The Sheep Under The Snow (harp and cello duet) w/ Luna Trick

Rebsie

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Description

It's not very often I post instrumentals, but we had a lot of fun with this.

The Sheep Under The Snow is a very old tune from the Isle of Man (off the west coast of England). Its original name in the ancient Manx language is "Ny Kirree Fo Niaghtey" ... don't ask me how to pronounce it. Apparently it commemorates a tragic event on the island, where farming and meteorological phenomena collide ....

Um ... in case you were wondering, yes these are real instruments ... as shown in the pictures.

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Song Stats

Hits: 976
Comments: 72
Fans: 39
Plays: 97
Downloads: 63
Votes: 7
Uploaded: May 29, 2009 - 11:03:32 AM
Last Updated: May 29, 2009 - 11:03:32 AM Last Played: Nov 23, 2009 - 04:15:46 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

harp (71), cello (64), traditional (76), Manx (1)

Hardware:

Rebsie: 30-string English harp
Daniel: 19th century Czech cello

Software:

GarageBand

Comments

T_Being_esq	T_Being_esq said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	I have been to the Isle Of Man But this reminds of a wind swept expanse of sand with the wind tugging at the sedge grass in the dunes. A dark brooding wash of a sky pierced by shafts of sunlight. Fresh after the rains but full of foreboding of the storm still to come. Check out my latest song called I have Been Away (LIOLI, Late Entry)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	You're doing better than me then Martin, I've never been there. Though I have a close friend who is Manx and she assures me it's a beautiful place and I would love it ... Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

caroline	caroline said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	gorgeous ... thank you my lovelies xoxox Check out my latest song called clink that link mjrf

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	You're welcome ... thank you for beating a path through my nettle-infested garden yesterday! Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

PrototypeEightyOne	PrototypeEightyOne said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	yo very good musicianship and emotion. to me it invokes images of a maiden whos lost her love in battle. a tale of sorrow, but also a sense of rebirth and recovery as the song progresses. Check out my latest song called Confusion

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Funnily enough we have just been working on a song about someone who has lost her love in battle, but that one isn't posted yet. Thanks very much for the listen! Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

magnatone	magnatone said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	BEAUTIFUL!! beautiful, beautiful, BEAUTIFUL! Check out my latest song called Symphonic Smackdown

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Very pleased you think so Karen! Thank you for your support, friendship and entertainment. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

drakonis	drakonis said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	delicious... There's something stark and beautifully sad here... oh this is gorgeous, both arrangement and playing, both of you! Love the balance of harp and cello in recording and scoring, and the pizz. cello at the end was great. Perfect song art, so nice to see you both playing. Sigh. ttfn, Drakonis Check out my latest song called Lullaby for the Inner Child

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Wow, I'm delighted to have such warm compliments from you Eduard! I am very much the unpractised amateur when it comes to the harp, but Daniel's cello skills are out of this world and he makes me sound a whole lot better! Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

filmscoremike	filmscoremike said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	Beautiful.. Sounds beautiful. I can tell the instruments are real. Like Prototype said, lots of emotion. Thanks! Check out my latest song called It's Not Too Late

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Playing with emotion is always the most important thing to me. Very much appreciate your comment, thank you. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Rocha Malhada	Rocha Malhada said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	gorgeous love the pauses, adds to the contemplative mood. . - Harold Check out my latest song called Kanun Oud Rock (LIOLI9)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	You are too sweet Harold. Those were my "oh f*** where's the next string?" moments. Astonishing that Daniel managed to keep time with me! Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Peter Bauckham	Peter Bauckham said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	I'm really enjoying this spell of creativity Rebsie and I am glad you posted this instrumental as it's stunning... Peter Check out my latest song called All The Same (CBGB) (Last Chance Challenge)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Thanks Peter! It's wonderful to have the creativity flowing again, and I'm hugely enjoying the diversity of music that's been opened up for me. The creativity is in such a flood we are building a sizeable backlog of stuff to post ... Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Boundless	Boundless said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	How beautiful And she plays the harp too. Well, it fits. And looks lovely. And with Daniel's beautiful cello. . . So peaceful. Thanks Rebsie ! Check out my latest song called Here to Hear - collab

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Many thanks. Harp and cello make a wonderful combination ... I feel very blessed to have this opportunity. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

LunaTrick	LunaTrick said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	What a delight... Two of my favourite instruments in the world... I hope we get to do a series of these... your playing is lovely! Check out my latest song called Luna Gypsy Heart II (Eternal Firelight)

Boundless	Boundless said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	Yes I was thinking just the same, Daniel, when I heard it. "Hey, how about a whole CD of this lovely stuff... Check out my latest song called Here to Hear - collab

