Sheet Music: For Ireland I Won’t Say Her Name

TitleFor Ireland I Won’t Say Her Name
Alternate titlesAr Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí
For Ireland I’ll Not Tell Her Name
ComposerTraditional Irish
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyD major
RangeA4–D6
Time signature3/4
Tempo80 BPM
Performance time1:15
Difficulty leveleasy
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (48 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (594 kB)
Date added2013-08-03
Last updated2013-08-03
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.4 (below average)
Categories
Celtic Music, Slow airs, Traditional/Folk

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Saturday 3 August 2013

Tune of the Day: For Ireland I Won’t Say Her Name

Traditional Irish air

This gorgeous 3/4-time slow air comes from Ireland. There's a song attached to the air, relating the tale of a beautiful maiden who appeared for a short time to a Gaelic poet, resisted his advances and then disappeared forever, leaving him heartbroken. Another version has it that the protagonist falls secretly in love with a maid, although he is too poor to support her and too shy to propose. He goes abroad to seek his fortune, and once made and emboldened he returns home to claim his beloved, only to discover she has married his brother. Brokenhearted, he composes this song, though for obvious reasons he refuses to reveal the name of his beloved.

Thanks to Jess for suggesting this tune!