Gabhaim Molta Bríghde Elem/Int score/videos £8
This is a tune I've loved for many years now, and often play it around the end of January and into February. In fact it's very seasonal as it's in praise of St Bridget and her day is on 1 February. But the saint kind of took over from the older Celtic triple goddess of the same name, Brighde or Bride, who would come across the land at this time of year (1-2 February) and visit the houses, bringing spring with her. It's the old quarter day (Imbolc) halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, and it does feel that the year is turning and the days are getting longer again.
I think this is quite a meditative piece, especially the way I play it. It's a simple but beautiful 8 bar melody and lends itself to increasingly complex decorations and chordal patterns. I've arranged it here with a short introduction, then 7 different repeats of the tune, from the very simple to more complex ornamentation and left hand. You can play as many or as few of the different versions as you wish. It's a tune that can grow with you too and you can try out any new techniques or ideas by adding your own versions into the arrangement. It would also be a good one to try and learn by ear with the video before printing out the sheet music!
The 3 videos are :
- teaching the tune by ear, going over the phrases and the first three easier versions (c.10 mins)
- the more complex D E F G and an outro (c.13 mins)
- the intro (c.3min)
Key of Am 6/8 no lever changes
A B C use some grace notes (cuts and turns), single notes, 5ths and rolled chords in the left hand including a downward rolled chord
D E F G also use right hand chords below the melody note, both left and right hand harmonics, chordal runs, left hand thumb high on the strings, split 10ths, blocked chords, inversions and cluster notes
You will receive 3 PDFs, one with the links to access the videos, and the other is the 4 page score, with words and translation.
You can see samples of the score in the image gallery to the left.
