Dúlamán
Dúlamán (Irish for "channelled wrack", a type of edible seaweed), is an Irish folk song.
There are two versions of the melody that come from the Irish folk song tradition. The first of these was first recorded by Clannad on their album Dúlamán. The second melody was first recorded by Altan on their album Island Angel. An original musical setting of the traditional text of this song for choir was also made by Irish composer Michael McGlynn. This song is featured in Endless Ocean: Blue World (Adventures of the Deep in Europe).
The text of the song relates to the Irish practice of gathering seaweed for various purposes, dating from lean times when seaweed was valuable as a defence against famine.[1] It details the discussion between "dúlamán Gaelach" (a collector of seaweed for dyeing clothes) and "dúlamán maorach" (a collector of seaweed to be cooked and eaten). The latter wishes to marry the daughter of the former, and makes various arguments and entreaties for this purpose, finally declaring that he will simply take her away. The traditional refrain of the song is:
- Dúlamán na binne buí, dúlamán Gaelach
- Dúlamán na farraige, b'fhearr a bhí in Éirinn
This translates as:
- Seaweed from the yellow cliff, Irish seaweed
- Seaweed from the ocean, it's the best in all of Ireland
The full song reads:
Dúlaman
[Curfá:]
[Curfá 2x]
[Curfá]
[Curfá]
|
English translation:
[Chorus:]
[Chorus 2x]
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
|
Notable recordings
- 1976 - Clannad - Dúlamán
- 1993 - Altan - Island Angel
- 1995 - Anúna - Omnis
- 1997 - Chanticleer - Wondrous Love
- 1999 - Dónal Lunny - TV Programme on the privatisation of Telecom Éireann".[2]
- 2007 - Celtic Woman - A New Journey
- 2003 - Omnia - 3
- 2009 - Omnia - World of Omnia
- 2012 - Celtic Thunder - Voyage
- 2012 - The Vocal Consort - Incantations
- 2014 - Celtic Woman - Musical Gems
References
- ↑ Doreen McBride, When Hunger Stalked the North (1994).
- ↑ Ian D. Biddle, Vanessa Knights, Music, National Identity and the Politics of Location (2007), p. 35.
External links
Look up dúlamán in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |