Si Bheag Si Mhor O'Carolan celtic harp tune

[aidanunited]

Thank you x

[midmodgal]

Your version is quite lovely too, such a light touch.

[midmodgal]

I first heard this performed by Simon Nichol and Dave Swarbrick of Fairport Convention. It was in a small pub in London .I was so moved. I have it on vinyl but it jumps!

[beannaichte123]

~Again, incredibly beautiful. You do not disappoint! ~The video is such a fine compliment to the selection of music.~ Thank you!~Beannaichte'

[CIARAX1X1]

very beautiful i have to say i play the harp and i am 11 im attending the fleadh in cavan and am quite nervous and trying to find some ideas and different styles of playing and wow i found this and its lovely !! the effect you had on me i hope when i play to the adjudicators that they have the same effect.

[MarkHarmer]

@CIARAX1X1 Hi there! Thank you for your nice comments, and I wish you all the best in the fleadh! I'm sure you will do well - I've only ever done one competition but it was brilliant experience.

[RobbinsGinger]

Is this available for download? I'd love to play it at my wedding next year?

[MarkHarmer]

@RobbinsGinger Hi there - if you mean the audio recording, yes it is - just search for Mark Harmer on iTunes. The actual music manuscript isn't available.

Hope that helps!

Mark

[nkosb]

What a Total Utter Joy to listen too. Thank you so, so much for posting this beautiful video. Just Brilliant Tune and truly wonderful Playing. Thanks.

[MarkHarmer]

@nkosb Thank you! I just wish I had been smiling more, but I was sitting on a rather uncomfortable tree stump!

[DauwXelfje]

I wish I had enough money for a Beginners harp... I'm a 15 year old girl, who loves this music and wishes to play like this.. <3

Really beautifull!

[MarkHarmer]

@DauwXelfje Please do try and play somehow!! I know finding a harp can be tricky. Some of the cheaper harps on ebay can be a bit of a gamble. Harps can be hired for not too much money, and often the money can be recouped if you decide to buy. If you really can buy one, then get a good one like the Dusty Strings Ravenna 26 or 34 or another reputable brand, because you will always get a good price for it if you decide to sell it. Find a harp festival and try some out.

[milune11]

I love this version and also the video but who is the little child we hear at the end may be your grand child ?

i went to a festival of irish music yesterday and i heard this piece on guitar version very nice also .You should come to this festival next year at UQUAM university in Montreal. ther was also workshop but no celtic harp .

[MarkHarmer]

@milune11 Thank you for your nice comments! The child is just a random child in the distance, somewhere down the road from the woods. The amazing thing is how sound carries in those places - the trees reflect sound all around but anything that is out of the ordinary will be easy to hear.

I imagine this would sound great on the guitar. I'd love to go along to that festival in Montreal, but difficult to justify travelling such a long way!

[AntarcticDreamer]

This is a really lovely version of this tune.

I was originally looking for a video that would help me learn the tune and the fingering - This one is beautifully made and beautifully played on top of that.

[nefaeria]

This was enchanting!

[SqueezeMyLemonBabe]

beautiful..

[AnderNirvana]

Beautifull!!!

[Blacksquareable]

Fantastic movie.  Great arrangement. I love this tune

[MarkHarmer]

@Blacksquareable Thank you! I'm slowly working through my Carolan arrangements and aim to put them online to accompany my CD, which has 20 Carolan tunes including this one. Shameless plug I know, but a lot of work goes into these things!!

[MarkHarmer]

@NateC0le That's such a lovely thing to read. I'm always really happy when I hear how the music has meant something!

[schwarzfalk]

very good work!

PS. tried Carolan's Ramble ? (it's his best tune IMO :)

[MarkHarmer]

@schwarzfalk Thank you - I'll look that one up! I discovered Carolan's Farewell after another such suggestion, so I'm off to look up the Ramble now!

[schwarzfalk]

@MarkHarmer ok :) but I must accent that there are 2 versions of that tune, and only one of the two is really good (matter of personal taste I guess)

for the "good version" u can check out check this 'tube video for instance : K0mot5vBCBc

[schwarzfalk]

@MarkHarmer oops my bad, got the wrong code

I meant this video : GFUrT0ildug

(it's also played by harp...or by lyre maybe)

[diamondlotus3]

Everything about this video is beautiful, the music, the gifted playing of the harp, the lovely harp itself, the setting in the woods, the perfect lighting, all combined creates a gorgeous magical experience. Thank you so much!

