Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Mermaid of Galloway by Allan Cunningham


Mermaid and Other Water Spirit Tales From Around the World The Mermaid Of Galloway

Mermaid and Other Water Spirit Tales From Around the World (still discounted to $31.57) has the full ballad of The Mermaid of Galloway by Allan Cunningham that I mentioned in my earlier Mermaid Music and $2 Off Today Only when I recommended Emily Smith's vesion, The Mermaid Of Galloway. So I thought I would share it here today. Please note that Smith's is modernized somewhat, but that is often a boon to modern listeners.


The Mermaid of Galloway
by Allan Cunningham


THERE’S a maid has sat on the green merse side
These ten lang years and mair;
An’ every first night o’ the new moon
She kames her yellow hair.

An’ ay while she sheds the yellow burning gowd,
Fu’ sweet she sings an’ hie,
Till the fairest bird that wooes the green wood,
Is charm’d wi’ her melodie.

But wha e’er listens to that sweet sang,
Or gangs the dame to see,
Ne’er hears the sang o’ the laverock again,
Nor wakens an earthly ee.

It fell in about the sweet simmer month,
I’ the first come o’ the moon,
That she sat o’ the tap of a sea-weed rock,
A-kaming her silk-locks down.

Her kame was o’ the whitely pearl,
Her hand like new-won milk;
Her breasts were all o’ the snawy curd,
In a net o’ sea-green silk.

She kamed her locks owre her white shoulders,
A fleece baith bonny and lang;
An’ ilka ringlet she shed frae her brows,
She raised a lightsome sang.

I’ the very first lilt o’ that sweet sang,
The birds forsook their young;
An’ they flew i’ the gate o’ the grey howlet,
To listen the sweet maid’s song.

I’ the second lilt o’ that sweet sang,
Of sweetness it wes sae fu’;
The tod leap’d out frae the frighted lambs,
And dighted his red-wat mou’.

I’ the very third lilt o’ that sweet sang,
Red lowed the new-woke moon;
The stars drapped blude on the yellow gowan tap,
Sax miles that maiden roun’.

‘I hae dwalt on the Nith,’ quo’ the young Cowehill,
‘These twenty years an’ three,
But the sweetest sang e’er brake frae a lip,
Comes thro’ the green wood to me.

‘O is it a voice frae twa earthly lips,
Whilk makes sic melodie?
It wad wile the lark frae the morning lift,
And weel may it wile me.’

‘I dreamed a dreary thing, master,
Whilk I am rad ye rede;
I dreamed ye kissed a pair o’ sweet lips,
That drapped o’ red heart’s-blede.’

‘Come, haud my steed, ye little foot-page,
Shod wi’ the red gold roun’;
Till I kiss the lips whilk sing sae sweet,’
An’ lightlie lap he down.

‘Kiss nae the singer’s lips, master,
Kiss nae the singer’s chin;
Touch nae her hand,’ quo’ the little foot-page,
‘If skaithless hame ye ’d win.

‘O wha will sit on yere toom saddle,
O wha will bruik yere gluve;
An’ wha will fauld yere erled bride,
I’ the kindly clasps o’ luve?’

He took aff his hat, a’ gold i’ the rim,
Knot wi’ a siller ban’;
He seemed a’ in lowe wi’ his gold raiment,
As thro’ the green wood he ran.

‘The simmer-dew fa’s saft, fair maid,
Aneath the siller moon;
But eerie is thy seat i’ the rock,
Washed wi’ the white sea faem.

‘Come, wash me wi’ thy lilie white hand,
Below and aboon the knee;
An’ I’ll kame thae links o’ yellow burning gold,
Aboon thy bonnie blue ee.

‘How rosie are thy parting lips,
How lilie-white thy skin,
An’ weel I wat thae kissing een
Wad tempt a saint to sin.’

‘Tak aff thae bars an’ bobs o’ gold,
Wi’ thy gared doublet fine;
An’ thraw me aff thy green mantle,
Leafed wi’ the siller twine.

