Cover
NORLAND WIND on tour

"From Shore to Shore"
Harp Music and Song from the Celtic Northwest

Laika Records / Rough Trade Nr. 3410191.2

01. Siúbhán Ní Dhuibhir (trad. arr. Norland Wind)
02. The Snowy Birch Trees (Thomas Loefke)
03. The Moving on Song (Ewan Mac Coll)
04. Branohm (Máire Breatnach)
05. Gleanntáin Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair (Proinsias Ó Maonaigh / trad. arr. Norland Wind)
06. Stephen’s Day Session (Thomas Loefke)
07. Éist (Máire Breatnach)
08. Waulking Song (trad., Kerstin Blodig / Kerstin Blodig)
09. McPhisto’s Jig (Ian Vance Melrose)
10. The Foggy Dew (P. O’ Neill / trad. arr. Norland Wind)
11. An Cailín Deas Rua (Pádraig Duggan / Kerstin Blodig)
12. Diarmuid (Máire Breatnach)
13. Máire Bhruinneall (trad. arr. Kerstin Blodig)
14. Tór Mór (Thomas Loefke)
15. Peigín Leitír Mhóir (trad. arr. Norland Wind)
16. Pós an Píobaire (trad. / Kerstin Blodig)
 

Norland Wind:

Thomas Loefke Celtic harp, vocals
Kerstin Blodig vocals, guitar, bouzouki, bodhrán, mandolin
Máire Breatnach vocals, fiddle, viola
Ian Melrose vocals, guitar, low whistle
Noel Duggan vocals, guitar
Pádraig Duggan vocals, mandolin, percussion, harmonica
special guest: Matthias Kießling keyboards, vocals

produced 2004 by Thomas Loefke

recorded live during Norland Wind’s European Tour 2003

live sound, recording, mixing and mastering by Jörg Surrey (Surrealis Sounds)

photographies © by Photodisc, Harald Erb, Paul McKeown, Tomas Polivka, Christiane Stanko, André Weckeiser

 

1. Siúbhán Ní Dhuibhir (trad., arr. Norland Wind)
Siúbhán sends her husband into town to buy her a new pair of shoes, but he spends all the money on drink, so she is not amused. Traditional song from Donegal.
Lead vocal: Kerstin, Noel, Máire

D’éirigh mé ar maidin a tharraingt chun aonaigh mhóir
A dhíol is a cheannacht mar a dhéanadh mo dhaoine romham.
Bhuail tart ar an bhealach mé is shuigh mise siós a dh’ól
Is le Siúbhan Ní Dhuibhir gur ól mise luach na mbróg.

I set out one morning for market
Buying and selling as my people did before me
I got thirsty on the way and sat down to drink
And with Susan O'Dwyer I drank the price of the boots

A Shiúbháin Ní Dhuibhir, an miste leat mé bheith tinn?
Mo bhrón is mo mhilleadh más miste liom tú bheith i gcill.
Bróinte is muilte bheith ’scileadh ar chúl do chinn
Ach cead a bheith in Iorras go dtara síol Eabha chun cinn.

Susan O'Dwyer do you care if I'm ill?
Sorrow and ruin be upon me if I wish you to be in a graveyard
My grief and troubles rain down on you
But you can stay in Irras until the tribe of Eve comes to the fore

A Shiúbháin Ní Dhuibhir, is tú bun agus barr mo scéil.
Ar mhná na cruinne no dtug sise an báire léi
Le gile le finne le mais’ is le dhá dtrian scéimh
Is nach mise an trua Mhuire bheith ag scaradh amárach léi.

Susan O'Dwyer You're the beginning and the end of my story
From the women of the world she took the prize
With brightness and fairness, goodness and almost perfect beauty
And I'm the sad case to leaving her tomorrow

Thiar in Iorras tá searc agus grá mo chléibh,
Planta an leinbh a d’eitigh mo phosadh inné.
Beir scéala uaim chuici má thug mise póg dá béal
Go dtabharfainn di tuilleadh dá gcuirfeadh sí bólacht léi.

Beir scéala uaim chuige go dearfa nach bpósaim é
Ó chuala mise gur chuir sé le bólacht mé.
Nuair nach bhuill agamsa maoin nó mórán spré,
Bíodh a rogha bean aige ‘s beidh mise ‘r mo chomhairle féin.

2. The Snowy Birch Trees (Thomas Loefke)
Written by Thomas after a concert in Røros. Some people say about this old mining town in Southern Norway: "In Røros the winter lasts nine months and the other three months are really cold!" Though that’s not really true.