[Desmond8043]

Incredible,flowing, lovely, moving, original...what more can be said?

[MarkHarmer]

@Desmond8043 Thank you - what a lovely comment!!

[Joshuapostell]

from a great irish/german hail the bancient gods and goddesses! you r trully gifted!ERIN GO BRAUGH!

[conclusions2]

lovely

[TheCaliforniaKitty]

SO Beautiful!!!!!!!

[elisasuphot]

molto suggestivo! Bellissimo anche il video!

[andybassman67]

Thanks for this. Faultless.

[derwos]

she begs some more

[ethickca]

wow! i wish i could go there! the place looks so peaceful, and your playing is like birds of the gray haven singing! it warms an old heart of a young girl!

[AlouaisA]

OW yes..I like this! I realize my harpvideos are slightly overedited when I see this......this is so peaceful....thank you! x

[MarkHarmer]

@AlouaisA I looked at your harp video. A lot of fun - I like the wild shapes you have on screen. It depends what you mean by editing, but I'd count this one as "highly edited" (I used 11 camera angles and about 20 shots)! If you look at the vimeo version (see the link in the description) you'll see it with better colour than this video - it's worth a look.

[AlouaisA]

@MarkHarmer Thanks! I'll go watch your vimeo version also! (11 camera angles and 20 shots....wow!! I'm just a beginner in video-editing-world you know... ;)

[Arkelath]

Wonderful! I'm a beginner autodidact with a 19 strings low quality harp... I'm trying to play this tune. It's very difficult to play in an elegant way with only 19 strings... Do you have any advice?  Thanks again for this moment of harmony and peace!

[adele3764]

Simply mesmerising, Mark. Thank you :)

[adele3764]

Simply beautiful, mark. Thank you :)

[peacockunini]

Thanks for sharing a beautiful version of one of my favorite songs for the mandolin. I'm encouraged to try more variations after listening to you.

Peggy

[velvcurtshow1]

Wonderful!

[freibinx]

heavenly  :-)

[henno147]

Sí mhor ,sí bheag means big fairy ,little fairy in irish i love this tune, heard it so many times :)

[EADutton]

I love your postings....you are brave. I am a harper. It was my minor instrument in college. The blue belles remind me of our cottage on a little lake in Canada. My mother and I would love it when they would all bloom...this tune reminds me of it. Thank you!

[emmie77777]

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing your lovely music. :)

[bookkeeper57]

@m4rkyboy Hey me wee bairne ye dinna be no musician, and

ye dinna know how to spell, let alone criticize a piece of music.

Ye be a pea wit: the "lack of movement and resolution" is in

your own life. Post an example of what ye do mean and share

something with us besides your phony Scots brogue, alright,

me buck?

[Kaysa17]

Stunningly beautiful. I love listening to this while I read, it's so relaxing :)

[s694019001]

i love this song, i found it form a webcomic white noise, wncomic.com, and now i see why she chose to put this in what she had, it's a very soothing tune and the way you played it was beautiful.

[charleychaken]

Nice touch and control, very light and effortless. I liked it.

[ajnastarheart]

Beautiful!!!!!!

[iamearthbornami]

fabulous~thankyou with love

[gregodub1]

One of my favourite renditions of Si Bheag Si Mhor. Beautifully played in a lovely setting. Just magical!

[m4rkyboy]

Doesn't hurt to change bass note.Other than that,pretty gay

[MarkHarmer]

@m4rkyboy You can do lots of different accompaniments, but I liked the idea of creating something like the sound of a bell tolling constantly (because of the story and also because the flowers look like bells) - just keeping the bass note the same throughout.

[veritas89g]

@MarkHarmer

I like your left hand arrangement for this piece- it works nicely! I am going to try to use it myself in the future.

[bookkeeper57]

@m4rkyboy You really don't know how this should sound.

Above average rendition of this Irish folk piece.

[inkey2]

i am going nuts trying to tune my 31 string celtic harp. is it all half steps like an autoharp,,,,,,,and what is the thinnest/highest string , what note

[MarkHarmer]

@inkey2 @inkey2 If the harp has levers, move all the levers to the position that isn't sharpening the string. If all the strings are clear, then I can't help! If some strings are red and some black or blue, check that as you go up, the strings go red-clear-clear-black/blue-cle­ar-clear-clear-red. If that's the case the red strings are C and the black/blue ones are F. Going upwards you usually tune to C-D-Eb-F-G-A-Bb-C so you can use the levers to get C#, D#, E, F#, G# A#(ie Bb), B.

