Saturday 2 October 2010
Tune of the Day: The Lark in the Clear Air
Traditional Irish air
This Traditional Irish tune is also known as “Caisléan U, Néill” in Ireland, which means “O'Neill's Castle” in English. As regards the title “The Lark in the Clear Air”, it comes from a poem by Samuel Ferguson (1810–1886):
Dear thoughts are in my mind and my soul soars enchanted,
As I hear the sweet lark sing in the clear air of the day.
For a tender beaming smile to my hope has been granted,
And tomorrow she shall hear all my fond heart would say.
This version has been recorded many times, but most recently by actress Kate Winslett for the soundtrack to the 2001 film Iris. In 1994 Sir James Galway released an album of the same name, which included an arrangement of the tune for flute and synthesizer.