Lockdown Irish Music Module: Tune no 5 The Star of the County Down

The Star of the County Down is a very popular tune to a well known song. I would start by listening to some vocal versions. Van Morrison recorded it with the Chieftains (listen on the link here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSvVVzH3O5E). and the High Kings have  also recorded it.  It is always good to know a verse or two to help catch the feel of a song. Also  I suggest you listen to an instrumental version on solo cello by well known British cellist Julian Lloyd Weber. I like the way the cellist repeats the last phrase at three different pitches at the finish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmylIY_d-8I

In the song version, only the second part is repeated.  My source for the version here is 'Tús Maith', a collection of folk tunes for beginners by Ciaran Deloughrey.

Part 2 coming up in the next video

Note Don't Forget you can adjust the setting of youtube videos to slow it down to half or even a quarter speed if you want a slower speed to play along with.

The Star of the County Down.

Near Banbridge town, in the County Down

One evening last July
Down a bóithrín green came a sweet cailín
And she smiled as she passed me by.
She looked so neat in her two bare feet
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair
Such a coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself
To make sure I was standing there.

From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay
From Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the fair cailín
That I met in the County Down.