Annotation:Lark in the Clear Air (1)

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LARK IN THE CLEAR AIR [1]. Irish, Air (irregular time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. English words by this title were written by poet Samuel Ferguson to a tune taken from the Petrie collection, "An tailiur." The song was popularized by the tenor John Cormack. John Loesberg (1979) remarks that the tune was featured for many years as an introduction to Cairan Mac Mathuna's radio program Mo Cheol Thu.

Dear thoughts are in my mind and my soul soars enchanted,
As I hear the sweet lark sing in the clear air of the day;
For a tender beaming smile, to my hope has been granted,
And tomorrow she shall hear, all my fond heart would say. ... (Samuel Ferguson, 1810-1886, Dublin)

Source for notated version: Northumbrian bagpiper Billy Pigg (1902-1968) [Miller & Perron].

Printed sources: Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977; vol. 3, No. 71. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; p. 142.

Recorded sources: Leader LEA 4006, Billy Pigg - "The Border Minstrel" (1972).

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