‘An’ all in courtesie, fair knight,
A maiden’s love to win;
The gold lacing o’ thy green weeds
Wad harm her lilie skin.’

Syne coost he aff his green mantle,
Hemm’d wi’ the red gold roun’;
His costly doublet coost he aff
Wi’ red gold flow’red down.

‘Now ye maun kame my yellow hair,
Down wi’ my pearlie kame;
Then rowe me in thy green mantle,
An’ take me maiden hame.

‘But first come take me ’neath the chin,
An’ syne come kiss my cheek;
An’ spread my hanks o’ wat’ry hair,
I’ the new-moon beam to dreep.’

Sae first he kissed her dimpled chin,
Syne kissed her rosie cheek;
And lang he wooed her willin’ lips,
Like heather-hinnie sweet!

‘O! if ye’ ll come to the bonnie Cowehill,
’Mang primrose banks to woo,
I’ll wash thee ilk day i’ the new-milked milk,
An’ bind wi’ gold yere brow.

‘An’ a’ for a drink o’ the clear water
Ye ’se hae the rosie wine,
An’ a’ for the water white lilie,
Ye ’se hae these arms o’ mine.’

‘But what ’ll she say, yere bonnie young bride
Busked wi’ the siller fine,
Whan the rich kisses ye kept for her lips,
Are left wi’ vows on mine?’

He took his lips frae her red-rose mou’,
His arms frae her waist sae sma’;
‘Sweet maiden, I’m in bridal speed,
It’s time I were awa’.

‘O gie me a token o’ luve, sweet May,
A leal luve-token true;’
She crapped a lock o’ yellow golden hair,
An’ knotted it roun’ his brow.

‘O tie nae it sae strait, sweet May,
But with luve’s rose-knot kind;
My head is full of burning pain,
O saft ye maun it bind.’

His skin turned all o’ the red-rose hue,
Wi’ draps o’ bludie sweat;
An’ he laid his head ’mang the water lilies:
‘Sweet maiden, I maun sleep.’

She tyed ae link of her wet yellow hair,
Aboon his buruing bree;
Amang his curling haffet locks
She knotted knurles three.

She weaved owre his brow the white lilie,
Wi’ witch-knots mae than nine;
‘Gif ye were seven times bridegroom owre,
This night ye shall be mine.’

O twice he turned his sinking head,
An’ twice he lifted his ee;
O twice he sought to loose the links
Were knotted owre his bree.

‘Arise, sweet knight, yere young bride waits,
An’ doubts her ale will sour;
An’ wistly looks at the lilie-white sheets,
Down spread in ladie bower.

‘An’ she has preened the broidered silk,
About her white hause-bane;
Her princely petticoat is on,
Wi’ gold can stan’ its lane.’

He faintlie, slowlie, turn’d his cheek,
And faintly lift his ee,
And he strave to loose the witching bands
Aboon his burning bree.

Then took she up his green mantle
Of lowing gold the hem;
Then took she up his silken cap,
Rich wi’ a siller stem;
An’ she threw them wi’ her lilie hand
Amang the white sea faem.

She took the bride ring frae his finger
An’ threw it in the sea;
‘That hand shall mense nae ither ring
But wi’ the will o’ me.’

She faulded him i’ her lilie arms,
An’ took her pearlie kame;
His fleecy locks trailed owre the sand
As she sought the white sea-faem.

First rose the star out owre the hill,
An’ neist the lovely moon;
While the beauteous bride o’ Galloway
Looked for her blythe bridegroom.

Lightlie she sang while the new moon rose,
Blythe as a young bride May,
Whan the New Moon lights her lamp o’ luve,
An’ blinks the bride away.

‘Nithsdale, thou art a gay garden,
Wi’ monie a winsome flower;
But the princeliest rose o’ that garden
Maun blossom in my bower.

‘O gentle be the wind on thy leaf,
And gentle the gloaming dew;
And bonnie and balmy be thy bud,
Of a pure and steadfast hue;
And she who sings this sang in thy praise,
Shall love thee leal and true.’

An’ ay she sewed her silken snood,
An’ sung a bridal sang;
But oft the tears drapt frae her ee,
Afore the grey morn cam’.

The sun leamed ruddie ’mang the dew,
Sae thick on bank and tree;
The plough-boy whistled at his darg,
The milk-may answered hie;
But the lovely bride o’ Galloway
Sat wi’ a tear-wet ee.

Ilk breath o’ wind ’mang the forest leaves—
She heard the bridegroom’s tongue,
And she heard the bridal-coming lilt
In every bird which sung.

She sat high on the tap tower stane,
Nae waiting May was there;
She loosed the gold busk frae her breast,
The kame frae ’mang her hair;
She wiped the tear-blobs frae her ee,
An’ looked lang and sair.

First sang to her the blythe wee bird,
Frae aff the hawthorn green:
‘Loose out the love curls frae yere hair,
Ye plaited sae weel yestreen.’

An’ the spreckled lark frae ’mang the clouds
Of heaven came singing down:
‘Take out the bride-knots frae yere hair
An’ let these lang locks down.’

‘Come, bide wi’ me, ye pair o’ sweet birds,
Come down and bide wi’ me;
Ye sall peckle o’ the bread an’ drink o’ the wine,
And gold yere cage sall be.’

She laid the bride-cake ’neath her head,
An’ syne below her feet;
An’ laid her down ’tween the lilie-white sheets,
An’ soundlie did she sleep!

It seemed i’ the mid-hour o’ the night,
Her siller-bell did ring;
An’ soun’t as if nae earthlie hand
Had pou’d the silken string.

There was a cheek touch’d that ladie’s,
Cauld as the marble stane;
An’ a hand cauld as the drifting snaw
Was laid on her breast-bane.

‘O cauld is thy hand, my dear Willie,
O cauld, cauld is thy cheek;
An’ wring these locks o’ yellow hair,
Frae which the cauld draps dreep.’

‘O seek anither bridegroom, Marie,
On these bosom-faulds to sleep;
My bride is the yellow water lilie,
Its leaves my bridal sheet!’

Originally published in 1810.

Source:
Cunningham, Allan. Poems and Songs. London: John Murray, 1847.

The Mermaid and Great Big Sea



The Hard and the Easy

With my earlier post on Mermaid Music and $2 Off Today Only, I feel prompted to write more about The Hard and the Easy by Great Big Sea one of my favorites of their albums and that it was released long after I had become a fan. I love when that happens.

The Hard and the Easy features twelve traditional Newfoundland tracks since the band hails from there. Well, The Mermaid track isn't so traditional. It is actually based on a poem by Shel Silverstein (yes, that Shel Silverstein) for Playboy Magazine back in 1966. The song is more like a somewhat naughty bar song and that is why Great Big Sea covered it since they enjoy those and this qualifies as one of the most suggestive they've recorded. And, no, it wouldn't qualify as very naughty despite its publishing history.

You can read the lyrics here. Here's a video of a live concert performance:



That said, I enjoy this song but it isn't even one of my favorites on the album. There's not a song on it that I don't like, actually. My favorites are Captain Kidd and The River Driver and Come And I Will Sing You (The Twelve Apostles) and Concerning Charlie Horse and Tickle Cove Pond. But you can get two songs free with the code today or get $2 off the entire collection. If you like upbeat folkmusic with a slight modern twist, this may charm you.

Mermaid Music and $2 Off Today Only


 Too Long Away Mermaids & Mariners
Captain Jack and the Mermaid The Hard and the Easy

Through tonight--so act now--Amazon has $2.00 off an MP3 music purchase with the code CLOUDMP3. You can read the details of how to redeem it here. You don't have to spend more than $2.00 so you are essentially getting that much music free.

