Richard Willmer - Geay Jeh'n aer - Suite on Manx Folk Songs op 34/1 for Viola and Piano

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Geay Jeh'n aer (Sea Invocation, or, in the original, Wind of the Air)

First movement of the Suite on Manx Folk Songs op 34 for Viola and Piano

For reasons beyong my control, this is not an actual performance, but a computer-generated sound file.

This song bears a remarkable similarity with the anonymous Mediaeval French song En Mai au doux Temps nouveau [my spelling], better known as the melody to which Walther von der Vogelweide's (ca 1170 - ca 1230) Under der Linden was set. The melody rests over a single b minor chord (but consider the melody is Æolian) throughout. I make ample use of rests and I explore the lower register of the piano, to sound like the sea shells of the sea gods, Shonest, Leodest and the Raa, which are here invoked.

Geay jeh’n aer ta my ghraih er y cheayn
Ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro!
Jean yn earish kiune as meein
Ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro!
Shonest, Leodest as y Raa
Cur aigh vie as maynrys da
Slaynt as shee as eash dy vea
Ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro!

Wind of the air, my love’s on the sea
Ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro!
Make the weather calm and fine
Ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro
Shonest. Leodest and the Raa
Give good luck and happiness to him
Health and peace and length of life
Ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro!