Since Passover begins this evening, here is a medley of two Hebrew
songs. Well, one original called “Erev Tov,” (Good Evening), and a
traditional Hebrew folksong called “Shalom Chaverim,” variously
translated as “Hello Friends,” “Good-bye Friends,” and “Peace to You,
My Friends.”
These are played on zither and Oriole (soprano) recorder, and “Shalom
Chaverim” is a 2-part round. I’ve named this medley “Chaverim Tovim,”
which means “Good Friends.”
I hope you enjoy these two pieces!
Here’s another beautiful tune by Turlough O’Carolan. Played on viola,
alto recorder, and lyre, I hope you enjoy “Bridget Cruise!”
Download “Mantle So Green” Mp3
You may be familiar with this 19th-century Irish tune, “Mantle So Green.” Perhaps you’ve heard Sinead O’Connor’s recording. It’s a song about a woman remaining faithful to her beloved, who went off to fight in a British war.
This is a popular Celtic harp tune, and today I’m playing lyre (mine sounds like a harp), with alto recorder and viola rounding out the session, as it were.
I hope you enjoy this arrangement!
Download “I’ve Got Peace like a River” Mp3
“(I’ve Got) Peace like a River” is a much loved African-American spiritual. It compares peace to a river, joy to a fountain, and love to an ocean. With its simple, repetitive lyrics and catchy melody, it’s an easy sing-along song. In fact, I remember doing just that as a child, singing around many campfires. I even played ukulele more than once to accompany the group!
I hope you enjoy “Peace like a River” on ukulele, viola, alto recorder, and lyre!
Here’s another Turlough O’Carolan tune, or part of one, called “Captain O’Kane.” This tune has 3 sections that I know of, but I’ve chosen the most common, “A” section, to play on Oriole (soprano) recorder and zither. I hope you enjoy it!
Download “Carolan’s Lament” Mp3
Here’s a tune composed by Turlough O’Carolan, the well-known Irish harper who was blind. Carolan was born in 1670 and died in 1738. He traveled throughout his home country of Ireland, composing harp pieces for his patrons in exchange for their hospitality, room, and board. Some of Carolan’s music was written down by others, and about 300 of his pieces still survive today.
Since I don’t have a harp yet, I’m playing “Carolan’s Lament” on zither. I hope you enjoy it!
This is a prayer hymn that was written for, and is often still sung at Christian wedding ceremonies. Dorothy F. Gurney wrote the lyrics in 1883 for her sister’s wedding. In 1889 Joseph Barnby composed the melody most commonly heard today.
I hope you enjoy this beautiful hymn played on Oriole (soprano) recorder and lyre! Apologies for the sneezes in the background! You know what they say: “In sickness and in health…”
Download “Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair” Mp3
here is a traditional Irish song. Though I am not singing the lyrics today, I hope you enjoy the melody on Oriole recorder, alto recorder, and lyre!
“St. Columba” is one of at least 4 musical settings for the hymn, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is.” It’s a traditional Irish melody that makes a lovely setting for this 1868 hymn by Henry Baker.
I hope you enjoy this arrangement, which includes the soprano Oriole recorder, viola, and zither!
It’s March! You know what that means: St. Patrick’s Day is on its way! I’d like to say Spring is also on its way, but let’s just say I’m not holding my breath. Meanwhile, enjoy this traditional Irish tune that’s most often a fiddle tune, today played on zither!
Mystical Strings 
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