Carolan's Farewell To Music
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slow air / instrumental
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O'Carolan
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"Carolan's Farewell To Music" (Gaelic: Ceileabrad Uí Cearballain), also known as<br> "O'Carolan's Farewell" is an Irish slow air. Players have transposed to<br> various keys: G Dorian (Complete Collection..., O'Farrell): D Minor (Williamson):<br> A Minor (O'Farrell/Pocket). <br> According to tradition, this is the last tune composed by blind Irish harper<br> Turlough O'Carolan (1670–1738).<br> "It was in the spring of 1738 that Carolan felt a weakness coming over him and<br> foreknowing his death, he made a return to the home of his dearest friend and<br> sponsor, Mrs. MacDermott Roe. It was by now an old, old lady who received him<br> at the ancestral seat of the MacDermott Roes, Alderford. Carolan spoke lovingly<br> to her, telling her he was come home to die. Then, calling for his harp, he<br> played this farewell to music. At the close of the tune, he walked upstairs<br> to the bed, where he died a few days later amid the tears and praises of<br> friends and mourned the country round" (Williamson, 1976). <br> It was printed in O'Farrell's Collection of National Irish Music for the<br> Union Pipes (1804), O'Farrell's Pocket Companion, vol. 1 (1805),<br> O'Neill's Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies (1903) (as "O'Carolan's Farewell"),<br> O'Neill's Irish Minstrels and Musicians (1913) (as "O'Carolan's Farewell"),<br> O'Sullivan's Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper (1958),<br> Williamson's English, Welsh, Scotch and Irish Fiddle Tunes (1976) and<br> Ossian Publications' The Complete Works of O’Carolan (1984).<br> It has been recorded by John McCutcheon on Fine Times at Our House,<br> The Chieftains on The Chieftains Live and Derek Bell on Carolan's Receipt.<br>
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