3. The Moving on Song (Ewan McColl)
One of the best songs of all time – as topical as ever - written by the late Ewan McColl, and arranged by Kerstin, Thomas, Ian and Máire.
Lead vocal: Kerstin, Ian

4.Branohm (Máire Breatnach)
Written by Máire, these reels provide a contrast of colour and energy, alternating between a slightly subdued A Minor and a lyrical A Major. "Branohm" is a phonetic spelling of an Irish language phrase, the meaning of which is "letters observe". Somewhat mischievous merry dance through the above-mentioned, it rolls along in the manner of a busy stream of consciousness.

5. Gleanntáin Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair (Proinsias Ó Moanaigh/ trad., arr. Norland Wind)
"The Green Fields of Gweedore". Noel and Pádraig come from Gaoth Dobhair, the parish in the Northwest corner of Ireland. In this emigration song the beauties of the home left behind are praised. Proinsias Ó Moanaoigh wrote it in the seventies. It became a hymn for Gaoth Dobhair people all over the world. Ian adds a verse of "Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore" as both songs share the same melody.
Lead vocal: Noel, Ian

Céad slán ag sléibhte maorga
Chondae Dhún na nGall
Agus dhá chéad slán ag an Earagal árd
Ina stua os cionn caor 's call
Nuair a ghluais mise thart le loch Dhún Lúich
Go ciún 'sa ghleann ina luí
I mo dhiaidh bhí Gleanntáin Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair
Is beag nár bhris mo chroí
   

Ag taisteal domh amach fríd chnoic Ghleann Domhain
'S an Mhucais ar mo chúl
Ní miste domh 'ra le brón 's le crá
Gur fhreasach a shil mise súil
Go 'Meiriceá siar, a bhí mo thriall
I bhfad thar an fharraige mhór
D'fhag mé slán ar feadh seal ag Dún na nGall
'S ag Gleanntáin Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair
   
Níorbh é mo mhiansa imeacht ariamh
Ó m' thír bheag dhílis féin
Ach trom lámh Gall, le cluain
'S le feall, a thiomáin mé i gnéill
B'é rún mo chroí-se pilleadh arís
Nuair a dhéanfainn beagán stór
'S deireadh mo shaoil a chaitheamh lem ghaoil
Fá Ghleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair
   
Slán, slán go fóill a Dhún na nGall
A chondae shéimh gan smál
'S dod gheara breá in am an ghá
Nár umhlaigh riamh roimh Ghall
Tá áit i mo chroí do gach fear 's gach mnaoi
'S gach páiste beag agus mór
Áta beo go buan, gan bhuairt, gan ghruaim
Fá Ghleanntáin Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair
The Green Fields of Gaoth Dobhair

Farewell to stately mountains
Of dear old Donegal
And twice farewell to Errigal hill
As it towers o'er ash tree and rowen
As I passed through the glen by Dunlewey Lake
With waters so peaceful and calm
With an ache in my heart I was forced to depart
From Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair

As I journeyed on through Glendowan's hills
With Muckish to the rear
With a heart full of pain I felt no shame
'Twas there that I shed bitter tears
I was bound for the shores of America
Far across the wild raging foam
I bade farewell for a spell to Donegal
And Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair

'Twas never my play to travel afar
From my own beloved land
But the intrigue and the guile
Of the tyrant's hand forced me to leave my home
'Twas the wish of my heart to return again
If I could get money in store
And my days there to end among the relations and friends
Around the Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair

Farewell, farewell to Donegal
That county sweet and fair
And to her brave men when the enemy came
Never cowered or bowed to the Gall
I hold in esteem all those women and men
And all children big and small
That dwell there in peace without worry or grief
In Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair

6. Stephen’s Day Session (Thomas Loefke)

A modern Christmas tune, written by Thomas, based on the Isle of Man hymn "Tra Va Ruggit Creest" (When Christ was Born).

7. Éist (Máire Breatnach)
"Listen", written by Máire in 1992: Midir and Éain, lovers in the Otherworld, dwell among the Gods, but dream of spending an Earth lifetime together. They know they will recognize each other by the sound of their voices on the wind.
Lead vocal: Máire

’gCluin tú mo ghlór ’tá a’ cur do thuairisc,
O mhaidin go nóin, is as sin go deireadh lae?
Éist, a stór, tá ceol ar an ngaoth,
Is casfar le chéile sinn roimh dhul faoi don ghrian.

Shiúlas i bhfad, is do shamhail ní fhaca,
Ba mhór é mo bhrón, ’s ba mhinic mé faoi néal.
Éist, a stór, tá ceol ar an ngaoth,
Is casfar le chéile sinn roimh dhul faoi don ghrian.

