Slane – Irish Traditional (pub. 1909)

Slane, Anonymous Irish Tune (pub. 1909)
Arranged for two bass viols by Daniel Rippe

Named for Ireland’s legendary Hill of Slane in County Meath, the tune called “Slane” was first collected and published as the secular ballad “With My Love on the Road” in Patrick W. Joyce’s Old Irish Folk Music and Songs (1909). The melody is also known as a Northern Irish folk song “The Banks of the Bann” and has been used for several Christian hymns, the best known of which is “Be Thou My Vision.” Other hymns to this tune include “Lord of All Hopefulness” and “Lord of Creation.”

According to legend, St. Patrick lit an Easter Pascal fire in defiance of orders from the pagan king Loegaire in the fifth century. Ultimately, this led to the establishment of Christianity in Ireland.

My arrangement for two bass viols was inspired by a performance of “Be Thou My Vision” by Seli and Ari (of the group Elenyi) who, along with their father Matthias Miller, created their arrangement.

Photos of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in historic Lewes, Delaware are by Joseph DiSalvo. Other images include Slane Hill, the nearby Newgrange passage tomb (stone age), and our earth from space.

© 2021 RipMeister Publications