The harp that once through Tara's halls - Celtic harp and voice

Nice setting for Thomas Moore's poem. Tara, of course, is the mysterious hilltop castle that was home to Irish high kings. It actually existed somewhere in what is now County Meath until its destruction probably in the 6th century. The poem was written while Ireland was under the British rule, and Tara symbolizes the ancient freedom of his country. Although Tara was actually demolished several centuries before the arrival of the British, Moore invites the reader to imagine that it still exists. But the soul of Ireland,the harp,is not permitted to express itself there, and so hangs mute and unused on the wall.

Tara, oggi nella contea di Meath, è la collina sulla quale sorgeva il castello che fu dei re d' Irlanda fino alla sua distruzione, probabilmente nel VI secolo. All' epoca in cui Moore scriveva l' Irlanda era sotto il pesante giogo inglese, ed egli immagina che Tara, simbolo dell' antica libertà, esista ancora. Ma l' anima dell' Irlanda, simboleggiata dall' arpa, è oppressa,e come l' arpa tace.

The harp that once through Tara's halls, by T. Moore (1779-1852)
The harp that once through Tara's halls
The soul of music shed,
Now hangs as mute on Tara's walls
As if that soul were fled.
So sleeps the pride of former days,
So glory's thrill is o'er,
And hearts that once beat high for praise,
Now feel that pulse no more!

No more to chiefs and ladies bright
The harp of Tara swells;
The chord alone that breaks at night,
Its tale of ruin tells.
Thus Freedom now so seldom wakes,
The only throb she gives
Is when some heart indignant breaks,
To show that still she lives.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• celtic
• harp
• voice
• poem
• poetry
• irish
• traditional
• folk
• music
• arpa
• celtica
• salvi
• aida
• voce
• musica
• irlandese
• poesia
• harpe
• musique
• celtique
• irlandaise
• ireland
• dublin

[Harpfairy]

And in fact, no one doubts that the hill of Tara still exists :-)

E le due righe che hai scritto riproducono alla perfezione la bellezza di quel luogo. Grazie!

[jordanviach]

nice, it is.

though... tara DOES exist in co. meath. it's some 20 miles from navan and newgrange itself, and it is still clearly visible, even tough the "castle" bit is long gone. you can find the mounds, the walls and, in the very centre of it, lia fail, the roaring stone.

it's a beautiful place. if you are lucky enough to get a clear day, you'll be able to see over six counties from the top.

go visit, if you can! :)

cheers,

j.v.

[DeAnima2]

The setting

Tranquility

Which

Frames these poetic lines

The

Touch of

Your Hand

Your Harp

Beautiful resonans

[notenoughshouting]

Awww... delicious, dear! :-)

[Hildegard71]

Very nice!