This is one of a series of posts about books used as source material for Art Song Central.
Book Title: Moore’s Irish Melodies (People’s Edition)
Arranger: Sir John Stevenson, Mus. Doc. & Sir Henry Bishop
Publisher: Addison, Hollier and Lucas
Copyright: 1859
Google Books has downloadable PDF copy: Moore’s Irish Melodies.
See also the 1895 edition entitled The Irish Melodies, with arrangements by Charles Villiers Stanford.
Contents:
- Alone in crowds to wander on
- And doth not a meeting like this make amends
- As a beam o’er the face of the waters may glow
- As slow our ship her foamy track
- As vanquished Erin wept beside
- At the mid hour of night, when stars are weeping
- Avenging and bright fall the swift sword of Erin
- Believe me, if all those endearing young charms
- By that Lake, whose gloomy shore
- By the Feal’s wave benighted
- By the hope within us springing
- Come o’er the sea, maiden, with me
- Come, rest in this bosom, my own stricken deer
- Come, send round the wine, and leave points of belief
- Dear Harp of my Country! in darkness I found thee
- Drink to her who long
- Down in the valley, come, meet me to-night
- Drink of this cup
- Erin! the tear and the smile in thine eyes
- Fairest! put on a while
- Farewell! but whenever you welcome the hour
- Fill the bumper fair
- Fly not yet, ’tis just the hour
- Forget not the field where they perish’d
- From this hour the pledge is given
- Go where glory waits thee
- Has sorrow thy young days shaded
- Here we dwell in holiest bowers
- How dear to me the hour when daylight dies
- How oft has the banshee cried
- How sweet the answer Echo makes
- I’d mourn the hopes that leave me
- I saw from the beach, when the morning was shining
- I saw thy form in youthful prime
- I’ve a secret to tell thee, but hush! not here
- I wish I was by that dim Lake
- If thou’lt be mine, the treasures of air
- In the morning of life, when its cares are unknown
- In yonder valley there dwelt, alone
- It is not the tear at this moment shed
- Lay his sword by his side, it hath served him too well
- Lesbia hath a beaming eye
- Let Erin remember the days of old
- Like the bright lamp that lay on Kildare’s holy shrine
- My gentle Harp, once more I waken
- Nay, tell me not, dear, that the goblet drowns
- Ne’er ask the hour – what is it to us
- Night closed around the conqueror’s way
- No, not more welcome the fairy numbers
- Of all the fair months, that round the sun
- Oh Arranmore, loved Arranmore
- Oh, banquet not in those shining bowers
- Oh! blame not the bard, if he fly to the bowers
- Oh! breathe not his name – let it sleep in the shade
- Oh, could we do with this world of ours
- Oh! doubt me not – the season
- Oh for the swords of former time!
- Oh! had we some bright little isle of our own
- Oh! haste, and leave this sacred isle
- Oh! the days are gone, when beauty bright
- Oh, the sight entrancing
- Oh! think not my spirits are always as light
- Oh! ’tis sweet to think that, where’er we rove
- Oh! weep for the hour, when to Eveleen’s bower
- Oh, where’s the slave so lowly
- Oh, ye Dead! whom we know by the light you give
- One bumper at parting!
- Quick! we have but a second
- Remember the glories of Brien the brave
- Remember thee! yes, while there’s life in this heart
- Rich and rare were the gems she wore
- Sail on, sail on, thou fearless bark
- Shall the Harp then be silent, when he, who first gave
- She is far from the land where her young hero sleeps
- She sung of love, while o’er her lyre
- Silence is in our festal halls
- Silent, oh Moyle, be the roar of thy water
- Sing – sing – Music was given
- Sing, sweet Harp, oh sing to me
- Strike the gay harp! see the moon is on high
- Sublime was the warning which Liberty spoke
- Sweet Innisfallen, fare thee well
- Take back the virgin page
- The dawning of morn, the daylight’s sinking
- The dream of those days when first I sung thee
- The harp that once through Tara’s halls
- The meeting of the waters
- The minstrel boy to the war is gone
- The time I’ve lost in wooing
- The valley lay smiling before me
- The wine-cup is circling in Almhin’s hall
- The young May moon is beaming, love
- There are sounds of mirth in the night-air ringing
- They came from a land beyond the sea
- They know not my heart, who believe there can be
- They may rail at this life – from the hour I began it
- This life is all chequered with pleasures and woes
- Though dark are our sorrows, to-day we’ll invite thee
- Though humble the banquet to which I invite thee
- Though the last glimpse of Erin with sorrow I see
- Through Erin’s Isle to sport awhile
- Through grief and through danger thy smile hath cheer’d my way
- ‘Tis believed that this harp which I wake now for thee
- ‘Tis gone, and for ever, the light we saw breaking
- ‘Tis the Last Rose of Summer
- To ladies’ eyes around, boy
- To-morrow, comrade, we
- ‘Twas one of those dreams, that by music are brought
- We may roam through this world like a child at a feast
- Weep on, weep on! your hour is passed
- What life like that of the bard can be
- What the bee is to the flowret
- When cold in the earth lies the friend thou hast loved
- When daylight was yet sleeping under the pillow
- When first I met thee warm and young
- When he who adores thee has left but the name
- When in death I shall calmly recline
- When through life unblest we rove
- Whene’er I see those smiling eyes
- While gazing on the moon’s light
- While history’s muse the memorial was keeping
- Wreath the bowl with flowers of soul
- Yes, sad one of Zion! if closely resembling
- You remember Ellen, our hamlet’s pride
Notes:
These are supposed to be traditional Irish melodies to which Moore fit his lyrics. Stanford complains in the preface to his arrangements that Moore and Stevenson corrupted many of the melodies, and that some were “not Irish at all.” (including “Believe me, if all those endearing young charms.”)
Each of the songs in this volume, if appropriate, will be uploaded as song posts are created for them. If you would like me to give priority to a song that is not yet posted, please let me know via the contact page.