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Daniel ... My playing is not in your league, but by the time my humble tracks emerge from the luna lair they are transmuted ... so yes, let's do some more! Thanks so much for this track ... it delights me more than I can say to have done this. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Boundless ... Thank you. We are working towards releasing a CD (a joint Rebsie/Daniel billing) of hybridised classical and traditional music ... so there is a place for this kind of thing. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Feter	Feter said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	The Sheep Under The Snow This is a fine Art ...one of your delicate performance here ..along with Daniel ...it s certainly a heartfelt piece ..sometimes lyrics are too much to ask ..when the instruments themselves sings sweeter than any ...thnx alot for sharin such gem !!!! Check out my latest song called A Night With Feter feat'(Roxylee sloparts crissew johnwhitehead and Yamin AL Yamani )

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Thank you Feter. There is a 'song' version of this with words ... indeed there is an English version and a Manx version ... but I always loved this tune best as an instrumental, and let the wood and strings do the singing. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

slumbering	slumbering said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	So beautiful... If you two should ever suddenly just want to cover my Song for my Mama-la, please, please, please have at it... please? (Yes, it's selfish of me, but a girl can dream.) You guys sound wonderful together! Check out my latest song called Over the Sea

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Thank you Miriena, we thoroughly enjoy playing together. Ah yes, your instrumental piece for harp and cello! It's a divinely beautiful melody ... and I can't see any reason why we shouldn't have a try at that one. Though I will have to practise my twiddly bits. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

LunaTrick	LunaTrick said 178 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	I'm game... ...if Rebsie is... would be an honour! Check out my latest song called Luna Gypsy Heart II (Eternal Firelight)

jiguma	jiguma said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	Alain Stivell sounds again - with cello. Rebsie and Daniel - this is a lovely interlude in the excellent vocal tracks you've been poting lately. Not bad harp for a punk bass player Rebsie :) Cheers from Oz, Neil Check out my latest song called Lost In Translation (w Mike Watkins)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Yup, I'm multi-dimensional! And Daniel is in a league of his own... It's immensely fun and liberating to be able to leap from genre to genre, it's given me a new lease of life. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

egobandit	egobandit said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	Tops Nothing more to say! Check out my latest song called when its love

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	That's good enough for me! Thank you very much. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

paul f. page

paul f. page said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)

This is...
...a very peaceful song and I enjoyed it especially because it is played on acoustic instruments. The counterpoint between the two is lovely and sounds like you were playing in the same space (but you were not...that is the magic you two are so capably giving to your collabs). Two small thoughts to consider: 1) the number is very short. I like it very much, but wished there was a bit more of it. 2) intonation/tuning is pretty critical when the instruments are so exposed. There are a couple of cadences where things don't sound right up to pitch. (Hey. Everything else is perfect, so I hope you don't mind my ears!)
Peace.
Paul

Check out my latest song called Double Etude

Rebsie

Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)

We always appreciate your support Paul, and your thoughtful and detailed comments. You're right, the harp was not perfectly in tune ... I am daunted by the task of tuning 30 strings and as the tension on the soundboard increases with each string so the first ones start to go slightly out again ... but I think both Daniel and I are the kind of musicians who just want to pour heart and soul into a piece and hope that that makes up for the small imperfections. We are having a great time working together, even if getting together in the same room is not very practical ... glad you enjoy what we're doing.

Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Calchas	Calchas said 181 days ago (May 29th, 2009)
	So freakin' beautiful... That harp just about made me weep Rebs. Lovely cello counterpoint (if that's the right word) Daniel. Wonderful duet! Be well friends! Check out my latest song called It's Not The Same

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Thank you Micheal. The harp and the cello are both very emotional instruments ... so you get a double whammy when they're in combination! Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

I.G.M.	I.G.M. said 181 days ago (May 30th, 2009)
	Very nice tune, wonderfully played. Thx for that! I ask myself if the sound is exactly the sound you wanted to create. For my ears there has to be a more powerful cello sound, more warmth to it. The specific fullness is not hearable. It`s a pity `cause this tune is so nice... Ingo Check out my latest song called I`m Gone

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Thanks Ingo. I think the exact sound may depend on different systems ... to my ears the cello is as rich and warm as I could ever wish for. Glad you like the tune! Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

I.G.M.	I.G.M. said 177 days ago (June 3rd, 2009)
	I see, may I ask what kind of system you use? Thx Check out my latest song called I`m Gone

Char	Char said 181 days ago (May 30th, 2009)
	Rebsie, Daniel.. this is Most favorite piece of music in the world. I have an old CD with a female harpist and her husband. I recognized it right away. You two made my day. My heart leapt and my soul expanded. Lovely. Thank you more than I can say. You both sound wonderful. Thank you. By the way my CD is called Tidal Wheel. Check out my latest song called Break Away (Mark Holbrook & Awigze)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Very pleased it touched you so deeply Char. This tune is very popular with harp players ... in fact it was the very first tune I learned to play on the harp. But in combination with the magical sound of the cello, and Daniel's immense talent, it takes on a whole new life. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 180 days ago (May 30th, 2009)
	on a roll Rebsie you have been on a highly creative roll the past few months. I think Daniel may have spurred you on. And I think that's great. classy! Check out my latest song called November