[MarkHarmer]

PS the third C from the top is usually middle C

[Criticalizzy]

Thank you for this! You played a well-known song so beautifully. Best version of it so far.

[jessyquedens]

That was an inspired idea, to use this beautiful background.

[XmortdreadX]

i want that harp........

[louiesuzuki]

I am having si bheag si mhor played by a pedal harp and violin for the procession for my wedding and we can only find a very simple arrangement. Do you have the music for your arrangement available or do you know where i may get one?

[MarkHarmer]

@louiesuzuki I haven't written it down (yet!) but it's actually very simple so I would imagine any harpist ought to be able to work it out from listening - I guess!

[topito2]

i loved it!!!! may God bless irish music!!!!

[MentalBadger]

Bluebell season is always a wonderful time of year, wonderful musical acompaniment

[Huilifoj]

Your video has been filmed with an awesomely good taste. Even more outstanding is the sound quality you've achieved with such a difficult instrument to mike as a Harp is.

Congratulations.

Warmest regards from your colleague.

[mileyworldrocks247]

i love this song i have been tryin to find the type on my cd i found urs and loved it more than the cds <3

[Meneron]

Great video, great music, great quality.

Like it! :)

[canonbhr]

i love this music

yeeeeey 4 irsh music

hamza from bahrain

[marloes112]

i reall love your playing, it`s so calming and peacefull....it also helps comforting my son (2yr)....Keep it up! Love from holland!

[naytepotato]

Tá álainn. Gahhh, Tá mé ag caoineadhhhh :).xx

[Lansdownekid]

This is absolutley beautiful and perfectly executed, thanks for posting! 5***** and Thumb! :-)

Harry

[Carbonellius]

Lovely tune Mark, great representation of the Si Beag si Mhor. Congratulacion friend!

I was thinking about my friend Derek Bell, who is walking around the forest unti the eternity... Peace with you! Boys of the hills (irish band)

[Kazekane]

I wanna lay in that grass and fall asleep at this

[wistaria2010]

One of the prettiest vids I've seen, perfect for such beautiful music.

[L4nmp]

Very beautiful. Where is this place?

[cbcmiss]

What beautiful filming. Really reflects the beauty of the tune.

[MarkHarmer]

Thank you!

[neboske]

Bravissimo! Great Sound!

[scooterbyxbee]

Absolutely beautiful-enjoyed this very much!

[AleDaino]

NICE!

Which brand of harp is it?

[Foobiquanz]

Oh my! That was so amazingly pretty! Your soundbox looked similar to the one on my harp! :D I want to learn to play that song now. You're such an inspiration!

[la200o]

Very nice indeed.

[skittfrogg]

I'm going to take a try at this song once my harp arrives... you've really inspired me at that. Absolutely gorgeous...

[samopdrift]

Your music did much more than enjoy me. It touched my heart. Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece of peace!

[kliz97]

you sound great!! wow! amazing interpratation (is that even spelt right?)

anyway good job, and this is the two hundreth comment!!!

[fishcakes94]

aaaah so calming^^

[Blainesenior]

Alright, I looked at this video to listen for the melody of the song, but was so mesmerized by the beauty of your playing, that I missed it. I applaud you and you talent.

Thank you

[fortuitousnisa]

I'm loving your music and the camera work.

[sjokolade777]

It remains me on Orpheus but where is Eurydice?

[MarkHarmer]

She was operating the camera!

[sjokolade777]

Hahaha the modern Eurydice is doing it with the camera... hahaha! not romantic....

[CherishTheChildren]

What a blessign to our world with your celtic harps creating the tones and vibrations to heal us ,TY dear soul

Love Light

[sarahbrownsarahbrown]

someone's a hippie (:

still, it's not often you read such an optimistic comment.

[CherishTheChildren]

haha Its not often were blessed with such grace and beauty :))) Love Light

[Lukecash12]

I'm a little jealous. You can't exactly pick up a piano and play it in the middle of the woods. I guess I'll have to bring my sitar.

[MarkHarmer]

I play the piano (a bit) but that's one reason I took up the harp!!

[hotshotcarolan]

Is well done, and being outside as it about the stories of rival fairies queens have a fight...

