A couple of years ago I got fascinated with the national anthems of the Celtic peoples. I missed St. David's Day for the Welsh, and I'll try to get to it soon. But here, in honor of St. Patrick's Day is the Irish National Anthem, in several versions.
First
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pHO7GW0MKEdespite what it says about never singing it in English, the words were first written in English and later translated into Irish.
Here it is in English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OyX3DHYtkY&NR=1 A complete version, followed by instrumental renditions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OyX3DHYtkY&NR=1 The wiki article, including a complete translation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amhrán_na_bhFiann You can also hear it being sung at sporting events on some of the related videos on YouTube
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Edited to give correct url for wiki article. Thanks to TRiG for pointing out error in original post.
*dances to it*
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm dancing in my head...I got two left feet in real life. I think Scotland's unofficial anthem is my fav national anthem in the whole world (yes, even better than the US's...GASP!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5bxT-j9UOQ&feature=related
"Scotland the Brave" is definitely a stirring tune, and those are good lyrics. But it seems that there are several unofficial anthems. I cane across the following several years ago, and it was identified as the unofficial anthem. In fact a poll several years ago put it in the lead, ahead of "Scotland the Brave," "Highland Cathedral," and "A Man's a Man for A' That."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKwXu-Kr7kw&feature=related
I believe this is performed by the Corries, one of whose members wrote it.
One thing I find significant is its use before sporting matches:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA6cnXFiE6I&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybxfZoT6VHQ&feature=related
I think you'll like the words.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPaJhlIIYjM&feature=related
I like the way they break into the reprise of the second stanza to repeat the first. Note also the Gaelic translation.
Here's a long video, with several different performers' renditions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfq7z9mkXZs&feature=related
Enjoy.
And then there's the Welsh anthem, "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau," also stirring in its own way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3S7wgcRZHQ&NR=1
Am I the only person who knows how to post real links?
ReplyDeleteFrom the blog post:
First
In English
Complete, followed by instrumental
Wikipedia article (This is a link to the Wikipedia article, not the link you gave, which is a repeat of the YouTube link above.)
From the first comment:
Scotland's unofficial anthem
From the second comment:
Scotland's unofficial anthem
At sporting matches: [1] [2]
We'll like the words, you say. (Note that the sidebar text is slightly different to that shown in the video.)
And the long video.
And the Welsh anthem.
****
Here in Ireland, The Fields of Athenry is often heard at sporting matches.
TRiG.
Thanks for correcting my wiki url. I had noticed the error but hadn't got around to doing anything about it.
ReplyDeleteYou may not be the only one who knows how to create such links (are they what are called hyperlinks?), but I certainly don't. When you began the comment. I was hoping that you were going to give a tutorial. Oh well. Some day I'll teach myself.
I AM FROM THE FRENCH CELTIC REGION = BRITANNY
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA7puxkVkMM
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ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. I gather that An Arlac'h is a traditional Breton song.
ReplyDeleteI also managed to find a wikipedia article about the national anthem of Brittany.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bro_Gozh_ma_Zadoù
Since it is sung to the same tune as the Welsh anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nadhau, I should probably keep my promis of posting something about that anthem too. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an english translation for either of the Breton pieces.
Here's a performance of he Breton anthem.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UCrEk9HY7c&feature=related