In the spotlight this week is the newly-released revised & updated edition of “The Songs of Elizabeth Cronin,” a collection describing the life and repertory of sean-nós singer Elizabeth “Bess” Cronin. Edited by Cronin’s grandson Dáibhí Ó Crónín, it is a fantastic book that celebrates the life and music of one of traditional music’s most interesting singers. It’s a must-have book for the singers and Irish language speakers out there, but it’s a brilliant reference book that those interested in Irish folklore should consider owning as well.
Bess Cronin (1879-1956) was a sean-nós singer who grew up in Ballyvourney, Muskerry, in the West Cork Gaeltacht, in an Irish-speaking family known for their song and poetry. She took repertory not only from her parents, but from people in the community and her home orbit, as well as from her aunt and uncle, whose farm she was sent to to work when she was a teenager. Her repertory was expansive and deep and she possessed an exceptional singing voice that carried great subtlety, nuance and rhythm. Her family’s musical renown –- and then her own –- attracted a rake of song collectors over the years (among them Alan Lomax, Jean Ritchie and Séamus Ennis), who sought songs straight from the well. Her legacy influenced others, including Christy Moore, Martin Carthy, Iarla Ó Lionáird and others.
This is the work’s second edition. The first, which went through two pressings and has become a rare and quite expensive book on the secondary market, was released in 2000. This new issue happened not just because of demand, but to remedy some “well grounded” criticism levied toward the original, the major bit being that what appeared in each written song entry did not always match what was on the CDs, creating the illusion of inaccurate and haphazardly-done transcriptions.
In the new preface, Ó Crónín gives a detailed explanation of how this editorial circumstance came about and goes above and beyond to not only show how this new publication addresses the criticism levied at the first edition, but also how he builds on the original material. In addition to the corrections, the new edition includes additional appendices that provide additional songs as well as a biographical sketch of Dr. Dómhnall Ó Loingsigh, an important figure in the history of Ballyvourney, by song collector Seán Ó Cuill. The result is an expanded and far improved edition that presents a striking picture of Cronin’s life and music.
Bess Cronin.
The book begins in earnest with a biographical sketch of Cronin, which provides background research on song collecting in Ballyvourney and Coolea, beginning at the turn of the 20th century. All this helps contextualize Cronin, her life and her surroundings within a larger trajectory.
The book’s main section contains text and music for 196 songs (mirroring the original edition). These mostly come from in-family sources. Each text is annotated and sourced, many include notated melodies, and some include manuscript reproductions of song lyrics, some representing Cronin’s hand, others her sons Donncha and Sean, or collectors like Seamus Ennis. In addition, there are recently-discovered lyrics for six more songs that are included in the newly-inserted appendix III.
The book comes with two CDs. Of the 130 known recordings of Cronin (all of which are accounted for in an appendix), they include 59 songs or song fragments in Irish and English, some of which would have been local to west Cork, others from elsewhere in Munster and beyond. Song types include sentimental songs, historical songs and comic songs, as well as a range of “women’s songs of the hearth,” including lullabies, dance songs and dandling songs.
These thoroughly intimate recordings reveal Cronin’s deep repertory, but more importantly, they demonstrate the beauty of her singing voice and melodic style. Her phrasing and rhythm are absolutely lovely, the performances uniformly superb.
The source recordings that comprise this collection come from a variety of sources and were beautifully restored and mastered by Harry Bradshaw, whose name readers will remember from last week’s feature on the marvelous “Taisce Luachmhar (Valuable Treasure)” disc. They were edited and produced by the great Nicholas Carolan, long time director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive.
If you’re a singer or an Irish language speaker/enthusiast, “The Songs of Elizabeth Cronin” is an important book to have in your collection. It’s a one stop shop for anyone interested in Cronin’s life and an important resource for understanding song and tradition in west Cork. But singers who draw from more recent collections, like Frank Harte’s “A Living Voice” and Jimmy Crowley’s “Songs of the Beautiful City,” will also appreciate this work for the sheer amount of great material it presents. Great book, highly recommended. To learn more and purchase, visit www.fourcourtspress.ie.