One of my picks is Emily Smith's full CD or two songs from it, May Colven and The Mermaid Of Galloway, since they go with our most recent hot topics on the blog. May Colven is a ballad of the Child variety, connected with Bluebeard. The Mermaid of Galloway is a ballad by Allan Cunningham that Emily Smith has modernized a bit. Both are excellent.

 The Mermaid Of Galloway

May Colven

Or there is Captain Jack and the Mermaid by Meg Davis.

Captain Jack and the Mermaid


And one of my personal favorites because I am quite simply a huge Great Big Sea fan.

The Mermaid


And the code will work on anything, of course, but I wanted to make recommendations pertinent to this site, but you can get anything from Lady Gaga to Buddy Holly or a salute to him. All up to you.

A Summer of Fantasy, Folklore & Fairy Tales at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House


If you are in Michigan anytime before September, you can visit the Fairy Tale Art exhibit I wrote about in January after seeing it Mobile, Alabama this past December. I spent a week or so sharing the art, too. The best part for me in the six months since have been the times my family has mentioned the imagery from the exhibit. My mother was talking about Kinuko Craft just last week.
The exhibit is currently at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House and is getting a lot of supporting programming at the museum, including a festival, workshops and music.

From the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan:

A Summer of Fantasy, Folklore & Fairy Tales

This summer, Edsel & Eleanor Ford House and MetroParent Magazine will celebrate the magical, multi-cultural world of fairy tales with Fairy Tale Art, an exhibit featuring 59 original illustrations from well-loved classic fairy tales as well as modern variations on traditional tales. The exhibit will run July 16-September 18.

On July 23, the Ford House grounds will transform into an enchanted Fairy Tale Festival as visitors young and old escape for a day of imagination and wonder. The magic of fairy tales will be brought to life through music, performance, theatre, activities, storytelling and more.

Building on the Michigan Library summer reading theme of “One World, Many Stories,” story tellers from around Michigan will share tales from different cultures as well as the favorite story of Rapunzel presented in a variety of ways from around the world. Story circles will provide a quiet place under a tree for little princes and princess to relax and enjoy some of their favorite tales being told.

Multiple stages will feature a variety of performances, such as Magical Tunes & Marvelous Tales by the Michigan Philharmonic and fractured fairy tales - a parody of traditional fairy tales rearranged with new meaning – will be enacted by Grosse Pointe Theatre. Magic Carpet Ride Theatre will take literature and engage the audience in an interactive dramatic production. Plus puppets, music, crafts and more.

But proving fairy tales aren't just for children, writing and illustration workshops for teens and adults will also be held in the summer.

Some of the other programming:

Fairy Tales For Adults

Not Just for Bedtime Anymore: Fairy Tales for the Wide Awake
August 2 / 7 p.m.
Cost: $10.00 / Click here to purchase tickets.
Wayne State University professor Dr. Donald Haase, a noted expert on the fairy tale, will consider fairy tales from an adult perspective. His talk, "Not Just for Bedtime Anymore: Fairy Tales for the Wide Awake," will explore the use and abuse of fairy tales and our continuing fascination with them in print, film, and other expressive forms.

Once Upon a Time: Writers' Discussion
August 9 / 7 p.m.
Cost: $10.00 / Click here to purchase tickets
Noted local author and National Book Award winner, Gloria Whelan will speak to aspiring authors and writers about the creative writing process. During this lively discussion, she'll share insights into her new Young Adult novel, "Small Acts of Amazing Courage" set in the India of the 1920s. Click here to purchase tickets

Capturing the Story through Art: Illustration Workshop
August 16 / 7 p.m.
Cost: $15.00 / Click here to purchase tickets.
Guests will become familiar with foundational illustration methods as well as the technical uses of various mediums, while offering insight on the process of illustrating children's books.

More Fun For Families

Twilight Fairy Desserts
August 9 / 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $15.00 per person / Click here to purchase tickets.
Enjoy an enchanted evening that begins with delightful desserts in the Costwold Cafe. Afterwards, you'll be greeted at the Play House by a fanciful fairy who will read a favorite tale. All children will receive a book to take home, courtesy of Friends of the Grosse Pointe Library. Recommended for ages 2-8.

