piano/vocal music

[grizzbass]

I am doing a "Manly Men of Opera" (12 bass or baritone singers) in Southern California and the director has asked me if I had anything in comedy and perhaps Scottish (as last time I wore a kilt) I have a song book of Celtic music but they are just basically chords. Does anyone know a site that has more classically or at least fully realized piano/vocal renditions of celtic themed music. Some of the titles I would like (not all comedy). The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, Flower of Scotland, The Green Fields of France, The Dundee Ghost, Dillion and the Goat (particularly would be good for this), With Her Head Tucked Underneath her Arm and My Hearts in the Highlands. There are a lot of other songs I enjoy but these are either the ones I think would sound good in a more classical style or fit my own personal abilities. Thanks

[Aussie_Don]

I can help with The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, but I think that it
is a 1978 version. Eric does it differently currently -- asked him about
the differences at a festival, his comment was, "It's the folk process in
action."

Also Green Fields of France (AKA Willy McBride, or No Man's Land --
the actual title FWIW) Also by Eric Bogle, a Scott living in Australia.
I can get you a melody line with chords score for that as well. Could also
source My Heart is in the Highlands. See here:

http://www.vfmc.org.au/FiresideFiddlers/MyHeart.html

Eric Bogle's two songs are copyright, so you might need permission
to use them in a paid performance, but he's fairly approachable
and mostly (my impression) seems to be happy to see his music
performed with appropriate credit.

Thought a bit about this overnight, and I could also supply "dots"
for "For a' That" which is about as Scottish as you're likely to find.
We sang it in a Folk Festival choir last year and I thought it sounded
good -- could put you on to the arrangers for that one. They might
want some sort of nominal payment, though -- their work is their
music.

It's from a book of Scottish traditional songs, so there'd be some
others you may not have considered.

Happy to help further -- contact off list.

-Don (I did introduce myself as a "folkie")

[grizzbass]

thanks for the one song. Great key for me. I am thinking I may contact Mr Bogle and see if you would object to a friend of mine arranging it for bass/baritone and piano. Again thanks.

[CDNSushi]

It's not Celtic themed, I'm afraid, but a great aria for a bari/bass accomp. by piano is an old piece, "A Real Low Down Basso Am I." And if you're lucky enough to snag a score, it's a real winner. The lyrics are certainly somewhat light and comical.

I've performed this piece myself for auditions, and at a charity auction for the chamber choir I used to be a member of years ago. There are also some Youtube clips of various singers performing the piece. It's appropriate for both bari/bass but if you want to really bring down the house, the "alternative" ending goes all the way down to a low C, and you can rock it powerfully down that low, the people love it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Real-Low-D...item589de7e7a8

[Aussie_Don]

thanks for the one song. Great key for me. I am thinking I may contact Mr Bogle and see if you would object to a friend of mine arranging it for bass/baritone and piano. Again thanks.

"My Heart is in the Highlands" is, as far as I know,
in the public domain. The tune is from the playing
of a group of musicians in a small town in North-East
Victoria called Coryong, though their area is often called
Nariel for the Nariel Creek that passes through the
area.

My mate Harry, who maintains the Fireside Fiddlers
site, is fairly scruplious about copyright and attribution.

The two that are Eric Bogle's are "And the Band Played
Waltzing Matilda" and "Green Fields of France".

Hope this clears the misunderstanding.

-Don

[grizzbass]

I guess I should proof read my posts better I meant to say "see if he" would object, not you. sorry.

"My Heart is in the Highlands" is, as far as I know,
in the public domain. The tune is from the playing
of a group of musicians in a small town in North-East
Victoria called Coryong, though their area is often called
Nariel for the Nariel Creek that passes through the
area.

My mate Harry, who maintains the Fireside Fiddlers
site, is fairly scruplious about copyright and attribution.

The two that are Eric Bogle's are "And the Band Played
Waltzing Matilda" and "Green Fields of France".

Hope this clears the misunderstanding.

-Don

[Aussie_Don]

Speaking somewhat authoritatively for Harry, the
president of the folk club for which I am the secretary
and webmaster, I'd say, go for it with My Heart is in the
Highlands. (I suspect that Harry would be interested
in seeing the arrangement.) I was busking with him
this morning and he actually sang that today.

I cannot speak as definitely for Eric Bogle, but I'd
expect him to be reasonable, at least. Larrikin Music,
who hold the copyright to Eric's work were sold not
too long ago. The original owner was a well known Aussie
folk muso. But more recently Larrikin was involved in the
lawsuit over "Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree" and
Men at Work's “A Land Downunder” – given the PR
hammering they took on that one, I'd expect them to
be reasonable.

-Don

[grizzbass]

thanks I hadn't heard that one. I have done several celtic based pieces that are classical in nature. "The Little Irish Girl" (by Lohr being the most popular) but I wanted to add a few folk based pieces. I sung for around 30 years and am getting to the point where I want to sing what pleases me (not that opera doesn't still) and while I've always loved folk music I have particularly been attracted to the idea of the above pieces. There is blue grass band up in the mountains that has a monthly dinner/show after it is over they have a jam session for anyone who wants to perform blue grass or folk pieces. I sang the Band Played Waltzing Matilda a cappella and it was very effective. (Actually everyone was so depressed it took a few minutes for anyone to do another song).