Songs Of Aran / Various Songs Of Aran / Various CD

This 1957 field recording, Songs of Aran, documents some of the vocal traditions of the Aran Islands, located off of the west coast of Ireland. Sung for the most part in Irish Gaelic, these songs bring to life the barren and sparsely populated islands of Inishmore, Inisheer, and Inishmaan. Included are lullabies, songs to accompany spinning, and two Irish "Caoines," traditional expressions of grief characterized by wailing or crying. Extensive and affectionate liner notes paint a portrait of the island' cultural history, the people, and the music. Among the performers are Margaret Dirrane, one of the lead characters in the noted 1934 film Man of Aran, and her son Sean.

1. Lilting. Be?Dh R?L Againn, the Ten-Penny Bit, Smash the Windows 2. M?Ire St?Nton - Mary Stanton 3. Lullaby: Thobh? Mo Leanbh (Hush - O, My Child) / Se?-Th?N Se? / Se?-Th?N Se?, 's T? Mo Leanbh (Hush-A-Bye, You're My Little One) (Medley) 4. Amhr?N Na Tr?Gha B?Ine - Song of Trabane 5. Twas Early, Early in the Spring 6. ?R? Mh?Le GR?DH - Oro, My Thousand Treasures 7. An Cail?N Fearamhail F?Onn - the Fair Brave Girl 8. Sagart Na Cuile B?Ine - the Priest of Coolbawn 9. A She?In a Mhic Mo Chomharsan - O John, Son of My Neighbor 10. An Droighnean Donn - the Blackthorn 11. M? Th?Ann T?'Un a Aonaigh - If You Go to the Fair 12. Peig? Miste?L - Peggy Mitchell 13. Bean A'leanna - the Ale Woman 14. Amhr?N An T?I - Song of the Tea 15. An T?Irn?N L?N - the Flax Spinning Wheel 16. Milking Croon: An Tsin, An Tsin 17. Do-Een Do A-Diddle Am - (Vocables) 18. Lullaby: Thobha Mo Leanbh / Seo-Thin Seo / 's Tu Mo Leanbh (Medley) 19. Caoineadh Na Marbh - Caoine for the Dead 20. Caoineadh Na Marbh - Caoine for the Dead