D’aithneoinn do ghlór as seo go Tír-fo-Thoinn,
Is sheasfainn sa tsneachta is tú ag gabháil fhoinn go binn.
Éist, a stór, tá ceol ar an ngaoth,
Is casfar le chéile sinn roimh dhul faoi don ghrian.

Is gairid an lá, ach is faide an oíche
Nach amhaidh don tseachtain, mar a shíneann sí go bliain.
Éist, a stór, tá ceol ar an ngaoth,
Is casfar le cheile sinn roimh dhul faoi don ghrian.

Listen

Do you hear my voice calling for you
From dawn till noon, and again till day’s end?
Listen, love, there is music on the wind
And we will meet again before the sun sets

Long have I journeyed, without sight of you
My sorrow great, my spirits often low.
Listen…

I’ recognise your voice from here to the Lowlands
And I’d stand in the snow to your sweet song.
Listen…

A day passes quickly, but the night drags on
Likewise with the weeks, as they stretch into years
Listen…

Do you hear my voice, calling for you
From dawn till noon, and again till days end?
Listen…

8. Waulking Song (trad., Kerstin Blodig / Kerstin Blodig)
Written by Kerstin in the tradition of the waulking songs in the Western Isles of Scotland, the words describe the ravishing beauty of a Scotsman.
Lead vocal: Kerstin

Gura h-e mo ho hoireann ó
E hó hì ibh hó ill a bhó
Rùn an t-uasal o hug ó ro
E hó hí ibh hó ill a bhó
Rol hol ill leò, rol hol ill leò
E hó hì ibh hó ill a bhó

Chunnaic mi `n-dé
Seachad suas thu

Eileadh ort na
Breacain guailleadh

Le d´ghunna sneap
Or`o chruachan

I saw you passing by, my love
With your moves so gentle, your step so light
So handsome in your bright
Coloured kilt and shoulder plaid,
So favour me with your glance!

Claidheamh chinnghil
Or`o chruachan

`N eala cha tig
Slán bho d`luaidhe

9. McPhisto’s Jig (Ian Vance Melrose)
Written by Ian in Scotland about a sheep dog of friends – the archetypal "little devil." He (whistle) runs rings around his master and mistress (harp and fiddle), who eventually give up trying to calm him down and just join in.

10. The Foggy Dew (trad., arr. Norland Wind)
The group’s version of this well-known song about the 1916 Easter Rising. This rebellion against the ruling British was defeated but led eventually to Ireland’s independence.
Lead vocal: Noel, Kerstin

‘T was down the glen one Easter morn
To a city fair rode I.
Where armed lines of marching men
In squadrons passed me by.
No pipe did hum, no battle drum
Did sound its loud tattoo
But the Angelus bell o’er the Liffey’s swell
Rang out in the foggy dew.

Right proudly high over Dublin town
They flung out a flag of war.
‘T was better to die ‘neath an Irish sky
Than at Suvla or Sud el Bar.
And from the plains of Royal Meath
Brave men came hurrying through;
While Britannia’s sons with their big long guns
Sailed in through the foggy dew.

‘T was England bade our Wild Geese go
That small nations might be free
But their lonely graves are by Suvla’s waves
Or the fringe of the great North Sea
Oh had I died by Pearse’s side,
Or fought with Cathal Brugha
Their names we would keep where the Fenians sleep
‘Neath the shroud of the foggy dew.

As back through the glen I rode again,
My heart with grief was sore
For that gallant band of marching men
I never would see no more
And to and fro in my grief I go
And I think gallant comrades of you
For slavery fled, oh glorious dead,
When you fell in the foggy dew.

11. An Cailín Deas Rua (Pádraig Duggan / Kerstin Blodig)
"The beautiful red-haired girl". Pádraig wrote the lyrics about this very Irish subject, Kerstin set them to music – always fantasising of a Norwegian bloke called "Tore" in the chorus.
Lead vocal: Kerstin

Ag taisteal domh síos ailt mhóir
Bhí mo mhalacht ar bhuaireadh an tsaoil
Bhí an ghealach ag bá nú sa spéir
Ach bhí áthas an domhain orm fhéin

Thug mé cuairt ar teach leanna faraoir
Is mheasc mé le bunadh an tí
Iarraidh orm amhrán a cheol
Is cheol mise amhrán ón chroí

Fuair mé cuireadh ón chailín deas rua
Thug sí cogar liom is d’éist mé léi
Má théann tusa liom fan chuan
Beidh an oíche seo againn linn fhéin

Chorus:
Tá misneach is bród inár gcroí
Inár gcónaí i gcró beag a’ tí
 
12. Diarmuid (Máire Breatnach)
Written by Maire, this piece is a gentle lullaby for Gráinne and her lover, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. In order to avoid an arranged marriage with the much older Fionn Mac Cumhaill, Gráinne eloped from the palace of Tara with the handsome warrior Diarmuid, and they spent the next sixteen years on the run from Fionn and his army, living as nomads in the woods and valleys of Ireland.

