May we never have to say goodbye

Shaun Davey is one of the greatest modern Irish composers combining a unique blend of traditional Irish and orchestral music often with the distinctive tones of Liam O’Flynn’s uilleann Pipes and the beautiful singing of his wife, Rita Connolly. Here she is performing his Anthem for the Special Olympics, held in Ireland in 2003, May we never have to say goodbye

More so, perhaps, than the much more commercially successful Riverdance by Bill Whelan or Enya’s celtic inspired new age world music, Sean Davey’s work represents a pivotal moment in the transformation of Irish folk music into a globally accessible orchestral sound.

Liam O’Flynn’s uilleann Pipes are particularly dominant in the triumphant 10th. Movement Arrival in Newfoundland of his classic Brendan Voyage (1980) which depicts the journey taken by explorer Tim Severin, in 1978, from Ireland across the Atlantic to Newfoundland in a leather currach. The voyage recreated the legendary 6th. century crossing of the Atlantic by St. Brendan. The uilleann pipes represent the small currach tossed in the seas represented by the Orchestra.

Once you hear Rita Connolly sing, you will never mistake her voice for anyone else. A`Ghrian’ is taken from his live album The pilgrim.

Here Rita Connolly sings the title track and Ripples in the Rockpool from Granuaile, perhaps Davey’s best known concert work about the 16th. Century Irish Chieftain and pirate, Grace O’Malley, who eventually made her peace with Queen Elizabeth I.

As a Northern Irishman, Davey is acutely aware of the historic roots to contemporary problems. Central to the Protestant/Catholic mythological and historic divide was the 17th century Siege of Derry by King James’ Catholic forces against the protestant Williamite defenders. He thus bravely takes the side of the Protestant defenders in The Relief of Derry Symphony. This is the third movement where Rita’s solo starts after 6 minutes.

▶ Shaun Davey “The Relief of Derry Symphony” (3. Movement) – YouTube

The Relief of Derry Symphony’ was commissioned by Derry City council to commemorate the famous siege of 1689, a turning point in Irish history. It was composed by Shaun Davey for orchestra, uilleann pipes, solo female vocal, soprano saxaphone, with pipeband and auxiliary trumpets drawn from the local community. This melodic and descriptive symphony was conceived against a background of the early years of the Northern Ireland peace process. The live recording was made at the premiere performance in Derry Guildhall in 1990.

3rd movement; soloists enter; the first half is a musical elegy led by the uilleann pipes; the second half is the song ‘The White Horse’, based on a vision which brought nightly comfort to the City.

””’The White Horse””’

Above and below
by land and water
a white horse
a snow white horse
our hope and comfort
the city thus encompasses

Men swim the sea
my own children suffer
and angel
a snow white horse
our hope and comfort
the city thus encompasses

And where is the help
so often promised
and when will the wind serve?
For its is hard to wait
and death to so many

Aid far away
no more food for hunger
at midnight
an angel
a snow white horse
this city doth encompass

Davey also writes straight folk music. Here Cara Dillon sings his melodic setting of the traditional Scottish/Irish folk song: Fill to Me the Parting Glass

Lyrics:
Of all the money that e’er I spent
I’ve spent it in good company
And all the harm that ever I did
Alas it was to none but me
And all I’ve done for want of wit
To memory now I can’t recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

If I had money enough to spend
And leisure to sit awhile
There is a fair maid in the town
That sorely has my heart beguiled
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips
I own she has my heart enthralled
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Oh, all the comrades that e’er I had
They’re sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e’er I had
They’d wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I’ll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be with you all

—

I suppose if you do have to say goodbye, that’s as good a way to do it as any. Have you any other musical meditations on saying goodbye? The comment thread is open…