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	On a roll ... you ain't kidding! Daniel has tipped my musical world upside-down and given it a good shaking ... and I've never felt so invigorated. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

LunaTrick	LunaTrick said 178 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Thanks Vic... It works the other way too... I have been inspired and spurred in new ways... more to come my friend! Check out my latest song called Luna Gypsy Heart II (Eternal Firelight)

btransue	btransue said 180 days ago (May 30th, 2009)
	I don't know... it just doesn't get much nicer than this. Sweet. Check out my latest song called srepsihwavonknomelcitrap

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Thank you Blaine ... a pleasure to have you come along to listen. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Ed Hannifin

Ed Hannifin said 180 days ago (May 30th, 2009)

Well, that's about as good...
...as that can get...

Great tone and phrasing throughout... Really flawless.... Both instruments sound like what they are, and the timbre of their strings seem like they've come through the recording process unharmed... The tune is pretty structured, as things Celtic can tend to be, and the two of you have done a nice job taking that structure and bringing emotion and musicality to it. It's simple and on the money and it doesn't sound like a rote or mechanical performance. Very human, very sweet.

Ed

Check out my latest song called Next Time Around (w/jiguma)

Rebsie

Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)

Really glad you enjoyed it Ed, and that you think it's survived the recording process. The harp is a total nightmare to mic up, which is one reason I don't record with it very often. We are both very emotional players by nature, and in a world where so much music is polished and over-produced, we like to just immerse ourselves in the instruments and let them express themselves.

Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Dj French Toast	Dj French Toast said 180 days ago (May 31st, 2009)
	I dont know this is really awful and has no musical quality .....HA please only kidding of course :) This is really really beautiful and I LOVE the harp SOOO much ! If you havent checked out an Artest named Joanna Newsome you should I think youd love her ....Nice job Kids :) Check out my latest song called Its The French Toast(Colab W/WillBill808)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Thank you Benny! Yes I do know Joanna Newsom, and she plays a lot better than I do. But her harp is also about twice the size of mine... at least I can just about lift mine up without giving myself a hernia. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Doug Somers	Doug Somers said 179 days ago (May 31st, 2009)
	You bring out the underlying sadness and almost loneliness here really nicely. This is a treat to hear guys. Such expert playing with a most expressive touch. It's a gift for all of us that you continue to collaborate so well. Cheers, Doug Check out my latest song called Desiree (MJ Space Race 2009)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 179 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	Thank you Doug, always a pleasure to hear from you. We have really hit it off as collab partners in a big way ... and are still constantly surprising ourselves with the diversity and inspiration which results from it. I hope you'll continue to enjoy what we do. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Andy-bm	Andy-bm said 178 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	This is Spectacular! Wonderful arrangement, and beautifully recorded! //Andy

Rebsie	Rebsie said 178 days ago (June 2nd, 2009)
	Thank you Andy. It's the first time we've tried a track like this, but it certainly won't be the last. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

lengold	lengold said 178 days ago (June 1st, 2009)
	So good to hear something so real. Cheers Len Check out my latest song called Dodgy Doughnut

Rebsie	Rebsie said 178 days ago (June 2nd, 2009)
	Yup ... can't beat a bit of authentic string-squeak. Thanks Len! Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

five_extra_arms

five_extra_arms said 178 days ago (June 1st, 2009)

The Sheep
Rebsie, I just mentioned your name and then I saw you appear in the "Who's Online" section! Crazy!!

Awesome work. I hope you two give us some more of this.

I am very inspired by the playing and of course the idea of a collision of farming and meteorological phenomena....

And a little trivia for you - "Ny Kirree Fo Niaghtey" actually translates to "The Time The Robots Came Back To Reclaim The Land That We Called 'The Isle Of Man' - We Hid Like The Sheep Under The Snow And They Never Found Us"

Don't believe me? Look it up on Dorseypedia - a source of all kinds of stuff like that!

Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

Rebsie	Rebsie said 178 days ago (June 2nd, 2009)
	Ah, that explains everything. Thank you. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

bud	bud said 178 days ago (June 2nd, 2009)
	Absolutely gorgeous a wonderful idea to put your special talents together on this one. Just listened over my morning tea with my wife and we both smiled with contentment. Tanks for the gentle wake up. Check out my latest song called try not to think

Rebsie	Rebsie said 178 days ago (June 2nd, 2009)
	You're welcome Kevin. Very glad you both enjoyed it. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

MarkHolbrook

MarkHolbrook said 178 days ago (June 2nd, 2009)

Gaaak
Another one I missed... Dang it... I'm really sorry you guys!

