of no common repetoire:-) We’re going to work on that:-) Bilby was particularly taken with the recorder, she had it upside down and was blowing into it and spinning around… very cute!
We’ll definitely be doing that again:-) (Maybe Sunday, when people come to craft even…) I realised when I was putting Puggle to bed this evening, that I this week I had made progress on two parts of my New Year’s Resolutions—we played games Tuesday evening, and now music:-)
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by A. A. Milne
by Andrew Lang
