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A St​ó​r Mo Chroí

from Irish Airs for Solo Cello by Ilse de Ziah

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about

Irish melodies have been subjected to many mutations and the following air is an example of one of the many variants of Bruach na Carraige Báine. The melody is thought to be of northern origin from the County of Armagh.
A Stór Mo Chroí (Treasure of My Heart) first appeared in June 1929 in a collection of poetry Songs of Glen na Mona by Briain Ó hUigínn (Brian O’Higgins, 1882-1949). He suggested the words be sung to the air Bruach na Carraige Báine. Brian was a one-time president of Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein and a political prisoner on several occasions. In the early 1900s he was moved to write the song for Tommy Sand’s uncle who was a missionary priest. He had been imprisoned in China. After his release, the uncle returned to Ireland. At night, the uncle would wake up screaming.
"My uncle lived with us when he was old," Sands said. "He would tell us those stories. He was always worried about going to sleep. But when he heard music, he knew he was at home. It's a sad but beautiful song."

lyrics

A Stór Mo Chroí, when you're far away
From the home that you’ll soon be leaving,
It's many a time by night and by day
When your heart will be sorely grieving.
For the stranger's land may be bright and fair,
Rich in its treasures golden.
You'll pine, I know, for days long, long ago
and the one that is never olden.
A Stór Mo Chroí, in the stranger's land
there is plenty of wealth and wailing.
Where gems adorn the great and the grand
there are faces with hunger paling.
When the road is tiresome, and hard to tread
and the lights of their cities blind you.
Oh you’ll turn a stór to Erin's shore
and the one that you leave behind you.
A Stór Mo Chroí, when the evening mist
Over mountain and sea is falling
Oh turn a stór and then you list
and maybe you'll hear me calling.
For the sound of a voice you will surely miss
Somebody speedily returning.
A ruin, a ruin won’t you come back soon
to the one who will always love you.

credits

from Irish Airs for Solo Cello, released September 9, 2010
composed, arranged and performed by Ilse de Ziah

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Ilse de Ziah Ireland

Irish-Australian cellist and composer Ilse de Ziah has a deep passion for composing, arranging and performing music for the cello. Using traditional Irish melodies as source material, she creates contemporary arrangements perfectly suited for the cello. With the marriage of classical detail and folkloric tradition, this makes for a transcendent musical experience. ... more

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