Twilight Fairy Desserts
August 11 / 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $15.00 per person / Click here to purchase tickets.
Enjoy an enchanted evening that begins with delightful desserts in the Costwold Cafe. Afterwards, you'll be greeted at the Play House by a fanciful fairy who will read a favorite tale. All children will receive a book to take home, courtesy of Friends of the Grosse Pointe Library. Recommended for ages 2-8.

Fairy House Workshop
August 6 / 10 a.m.
Cost: $12.00 per child / Click here to purchase tickets.
Capture the magic of childhood during this wonder-filled workshop. Children and their adult companion will use natural materials to create their own interpretation of a fairy house. Completed houses will be placed in the Ford House grounds to attract any resident fairies. They will also hear a story and make a fairy terrarium to take home. Recommended for ages 5-8.

And the festival itself:

Escape for a day of imagination and wonder as the magic of fairy tales are brought to life through music, theatre, activities, storytelling and more on the enchanting Ford House grounds.

Main Stage Performances
The main stage brings fairy tales, stories and music from around the world.

Michigan Philharmonic performs Magical Tunes and Marvelous Tales
Presented by Sensors, Inc.
A delightful mix of traditional and new classics, including music from Beauty and the Beast and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Magic Carpet Ride Theatre
A theatrical experience in reading that brings the audience into the story!

Greg Lester's "Puppet Adventures"
Exquisite puppets bring the story of Jack and the Beanstalk to life as Jack finds himself on a journey through the clouds.

Marimbamania!- Music from Around the World
Get moving to the sounds of Marimbamania! with music from around the world.

Storytellers
Building on the One World Many Stories theme of the Michigan Library Association's summer reading program, well-loved storytellers will share tales from around the globe.

Loretta Vitek will tell the story of Rapunzel in a variety of ways as it has been told in different cultures.

Rosie Chapman will share unforgettable African folklore and tales and fables from around the world.

Mary Luevanos

Activities
Be part of the fantasy and escape into the magical world with hands-on activities, character visits and more.

Radio Disney's Imagination Station
Join Radio Disney for a "fantastical" make-and-take craft, temporary tattoos and a coloring station. Plus, enter to win the ultimate Disney Fairy Tale gift basket.

Alice's Wonderland
Pretend you're Alice as you play croquet with the Queen of Hearts and her Chessmen or try your hand at a life-size chess game in the garden. Then visit the Mad Hatter for some tasty treats.

Cinderella's Carriage
The stately footman will help all princes and princesses climb inside this enchanting carriage to wave to the subjects below.

Living Fairy Tale Animals
Visit the three little pigs outside their houses of straw, sticks and bricks. Or pet one of Mary's fluffy little lambs.

Mural of Stories
Leave your artistic mark by coloring a piece of a huge mural, featuring elements of children's books and fairy tales.

Character Encounters
Whether it's a swashbuckling pirate, little red riding hood or a fairy princess, characters from favorite fairy tales will be strolling throughout the festival eager to meet festival goers.

Story Circle
Gather round and relax on a blanket under a shady tree as local elementary school teachers, principals and librarians read their favorite fairy tale.

Musicians and More
Entertainment will be found throughout the enchanting grounds of Ford House including Fractured Fairy Tales performed by Grosse Pointe Theatre and Classic Children's Music performed by Russ Glenn.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Once Upon a Tile by InterfaceFLOR, Part 2

To go along with the previous post, I wanted to share the videos for the Once Upon a Tile by InterfaceFLOR advertising campaign. This company certainly put forth the time and money to create a complex and visually interesting campaign.

