Turlough O'Carolan - "Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór" for Oboe & English Horn Hautbois |
Compositeur : | Turlough O'Carolan (1670 - 1738) | ||
Instrumentation : | Hautbois | ||
Genre : | Celtique | ||
Arrangeur : Editeur : | MAGATAGAN, MICHAEL (1960 - ) | ||
Droit d'auteur : | Public Domain | ||
Ajoutée par magataganm, 06 Nov 2012 In Ireland about 300 years ago, there lived a harpist, singer and composer by the name of Turlough 'O Carolan. He was born in West Meath around 1670. When he was eighteen, he caught small pox, a disease which was usually fatal at the time. His life was spared, but he was left permanently blind. Turlough's blindness, in a way, was a blessing because it awakened in him a hidden gift for music. A local noble woman by the name of Mary Fitzgerald McDermott Rowe saw to it that he was trained in the Irish harp, gave him a horse and guide and sent him on his way. Carolan was also famous for his love of drink, especially Irish whiskey. He wrote a tune in honor of whiskey. As he was dying, he called for one last cup of his favorite brew. His dying words were said to be "the drink and I have been friends for so long, it would be a pity for me to leave without one last kiss." And he died. At first, he was not considered a great musician. (The ancient bards were supposed to have started their training when they were still young children and Carolan didn't start until he was an adult.) One of his first patrons, a Squire Reynolds, suggested that he try his hand at composition. His first work, "Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór", resulted from this suggestion. After he finished the composition, his fame was spread throughout all of Ireland and he started his career. "Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór" (Little hill, big hill) is likely a reference to the fairy kingdoms. The word for "hill" (cnoc) is implied, and comes from an old folktale where the traveler falls asleep on a little mound or hill and wakes up in a vast otherworld. One thing about Irish tune titles, though...they very often have little to do with the actual tune. Although originally written for folk instruments, I created this arrangement for Double-reed Duet (Oboe & English Horn). |
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