The Parting Glass
An Irish Song
The Parting Glass is a tender song, an Irish song that speaks of memory, of friends, and of sorrow at going away.
It is also beautiful
You and your students will enjoy playing and singing it.
Scroll down the page for the links to the free printable PDF files in several keys for Parting Glass.
You can get buy the recording here at Amazon of the Wailin' Jennys performing this song.
The difficulty of multiple versions with folk tunes
Because the versions of this Irish song vary so greatly, it was hard for me to make sense of it at first, and to really pin down the heart of the melody.
After multiple listenings to a number of different performers, I settled on this short version of The Wailin' Jennys as the standard that I would use for my lead sheets.
Have a listen to other recordings of The Parting Glass and see what you think.
NEWS FLASH!!! Get the Wailin' Jennys' arrangement!
The Wailin' Jennys have made a sheet music arrangement of their excellent trio available, for sale, on this page:
http://www.thewailinjennys.com/store/sheet-music/parting-glass-sheet-music/
This is an a capella arrangement. I have used it in several recitals so far - students and audiences LOVE IT.
Sinead O'Connor's rendition is also short:
Here is a very interesting arrangement by The Gentlemen of the College of William and Mary. It is long and complicated, with changes to the tune:
I read, but do not know for a certainty, that the arrangement used by The Gentlemen of the College is the same one that can be found in the Celtic Woman songbook "Believe."
The song "The Parting Glass" is certainly in that book, but I haven't had the opportunity to see the arrangement.
Here are the links to the lead sheets:
Download The Parting Glass in the key of Bm
Download free Irish sheet music in the key of Cm
Download Irish traditional song in Dm
Download free vocal sheet music in Em
More Folk Songs to Sing:
Ae Fond Kiss - a love song about saying goodbye, from Scotland
All the Pretty Little Horses - a soft and repetitious lullaby, quite pretty
Ash Grove - a famous and lovely song from Wales
Auld Lang Syne - the New Year's Eve song!
Colorado Trail Song - an American tune written by a real cowboy
Come By the Hills - another popular Irish melody
Down By the Salley Gardens - a famous and pretty song, very sweet
Green Bushes - a brisk little song that is pretty while being good for breath control training
Grenadier and the Lady - my favorite folk song of all. Find out why
I Gave My Love a Cherry - the "Riddle Song" is very pretty
Loch Lomond - the famous and sad song about never meeting again
Mari's Wedding - a singable tune with bouncy chords that is fun to play or sing
Minstrel Boy - a lovely and patriotic song about a warrior-poet
Molly Bawn - a sad story of a young hunter who thought he was shooting at a swan
Morning Has Broken - a beautiful melody made famous again by Cat Stevens
Once I Had a Sweetheart - "but now I have none!" Very pretty, and little-known.
Parting Glass - a well-known Irish tune which my singers always love
Raggle-Taggle Gypsies - a story about a young bride who abandons her wealthy new husband to go off with the gypsies. A catchy melody!
Scarborough Fair - an old and famous tune of lost love
Shenandoah - a famous and lovely American tune with ambiguous lyrics
Skye Boat Song - a pretty song from Scotland about the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie over the sea
Spanish Ladies - a minor key sea chanty that swings energetically along - BOYS like singing it too!
The Spanish Lady - Upbeat and energetic, this Irish song is fun to perform with a group
Star of the County Down - LOTS of fun to sing and play! An excellent ensemble piece
The Wellerman - a sea chanty that is very singable, and very fun!
Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!
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About the Author
Hi, I'm Dana! (Say that like "Anna".) I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.
Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.
You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.
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