SongNotes
by Jamie O’Reilly
Queen of the Four Fires, Feast of St. Brigid
Songs & Poems
This is the program and songs links for the Roots Salon we presented on Feb 5, 2023.
The range of musical material is quite broad in style and tone — classical to chamber music — folksongs, musical theater and WWII melodies. Belinda, Judi and I are all history buffs, with a love of language, story, and humor. The Humanities prevail in all my themed Roots Salon events: music, literature, art, history, philosophy. There are also personal stories I share of the wild ride I took as an entertainer and community activist. Our Salons are intimate gatherings created to bring people together, to have a good “think” and a good time! As for me, I truly did take the road less traveled – and it DID make all the difference.
ROOTS SALON ST. BRIGID’ S DAY PROGRAM & SONG LINKS
Jamie O’Reilly, Vocals, Reader
Judi Cogan Heikes, Host, Reader
Belinda Bremner, Reader
John Erickson, Piano
Introductory remarks by Judi Heikes (Bridget Cross and other traditions)
Song: Queen of the Four Fires
Music and lyrics by Michael P. Smith
Jamie sings on Swimming Deeper CD
https://www.jamieoreilly.com/recordings/jamie-oreilly-queen-of-the-four-fires-single/
Song: Young Lad of the Braided Hair
Poem Ancient Irish;. Music by Michael P. Smith
Jamie sings on I Know Where I’m Going CD
https://www.jamieoreilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/08-Track-81.m4a
Full CD https://www.jamieoreilly.com/recordings/i-know-where-im-going/
Poem: Girl’s Song by William Butler Yeats
Song: Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow
Traditional Irish, English lyrics by Thomas Moore (1779–1852)
Arrangement by Clifford Page, from the singing of Dorothy O’Reilly
Jamie sings on I Know Where I’m Going CD
Full CD https://www.jamieoreilly.com/recordings/i-know-where-im-going/
Poem: A Present of Butter
Version by Earl of Longford, from Tadhy Dall O huiginn, 1591
Song: Mother’s Lament
from The Petrie Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland, 1855
Unrecorded
Belinda remarks on the Keening tradition
Song: Women Shawled in Black
Lyrics Patricia Monaghan; Music by Michael P. Smith
Jamie sings on Songs of the Kerry Madwoman CD
https://www.jamieoreilly.com/recordings/songs-of-a-kerry-madwoman/
Keening
Music by Michael P. Smith; Unrecorded
Red is the Rose
Traditional Irish
Jamie sings on Souvenir CD, single
https://www.jamieoreilly.com/recordings/souvenir-the-jamie-oreilly-trio/track/red-is-the-rose/
Reading, personal essay: Purgatory, by Jamie O’Reilly
Song: Sr. Clarissa
Music and Lyrics by Michael P. Smith
Michael and Jamie sing on Songs of a Catholic Childhood CD
https://www.jamieoreilly.com/recordings/songs-of-a-catholic-childhood/
Poem Mozart on Parnell Square by Patricia Monaghan
Songs: After the Rain
By Jack Popplewell and Bert Reisfeld, Our arrangement is by Lily Floeter
White Cliffs of Dover
Music by Walter Kent, Lyrics by Nat Burton
Unrecorded (as yet) by Jamie
Poem: When All the Others Were Away at Mass, by Seamus Heaney
Poem: Harp, by Judi Heikes
Poem: Brigid, by Patricia Monaghan
Song: I Fell Out of Love with Sin
Lyrics by Jamie O’Reilly; Music by Michael P. Smith and Jamie O’Reilly
Jamie sings on Songs of a Catholic Childhood CD
https://www.jamieoreilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Unknown-album-5-17-2014-7-11-39-AM-11-Track-11.mp3
Full CD https://www.jamieoreilly.com/recordings/songs-of-a-catholic-childhood/
Poem: Heavenly Banquet, by St. Brigid of Kildare
Song: Jug of Punch
Traditional Irish; Unrecorded
Poem: Curse, by James Stephens
Poem: Sailor, by Judi Heikes
Poem: When You are Old and Grey, by W.B. Yeats
Underscored with the song Farewell but Whenever
Traditional melody. Lyrics by Thomas Moore
Poem: Beannacht, by John O’Donohue
Song: Parting Glass
Traditional Irish, unrecorded