Beauty & The Beast - Scribble



Rapunzel - Concrete Mix



Sleeping Beauty - Vintage & Ornate



Goldilocks - Vintage



Red Riding Hood - Consolidation



Cinderella - Luxury Living



Hansel & Gretel - Cellular

Once Upon a Tile by InterfaceFLOR, Part 1

Well, we've not had an advertising themed post in a little while. These are so much fun and some of my favorite posts. And this is new, fairy tales to sell flooring for InterfaceFLOR. What I like is the unexpected usage of Hansel and Gretel but the omission of Snow White who is often popular for hocking stuff, usually right up there with Cindy and Sleeping Beauty.

To create the campaign, InterfaceFLOR teamed up with Checkland Kindleysides, one of the largest design consultancies, top fashion photographer Michael Woolley, along with globally renowned hair and make-up artist Mary-Jane Frost and theatrical costume designer and stylist Ameena Kara Callender.

There are also videos which I am considering putting in another post. But for now, here's the stills.



Cinderella

Goldilocks

Hansel and Gretel


Sleeping Beauty


Little Red Riding Hood


Beauty and the Beast


Rapunzel

Brave Film Trailer

This is old news for this week now that the trailer has been seen by thousands who went to see Cars 2 this past weekend. But since Brave, formerly known as The Bear and the Bow, is touted as being based upon Scottish folklore, it is of interest here. (And I do prefer this title although I am exhausted by one word titles although I understand how well they fit in those TV guide grids and how easy they are to tweet.) I haven't read much more than that and knowing Hollywood, the source stories will probably be almost unrecognizable anyway. I'm just happy we are getting a female protagonist. Although in the descriptions, all of her supporting characters during her quest are male. Hmmmm....

Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane).

But what do you think about it?

The Mermaid (Windlass Song) by Robert Buchanan


Mermaid by Severino Baraldi (Available at Art.com)

This was one of my favorite finds while researching for Mermaid and Other Water Spirit Tales From Around the World. If you read it, you'll probably figure out why!

The Mermaid (Windlass Song)
by Robert Buchanan

I.

I’LL tell you, mates, how she came to sea!
(Heave at the windlass! heave ho! cheerily)
She loved me, and I loved she,
For she was the gel for a Sailor!
She hailed from Wapping, her name was Sue,
And she was the daughter of a tailor,
We parted at last, but without ado
She bought both jacket and breeches blue,
And aboard she came for to join our crew
And live the life of a Sailor!

CHORUS.

Heave at the windlass! yeo heave ho!
Up with the anchor! away we go!
The wind’s off the shore, boys,—let it blow,—
Hurrah for the life of a Sailor!
YEO—HO!

II.

Our Captain he eyed her from stem to starn
(Heave at the windlass! heave ho! cheerily)
But nought of her secret could he discarn,
For his savage jib couldn’t quail her.
But when she went for’ard among the res
Her heart began for to fail her,
So she took me aside and the truth confess’d,
With her face a-blushing on this ’ere breast,
And I stared and stared, and says I, “I’m blest!
My Sue turn’d into a Sailor!”

III.

Now we hadn’t got far away from land
(Heave at the windlass, heave ho! cheerily)
When a Mermaid rose with a glass in her hand,
And our ship hove to for to hail her.
Says she, “Each wessel that looks on me,
Man-o’-war, merchantman, or whaler,
Must sink right down to the bottom of the sea,
Where the dog-fish flies and the sea-snakes flee,
Unless a Wirgin on board there be
To plead for the life of a Sailor!”

IV.

Then up jumped Sue with the breeches on!
(Heave at the windlass, heave ho! cheerily)
“You nasty hussy!” says she, “begone!”
And the Mermaid’s cheeks grew paler!
“There’s a gel aboard and her name is Sue!
A Wirgin, the daughter of a tailor,
Who’s more than a match for the likes of you!”
At this the Mermaid looked werry blue,
And then, with a splash of her tail, withdrew,
While Sue she embraced her Sailor!

Source:
Buchanan, Robert. The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan, Volume II. London: Chatto & Windus, 1901.

Also appears in:
Mermaid and Other Water Spirit Tales From Around the World

Mermaid and Other Water Spirit Tales From Around the World