Also check this modern rendition of it

watch?v=hK0TN-psnJE

[TropicalHarpist]

Mark I love your videos!! I hope someday I can make great videos of me and my harp like you! Keep it up and keep posting.

[MarkHarmer]

Please do have a go - I'd love to see them

[JOSMANTV]

congratulations..you are the best.. saludos desde veracruz mexico.

[ilcriticointerista]

very very very good

[piedpiperchris]

Haha, cryingstars - That's why Hamer labeled it as O'Carolan's work.

Anyhoo, yeah that's great, thank you. Wonderful camera work too I might add.

[tromtee]

I meant to ask on another of your videos but are you self taught? This is one of my favorite pieces!

[4nt1c1t1zen0ne]

You're really great!

This tune is enchanting

[RedHeadRadulf83]

Bravisimo! Nicely done! :D

[fallowfields1]

the tolling sound of the left hand throughout most of the piece is a beautiful effect.

[jantarbuba]

I rarely comment, but this has taken my breath away. The music, the setting, the mastery -- impeccable!

[MarkHarmer]

Thank you for all the nice comments!

[Kao108]

To inform you that I have learned this tune on my harp, had to retranscribe your score by ear, but it still sounds lovely :) thanks so much for sharing your music !

[wfriedson]

Rare and beautiful. Surely the fairies gathered to listen, and the spirits of great Harpers gone by were glad to know true music continues. Thank you, very much.

[Pangael]

Beautiful music, beautiful setting.

Thank you, Mr. Harmer.

[pat61nl]

Really good arrangement. Do you perhaps have wrtitten down the score?

[cryingstars]

He didn't write the score..it's by an Irish musician called Turlough O' Calolen..you could buy it.

[bookkeeper57]

Great setting; great performance, Mr Harmer.

[deterdettol]

Very well played, and also very well produced. Really a seamless, professional music video.

[Justmeand3]

So glad to see that you have a CD out. It would be wonderful if there were MP3 download for us fans outside of the UK. Your music is so lovely, it would be great to take it with us where we go!

[rankokusan]

your playing is breath taking I adore it...been clicking on reply over and over again to your songs, I especially like Caralan's Dream

[MarkHarmer]

@rankokusan Thank you - that's really nice of you! Carolan's Dream was my first YouTube posting and really started me doing Carolan seriously in public.

[BAC1954]

Si Mhor The big fairy Mound . Si Bheag the small fairy mound.

[breaththeair]

cad an sceil cappall mo chara ta an cheol go hailainn !!! cuig!!!!

[1grandmajoyce]

Heavenly!

[susantash]

Simply beautiful!

Exactly what my soul needed today.

[MarkitosGodoy]

Muy buena presentación!!! Muchas gracias!!!

[iriscelta]

very beautiful!Thanks a lot.

[Ticlano]

You play with passion and love...A real musician, very, very rare!

Thank you Mark!

[shanecronogue]

I live near SÍ Mhor aka Sheemore its is surrounded with history and tales.

[KaydenSora]

Omg that was awesome. <3 I wish we had a forest with bluebells where I live. o.o

[hollyboo21]

How gorgeous! Absolutely perfect!! Mo cheol thu :)

[LadySamusAran]

Oh my goodness that was amazing...

[oanaalexia]

I know why but I won't say the reasons, this makes me cry. OK I will tell. This makes me feel like a real person and brings peace to my mind and soul. I'm tired of the daily routine.

[AlexandraHorten]

great play and recording

[wrathchild89]

this is so great... i loved it, even though i think that carolan's dream is even more touching. i am currently reading a novel about turlough o'carolan of how he became blind an stuff, a story of irish lifestyle and music =) just great. also it tells the story of how he came up with this tune. he was told by ferries, who had a battle on the two mountains, sheebeg and sheemor. its so great to hear the song when you just read about it. thank you mark

[parkerharps]

O'Carolan didn't write the tune... just the lyrics.....

[ToriNightengale]

I'm reading the same one, 'Carolan's Concerto' ?

[Hogie506]

Same composer, different tune :)

[sheev11]

Si Beag, Si Mhor means "big hill, small hill"

[anniemcu]

The bluebells are blooming here today, and i'm looking for inspiration on this tune. thanks for posting this.

[kchiou]

This is absolutely lovely. Please post more if possible!

[LoveBeing53]

This is so beautiful esspecially the ceanery! Thanks!

Gil :-)

I want to play the harp as well..