13. Máire Bhruinneall (trad., arr. Kerstin Blodig)
A love song from Donegal praising the beauty of a woman called Máire Bhruinneall who leaves the author broken-hearted.
Lead vocal: Kerstin

Orú Mháire Bhruinneall, ’bhláth na finne,
’ndiaidh mé do leanúint aniar anall;
Ó, ba bhinne liom do bhéal nó na cuacha ’seinm
’S tú d’fhág mise i ndealraimh ’bháis.

Á méad é mo thuirse nior leor domh a coinneall
Deir siad gur mise a mheallas na mná
Mharaigh tú go deo mé, lagaigh tú go mór mé
’Gus gach a bhfuil beo domh bhris tú mo chroi.

Bhí a trífolt óir iéi sios go troigh
Agus i á gcárnú ar gach taobh;
Mharaigh tú go deo mé, lagaigh tú go mór mé
’Gus gach a bhfuil beo domh bhris tú mo chroi.

Bhí mé lá go ceolmhar in sa ród
Tharlaigh domhsa ’n óigbhean chiúin;
Mharaigh tú go deo mé, lagaidh tú go mór me
’Gus gach a bhfuil beo domh bhris tú mo chroi.

Orú Mháire Bhruinneall, ’bhláth na finne’
’ndiaidh mé do leanúint aniar anall;
Ó ba bhinne liom do bhéal nó na cuacha ’seinm
S d’fhág tú mise i ndealraimh ’bháis.

14. Tór Mór (Thomas Loefke)
Written by Thomas on Tory Island in the Northwest of Ireland. Tór Mór is the eastern tip of that island which is a jewel of Gaelic culture in music, song, and poetry.

15. Peigín Leitir Mhóir (trad., arr. Norland Wind)
A match making song dealing with the same subject as the following song Pós an Píobaire.
Lead vocal: Máire, Kerstin, Noel, Pádraig

Chorus:
O goirim goirim í / agus goirim í mo stór
Míle grá le m’anam í / sí Peigín Leitir Mhóir!

Tá Caoire agam ’s tá Cáit agam / sí Peig an bhean is fearr,
Pé’r bith fear a gheobhas í / nach air a bheas an t-ádh
Chorus...

Chuir me scéala siar chuici / go gceannóinn di bád mór,
’S é ’n scéala ’chuir sí aniar chugam / go ndéanfadh leathbhád seoil.
Chorus...

Tá iascairí na Gaillimhe / ag teacht anoir le cóir,
Le solas gealaí gile / nó go bhfeicidís an tseoid.
Chorus...

Éirigh suas a Pheigín / agus seas ar bharr an aird,
Comhair do chuid bullán / agus féach a’ bhfuil siad ann.

Last Chorus:
’S ó gairim goirim í / ’gus goirim í mo stór
Míle grá le m’anam í / is gearr go mbeidh sí mór

16. Pós an Píobaire (trad. / Kerstin Blodig)

"Marry the piper" – a match making song. A young woman is supposed to marry an old farmer (who plays the pipes) but she refuses the match the parents have made, probably because he is incapable of playing the intricate rhythm as in the music written by Kerstin.
Lead vocal: Kerstin

Téir abhaile riú / téir abhaile riú
Téir abhaile riú Mhary
Téir abhaile riú. s’fan sa bhaile
Mar tá do mhargadh déanta

Is cuma cé dhein é nó nár dhein
Is cuma cé dhein é Mhary
Is cuma cé dhein é nó nár dhein mar
Tá do mhagadh déanta

Níl mo mhargadh, níl mo mhargadh
Níl mo margadh déanta
Níl mo mhargadh, níl mo margadh
Níl mo mhargadh déanta

Pós an píobaire. pós an píobaire
Pós an píobaire Mhary
Pós an pí obaire dtús na hoíche
Is beidh sé agat ar maidin

"Marry the piper"
Come home my love Mary / come home my love and stay at home because your match is made
It does not matter what he has or he has done Mary / because your bargain is made
My match is not made
Marry the piper in the evening and he will be with you in the morning