Canasg Choral Music Publishing

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  SG1512 

 
Na'm biodh trì sgillinn agam


(If I had threepence)



traditional Gaelic words and tune 

arranged by Sheena Phillips

for soprano, alto, tenor and bass chorus



SATB  performance time approx  0m 40s (when sung three times)











Arranger's note



This is a lively piece of Gaelic puirt-a-beul ('poorsht-a-beel') or mouth music – the name for songs written to accompany dancing.  It's in the voice of a young man who wants to escape one way or another - either through alcohol or through marriage.  A suggested performance scheme is to sing it three times (piano, mezzo forte, forte).  You could also experiment with bringing in different voices at different times (e.g. sopranos only v.1, sop and alto v.2, tutti v.3).


Traditionally, puirt-a-beul is sung unaccompanied and in unison but the tunes harmonise very well.  Frequently they are sung in sequences of three or four, each song leading without a break into the next. Na'm biodh trì sgillinn agam works well as the second song in the following set of three: Bodachan ar-i-ar-o; Na'm biodh trì sgillinn agam; Hé mandu (all published by Canasg).


A recording by Rudsambee company of singers is available on their album bottled at source  (RUBEECD003).














 Music

See a sample of the music 
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Hear a  MIDI  file of the song 








 Words 



Na'm biodh trì sgillinn agam





(If I had threepence)


Na 'm biodh trì sgillinn agam

Chuirinn anns an òl iad;

Na 'm biodh trì sgillinn agam

Chuirinn anns an òl iad;

Na 'm biodh trì sgillinn agam

Chuirinn anns an òl iad;

'S na 'm biodh bonn-a-sia agam
 
Dh' fhiachainn ri pòsadh.


traditional Gaelic song








Translation


If I had threepence

I'd spend it on drink;

If I had a sixpence

I'd try and get married.


Canasg editors







 Full pronunciation guide provided









Price


The price of this piece depends on the number of singers in your group. This is a single payment for a licence to make as many copies as you need for your group to rehearse and perform the song as often as you wish.  Copies of the song must not be given, lent or sold to any other group.  








Number of singers in your group

up to 12 singers13 to 24 singers25 singers or more

£3 (approx US$5.00)



















£6 (approx US$10)



















£9 (approx US$15)



















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Companion pieces

Browse the Scots and Gaelic section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one.  To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.
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Canasg Choral Music Publishing 	


Canasg Music









16 Morningside Park Edinburgh Scotland EH10 5HB  

475 Walhalla Road Columbus Ohio OH 43202 
 










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Page updated by  Peter Hill January 2006