Daniel I love the cello... The sound is so rich and of course you play it like a true master! Wonderful!

Rebsie I just kept waiting for your vocals chime in... Not that they are needed but this had a middle ages ballad feel almost to it.

Beautiful work you too!

Check out my latest song called Never Say Goodbye - Bond Challenge

Rebsie	Rebsie said 175 days ago (June 4th, 2009)
	Thank you Mark! Don't worry about missing stuff ... we appreciate the comments whenever we get them. This one just told us it wanted to be an instrumental, so we went along with that ... gave the cello a chance to show off her beautiful voice instead. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

mikkinylund	mikkinylund said 178 days ago (June 2nd, 2009)
	Excellent! What great performance from the both of you in this delicate piece of music... Love it! Check out my latest song called Fairyland (Satumaa)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 175 days ago (June 4th, 2009)
	Thank you Mikki ... it's great to see you around on MacJams again! Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Epileptic Gibbon	Epileptic Gibbon said 177 days ago (June 2nd, 2009)
	I'm not feeling sheepish You can get into trouble doing that, or so I've been told. Yet more lovely work from the two of you. Check out my latest song called Fiddler Off the Roof w/Komrade K & Caroline

Rebsie	Rebsie said 175 days ago (June 4th, 2009)
	Thanks for your perennial support Eppy! We both appreciate it greatly. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

composerclark

composerclark said 177 days ago (June 3rd, 2009)

Sweet
Very sweet and pretty... and moving! It would be wonderful to hear a several of these arrangements (different folk melodies), as a kind of suite. The pizz. in the last version of the song was a very nice touch. Daniel seems to be very sensitive to balance, and the result is a really great musical partnership.

My only suggestions are (1) that the harp not always play the tune... it is essentially a theme and variations, with all the variations being provided by the cello, but it might be nice to try some verses with the harp playing simple accompaniment figures while the cello plays its variation on the melody; and

(2) That the silence between later verses be reduced somewhat... this because the silence made me think it was over several times when it wasn't!

Really beautiful music here, and thanks to you both for doing this!

Check out my latest song called Scarlet Nightfall

Rebsie

Rebsie said 175 days ago (June 4th, 2009)

Thank you Clark for a very kind and thoughtful comment. We initially did this for fun but it worked out well and would be nice to do a sequence of them. I think you're right in the suggestions you make. I confess I was a little unadventurous with the harp and stuck with what I was familiar with. While Daniel is an honours cellist trained at the Royal Academy, I've never had a harp lesson in my life and don't practise very often either! The fact that we were able to perform together on this as more or less equal partners is testament to the inspiration and encouragement he gives me ... but I need to build up my confidence a little more. He's doing an incredible job of giving me that confidence, so it can only get better! Thanks again, we appreciate your ear.

Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

WG said 176 days ago (June 3rd, 2009)

Hauntingly Beautiful
As always Rebsie you bring beauty into the world with your playing. I haven't been on Macjams in a while to post anything of my own but always remember your kind words from my first post and see how many you post and pop on from time to time to listen to them and always enjoy. This time I wanted to take the time to actually let you know I loved it. Will have to go back and listen to some of your past work again and leave comments this time :D

The accompaniment by Daniel was fantastic as well and the over all feel is kind of like I said up top. Hauntingly Beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Will have to post more work myself and get back to creating music. You inspire me to keep on trucking :D

Check out my latest song called Clouds Go By

Rebsie	Rebsie said 175 days ago (June 4th, 2009)
	Wow, it has been a long time, welcome back! Inspiration is a wonderful thing to spread around ... so keep pursuing your music. I've come a very long way since I started posting here all those years ago, and I'm very pleased you're enjoying the work I do with Daniel. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

jazzman1	jazzman1 said 174 days ago (June 5th, 2009)
	What a very pleasant surprise This song is so beautiful and breathtaking.Thank you for sharing it. Namaste' Dale Check out my latest song called Watching You Sleep

kassia	kassia said 172 days ago (June 7th, 2009)
	lovely just lovely. Check out my latest song called Deep Majesty

awigze	awigze said 171 days ago (June 8th, 2009)
	I need to get out more This is special... my mother used to play harp in her college days... I am close to tears in the memory. Thank you both! Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

Artist Info

Name: Rebsie Fairholm

NEW ALBUM "SEVEN STAR GREEN" NOW AVAILABLE! I'm a singer and musician (12-string guitar, celtic harp, etc) rooted in British traditional music and veering off into the psychedelic, dark, experimental and unusual. I'm very blessed to have... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

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