Everyone enjoys Celtic Folk Songs and Folk Hymns but not all realize that often they can be one and the same. A hymn text has often found its home in a folk song and a secular text sometimes finds a home in a hymn tune. This collection has a little of both. All but one of the tunes in this collection are of Celtic origin. The exception, ?Amazing Grace,? is a folk hymn of unknown origin that has all the markings of a Celtic Tune, including a pentatonic harmonic foundation.
For the harpists who also like to understand the history of a tune or even sing along, a variety of texts along with information about the tune and the lyrics can be found in the back of this book in the ?Notes on the Tunes.?

Titles: Ad Hyd y nos, Annie Laurie, Auld Lang Syne, Bunessan, Brother James' Air, Down By the Salley Gardens, Greensleeves, Iona Boat Song, Rorate (Rorate Coeli Desuper), Londonderry Air, New Britain, O Waly Waly, Slane, Scots W' Hae, The Ash Grove, Royal Oak, The Twenty-Ninth of May, St. Denio, Skye Boat Song, The Bard of Armagh, The Streets of Laredo, The Caledonian Hunt's Delight, St. Columba, The Road and the Miles to Dundee, The Rowan Tree, Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon

One of the nicest things about this book is that each song has a short but lovely introduction!

Twenty arrangements of Irish, Scottish, and Welsh folk songs and tunes for lever harp, with and without vocals. Eighteen of the arrangements are playable with slight or no modifications on small harps of 23 or more strings with an F to G range and levers on B, F, and C. Introductions are included in songs written for vocals. History of the tunes is found in the front of the book.
Table of Contents:
Down By the Salley Gardens, Gartan Mother's Lullaby, Southwind, Gentle Maiden, Separation of Soul and Body, Samradh Samradh, I Wish I had the Shepherd's Lamb, The Two William Davises, Jock O'Hazeldean, Scotland the Brave, Baloo Baleerie, Weaving Lilt, Ye Banks and Braes, Bells of Aberdovey, Queen's Marsh, and Suo Gân.

A really nice set list of unusual selections. Most tunes can be played on a harp with less than 26 strings with levers on B, E, F, and C. The level of difficulty ranges from very easy to intermediate. Derry Air and High Road are more challenging, having octaves and full left hand patterns. Helpful hints on how to accommodate a small harp are included.
Titles are: Play with Ideas, The Last Rose of Summer, She Is Always Cheerful, A Woman?s Lament for the Death of Her Hen, The High Road to Fort Augustus, Dr. Joe, Lament for Owen Roe O?Neill, Auld Lang Syne (not the standard melody), Mother?s Lullaby, Derry Air, Avila, Sagudana, Honey Harp, Bonnie George Campbell, Eleanor Plunkett, Carolan?s Receipt, Thy Delicate Rosy Lips, Banish Misfortune, The Morning Dream, Carolan?s Concerto, Lovely Stornaway.

Suitable for 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 string harp

Content:
1. Aura Lee (Love me Tender) https://youtu.be/tR38iMqw1YI
2. Danny Boy (Londonerry Air)
3. Early One Morning
4. Simple Gifts
5. The Ash Grove.

Thirteen original songs and arrangements for beginner to early intermediate harp. Harp-friendly keys of C, D, and G, some songs have lyrics.

Table of Contents:
The Frog and the Leprechaun (with lyrics), Introduction, Theme and Variations on an English Folk Song, Canarios by G. Sanz, Song in G, Canyon, Warm Sienna, Autumn's Waltz, Far Across the Ocean (with lyrics), Les Fenetres de Paris, An April Lullaby, I'll Come Along, The Green Hills of Clare (with lyrics), My Home Town (with lyrics).

Item Number: S0.645573

Unusual Celtic carol with an improvisatory feel. Few lever changes and awkward passages make these beautiful songs quick to work up for busy harpists who don't have time to start learning Christmas repertoire in July! One tune is in a key with three flats, four carols require one flat. Seven our of ten pieces require NO lever or pedal changes.
Titles: Christ Child?s Lullaby, Lullaby of the Virgin Mary (Manx), Away in the Manger (Scottish melody), Deck the Hall, The Virgin?s Lullaby, Christmas Day is Come, Blessed Mary, That Night in Bethlehem, Baloo Lammy, and What Child is This?. .

