FTX 422 - SONGS OF MANN - Joan OWEN
with the choirs of LON DHOO & LON VANE
In the 1950s Joan Owen was considered the foremost folksinger on the Isle
of Man. Unlike concert singers at that time, she sang the Gaelic songs unaccompanied,
the way they had been collected, edited and translated by the indomitable local
journalist, Mona Douglas. (see FOLKTRAX 007). On this recording, made in the
main town of Douglas in 1958, she is joined by the combined voices, male and
mixed, of two local choirs who also specialised in singing some of the old Gaelic
songs but, this time, translated into English but still using some of Mona's
collection which had been arranged by Arnold Foster. For the opening, the popular
"Wedding Song", the choir has a piano accompaniment.
THE WEDDING SONG - JUAN Y JAGGAD KEEAR (Johnny of the Grey
Jacket) - ARRANE BEN DROGH HRAGHTALAGH (Smuggler's Lullaby) - GEAY JEH'N AER
(Sea Invocation) - ARRANE Y LHONDOO (Song of the Blackbird) - FISHERMEN'S EVENING
HYMN - BERREY DHONE (Brown Berrey) - USHAG VEG RUY (Little Red Bird) - GRAIH
MY CHREE (Love of my heart) - MY CAILLIN VEG DHONE (My Little Brown Girl) -
ELLEN VANNIN - ARRANE OIE VIE (Good Night Song) - YN FOLDER GASTEY (The Nimble
Mower) - MYLECHARANE (Gaelic & English) - GREG WILLY SYL (Willy Syl's Rock)
- MANNIA VEEN - mixed choir - GRAIH FOALSEY (False Love) - YN LHIANNON SHEE
(Fairy Sweetheart) - NY KIRREE FO NIAGHTY (The Sheep under the Snow) - ARRANE
NY SHEEAGHYN TROAILTAGH (Song of the Travelling Fairies) - NATIONAL SONG - ARRANE
NY BLIEH (Grinding Song) - SHE LLONG HONNICK MEE (A Ship Sailing) - ARRANE SAVEENAGH
(Slumber Song) - MRAANE KILKENNY (The Kilkenny Woman) - GOOD NIGHT SONG
