Amhrán na Leabhar (Song of the Books)

Slow air composed by schoolteacher Tomás Ruadh Suilleabhain on the occasion of losing his priceless library in a shipwreck in Kerry. Also known by the names "Valencia Harbour" and "Cuan Bhéil Inse." Not my best take of this, but I'm just resurrecting this one and trying to find the right touch and tempo for it.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Cuan
• Bhéil
• Inse
• Valencia
• Harbour
• lever
• harp
• dusty
• strings
• amhran
• leabhar
• song
• books
• tomas
• rua
• suilleabhain

[makerandthebreaker]

I recommend the video of this that I recorded in Water Valley, MS. It was recorded much later, and a more appropriate tempo. I still do not quite understand why I was playing it this hurried. Perhaps it is an artifact of the stress I was under learning it for the Midwest Fleadh when I competed for the first time ever in 2006.

[k6musicteacher]

Airs and Ballads are all about pleasure and indulgence in a particular emotion. I think you should enjoy the chords a little more while you play and the emotion that they inspire. I am not sure if that will slow the tempo of the piece or not but I think you would feel better about playing airs if you allowed yourself to enjoy them more and thought less about technique, which you have down really well. Thank-you so much for sharing, it is really beautiful, and the music is nice to!

[makerandthebreaker]

@k6musicteacher Thank you for your feedback. This video is a couple years old, and I do not play it that fast anymore.  I learned how to play it for competition in a Fleadh, which terrified me utterly, so it took some examination and work to not play it that way anymore. You may want to check out the version of the song that I recorded outdoors in Water Valley, MS, which is much more indulgent. I should put another version of it up soon because it has changed even since then.

[FairyHarper]

thats played really nicely maybe slow it down a bit ...

[makerandthebreaker]

I'm trying to figure out a speed to play it at...I just resurrected it recently, as I hadn't played it very much in the last year and a half or so. Unfortunately, airs aren't my strong suit...I think I've only ever played total of three.

[MegMerrilies]

Wow, that's gorgeous. Soulful and it tells the story.

[makerandthebreaker]

Thank you! And thanks for all the kind comments on the other videos I've posted as well.

[splortz]

For my money, this is one of the better tunes for pipes. I'd never heard it on the harp. Quite moving, especially if one thinks of books floating. How painful.

The beauty of the tunes survives. Thanks.

[fatheroblivion45]

Beautiful :)

[pipernonie]

is that your arrangement? It is wonderful and very soulful.

[mgwhitehead]

You do play this well with much expression. Your speed is a bit a tempo (slows down and speeds up), but that lends to the expressiveness. I agree with FairyHarper though . . . don't rush it. Nice job.

[edsternet]

Very haunting & beautiful. Thanks for posting!

[slypox]

Lovely!

[FairyHarper]

i play it as well... just try a smal bit slower and see if it works for u!! but i have 2 say you do play it very well!!!