This collection includes the arrangement for lever or pedal harp of 3 traditional folk songs (loch lomond, the water is wide, blue bells of scotland).

A collection of Scottish tunes from the nineteenth century and earlier have been carefully selected for their suitability on harp. They lay well under the fingers, are enhanced by the rhythmic and tonal properties of the plucked string and its overtones, and are musically interesting. Airs were chosen for their melodic beauty. Arrangements are traditional in style with ornamented melodies, open chords, and spare harmonies. Tunes are given in two keys, one in all naturals or one sharp, the other in one or two flats. Suggestions for fingering are given, levers or pedals need to be set only at the beginning of each piece, except for the Boat Songs, which require one lever or pedal change. Finally, historical and performance notes on the music are provided, together with a list of sources that are available from U.S. or Scottish distributors.
Table of Contents:
Highland Boat Song and Arran Boat Song (medley), MacDonald Lord of the Isles, Mary Young and Fair, Soldier?s Joy, Garthlands, Niel Gow?s Lament for the Death of His Second Wife, Cradle Song, and St. Mungo?s Welcome to Scott Skinner.

Medieval and Renaissance Airs, Songs and Dances. The left hand uses open harmonies and single notes.

Table of Contents:

Medieval

Alle, psallite, Alleluya Anonymous (England, 13th c.)
Cuncti simus Libre Vermell (Spain, 14th c.)
Dansse Real Anonymous (France, 13th c.)
Edi be thu, Heven-Queene Anonymous (England, 13th c.)
Kalenda Maya Raimbaut de Vaqueiras (France, 12th c.)
Non sofre - CSM #159 Cantigas de Santa Maria (Spain, 13th c.)
Ondas do mar de Vigo - Martin Codax (Spain, 13th c.)
Ondas do mar de Vigo - Estampie ? Therese Honey
Salterello ? Anonymouns (Italy, 14th c.)
Santa Maria amar CMS #7 - Cantigas de Santa Maria (Spain, 13th c.)
Santa Maria, strella do dia CMS #100 - Cantigas de Santa Maria (Spain, 13th c.)
Stella splendens ? Libre Vermell (Spain, 14th c.)


Renaissance
Branle de Cheveaux Thoinot Arbeau (France, 1589)
Branle d?Escosse Thoinot Arbeau (France, 1589)
Branle de la Torche Michael Praetorius (Germany, 1612)
Complaint John Dowland (England, 16th c.)
Jhon Come Kisse Me Noue Anon. (Scotland, 17th c.)
Joy to the Personne of My Love Skene Manuscript (Scotland, 17th c.)
Ladie Laiton?s Alman John Dowland (England, 16th c.)
L?espagnoletta Francisque Caroubel (France, 16th c.)
Nonesuch Playford Collection (England, 17th c.)
Mr. Dowland?s Midnight John Dowland (England, 16th c.)
Round Battle Galliard John Dowland (England, 16th c.)

Lower intermediate level, for lever or pedal harp. Keys of G, D, and F make this book accessible to harps with only B, C, and F levers. Les Poules Huppes is arranged for two harps. Kerry Polks and Rattlin' Bog Polka are written in lead-line form with accompaniment chords and a sample left hand pattern. Both songs can be strung together for a really nice medley.
Table of Contents: Beauty In Tears, The Belfast Hornpipe, Bunclody, The Butterfly, Danny Boy, Don Oiche Ud Im Beithil, Down By The Sallie Gardens, The Emigrant's, Farewell, The Gentle Swan, Joy Be With You, Knocknagow Jig, Les Poules Hupees, Polka, Rattlin'Bog Polka, Oft In The Stilly Night, The Rolling Waves, Women Of Ireland.