[MajorSecord]

i want to learn the harp so badly

but they're so expensive!

[Fullperson]

hah me too, I've seen almost all the videos about harps on youtube you're posts are everywhere

[pilomaya2012]

this is the same harp as mine( mine in need of new strings here and there and new levers!)afromosia( mines an early one from pilgrim harps with 30 strings)clarsach!

lovely tone. i found out mines worth about 2000 pound! i was given it by an old harper man! so beautiful. i need to raise 650 to get new levers and strings etc.thanks so much for the playing

[bookkeeper57]

Thanks Mr Harmer: you are one of the top ten harpists heard at this site, imo.

This is beautiful.

[tamegomaith93]

Top TEN!? top ONE in my opinion Ö SO beautiful!!

[dolofonos]

Perhaps in his comment bookkeeper57 found wisdom in offering genuine praise to this harpist whilst risking insult to no other.

[tamegomaith93]

yeah.. I was a bit rushed =/ sowwee to all you other harpists out there, I'll listen to you before making such a comment. my apologies, sincerely =/

[Yibbanator]

Absolutely amazing! Some of the best harp playing I have ever seen or heard! Keep up the awesome work.

[HecateDancing]

I love the way you use the high notes and the lower notes it helps paint the picture of the small fairies and the big fairies, it's wonderful, thanks.

[FLPman]

Wow.. beautiful

I have a Celtic Quest CD, it's like this music w/nature sounds (goes well together) and looking up each of these songs and seeing the different version they are played is amazing.

this one is just very very beautiful.

[saved2play]

I also have that CD! It's great, isn't it!? I also like "Scottish Moors"

[pilomaya2012]

thanks im going to tune my harp today and have a nother go! i am learning.

[vinyvalentine]

Hey im one more heavy metal fan wich like celtic and harp music too ^^

i love that style to play and carolan is one of my fav composers i will try to get any songs of him on guitar i love that celtic style is very nice, you playing very well, with fell, i like

good job

viiny

[squibble94]

I had to play this for a strings concert solo. I loved it!

[prosepp]

this one is another absolutely great piece of music - and a great video, too !

[Gylfie13]

my friends probably think i'm strange, one day i'm listening to heavy metal, and the next, stuff like this! it's so relaxing!

[MarkHarmer]

Glad you like it. I've had a few similar comments from heavy metal fans, so you're not alone. Maybe I should try the reverse and get into heavy metal!

[welshboi82]

Beautiful and I love the video, it makes me homesick to see those bluebells again.

[ticklesivory]

Beautiful Mark, just beautiful.

[orlaniscolai]

That is such talent.

Beautiful to listen to.

Thank you very much for putting this up, i play this song myself but no talent like that!

[milune11]

dear MarkHarmer

it is very beautiful the music and the field of lavender I think it is very inspiring .

[thenameisbrendan]

Well done. The tune title is spelled Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór, just for those who care about spelling Irish words correctly.

[MarkHarmer]

Thanks so much for the comment. I knew about the accents and realise I left them off the video titles (and can't reedit that now without taking it off YouTube). On the YouTube page I didn't put the accents in as I wasn't sure if it would be found when people searched for it (would people type in the correct accents?) but have added the correct name to the description. Sorry I can't change the title on the video - YouTube doesn't allow you to reload a different version without deleting the page.

[TwoHarps]

Wonderful. We love this tune too. Great rendition.

[JunzaGal]

is that harp a pilgrim Clarsack???

it has a beutiful sound.

[SadisticB1tch]

WOW! thats all i can say! i'm completely stunned by this arrangement.. 1st time i heard it, two little tears came out of my eyes.. trully amazing! 500.000 stars

[mrgabest]

What I wouldn't give to have a local wood at all...

[eadgbe1]

Beautiful music played expertly and with much expression.

[cmacmuiris]

den chéad scoith :)

[MarkHarmer]

Hi there - thanks for the comment. I'm afraid I don't know what it means but thank you anyway!!

[iamanengine]

It means "first class"

[MarkHarmer]

Aha! Thank you so much - really appreciate the comment too!

[graeffi]

wow =) wonderful

[MarkHarmer]

Thank you!!

[harpsong1]

Wonderful job as always!

[iamanengine]

Thank you for not spelling the title of the tune incorrectly. If I see it written as "Sheebag Sheemor" again I'll go mad!

[NAAMxLOOS]

@iamanengine

Same here!