Gardens of Love

Listen

Kathleen Blackwell-Plank performs “Drifting Waterferns, Floating Clouds.” The music is coupled with her nature photography.

Contents

Dodi Li (My Beloved is Mine)
Down by the Salley Gardens (Gort na Saileán)
Drifting Waterferns, Floating Clouds (Bèo dạt mây trôi)

Note from the arranger

Love Songs are found in the folk traditions of almost every culture. Evidence of love songs appears in the poetry of ancient Mesopotamia and Greece. Love songs often describe a pastoral setting and explore the feelings associated with love. They can be happy or sad in tone and frequent themes include true love, longing, remembrance, unrequited love, heartbreak, and regret.

“Dodi Li” (My Beloved Is Mine) is a folk song in A minor with four lever changes which are marked. Hebrew lyrics are provided. This hauntingly beautiful song is often played at weddings. “Down By the Salley Gardens” is a charming Irish tune in C major which uses occasional rolled chords and has lyrics in English. “Drifting Waterferns, Floating Clouds” is a Vietnamese love song in D major (2-sharps) which uses special harp techniques such as pres de la table (playing near the sound board) and glissandi to imitate the sounds of Asian instruments. These songs of the heart suggest a pastoral setting and explore feelings of love.