Book of Song

Book of Song



The Book of Song
is a collection of lyrics, chord progressions, music notation, tablature, and other reference documents for use by the bards of the Clann in performance at events.

The Book of Song includes many Irish, Welsh, and Scottish folk tunes and sea shanties most of which were written in the 18th and 19th centuries, although there are some older tunes. Bards of the Clann compose pieces and contribute them to the Book as well. Recently many jigs and reels and other traditional Irish tunes have been added.

The music of our chosen period of interest is not historically documented and so there is no expectation of actually performing period music at events. However, there is archaeological evidence for some of the instruments used at the time which provides a range of tones that might be used when composing pieces and there are some few mentions of music and musicians in ancient Ireland by contemporary historians which can inform the interested.

Our Methods
  • Songs are only added if there is a serious intention for an eventual performance of the piece for the Clann as gathered at an official event or meeting.
  • Guitar chords are interspersed at appropriate places in line with the lyrics since most modern musicians are familiar with that much more modern instrument. If you are not a musician, it falls to the Bards of the Clann to help provide this information in subsequent revisions of the lyrics as published.
History of the Book of Song

The original Book of Song was compiled by Máinlia and when Comyn became the bard, he was given a copy of what had become by then a tome of Clann favorites to use as a reference.

The Book of Song got larger over time. New songs were added as the various Bards of the Clann discovered new tunes over time.Sometime in the late '90s, a copy of the Book of Song found its way online for easier reference and collaboration, though not on the original AOL site maintained by Aonghus because Comyn was ever tweaking it and adding new songs, and so needed direct access to the site for maintenance. Even when Comyn took a leave of absence from the Clann he continued to maintain the Book of Song on his personal web space. Here's a screenshot of the online book from the year 2000. "Best viewing at 800x600"!

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The Book of Song was added in its entirety to tdbcelts.org when the new domain launched in 2007. Comyn compiled and typeset the first professionally printed volume of the Book of Song in 2009. A second volume (another set of tunes) is now in a second edition for 2015. Logged in members may download the digital versions or feel free to purchase a printed copy at BookofSong.com.

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