Folklore: Frank Harte: 'Living Ghost' reference

Subject: Folklore: Frank Harte: 'Living Ghost' reference
From: corvi
Date: 27 Feb 03 - 10:14 PM

I heard Frank Harte give a talk once, and he had a beautiful quote from some Irish poet (it may have been Patrick Kavanaugh, but I'm not sure) about a traditional song being a "living ghost waiting for a living voice" - can anyone help me pin down this reference?
Thanks

Subject: RE: Folklore: Frank Harte: 'Living Ghost' reference
From: Declan
Date: 28 Feb 03 - 12:24 PM

I don't know the exact reference, but it sounds like the type of thing Seamus Heaney might say and there are a lot of references to traditional music (and singing in particular) in his poetry.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Frank Harte: 'Living Ghost' reference
From: corvi
Date: 28 Feb 03 - 01:58 PM

I don't think so - if it was Seamus Heaney I think I wuld have remembered - I am resonably familiar with him. For some reason Patrick Kavanaugh sticks in my memory - but I can't find any of his poetry on the web - probably I'll have to go to the Library (sigh)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Frank Harte: 'Living Ghost' reference
From: GUEST,Angun
Date: 01 Mar 03 - 07:23 AM

"All songs are living ghosts that long for a living voice".
Think I read somewhere that this quote was from the poet Brendan Kennelly?

Angun

Subject: RE: Folklore: Frank Harte: 'Living Ghost' reference
From: belfast
Date: 01 Mar 03 - 07:52 AM

I've been sitting here trying to remember this one. I suspect that Angun has it right. It was definitely from someone later than Kavanagh.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Frank Harte: 'Living Ghost' reference
From: corvi
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 09:31 PM

So am I right in thinking that this is a quote and not a piece of a poem?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Frank Harte: 'Living Ghost' reference
From: Art Thieme
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 12:10 AM

I know this is not what you are looking for, but in the Autumn 1976 issue of Come For To Sing magazine out of Chicago I addressed this topic/idea in my regular column called Links On The Chain. Among the thoughts encased therein were these few.

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When a person devotes his or her time to delving into that mountain of music and tales known as traditional folklore, they had better be prepared to deal with ghosts...

Ray Bradbury's novel, FARENHEIT 451, depicts a world where books are systematically burned by the government. A few determined people take it upon themselves to memorize books. That is how they preserved the world's literature...

The folk music world is a place where legendary informants seem to drop away at an alarming rate. So, yes, in a manner of speaking, I live with ghosts. And if you ask politely, I'll even sing you their
songs.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Folklore: Frank Harte: 'Living Ghost' reference
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 26 Jun 07 - 10:51 AM

Living Ghosts By Brendan Kenneally

Richard Broderick celebrates
This winter's first and only fall of snow
With a midnight rendering
Of the Bonny Bunch of Roses O

And Paddy Dineen is rising
With On Top of the Old Stone Wall.
His closed eyes respect the song.
His mind's a festival.

And now Romona lights the lips
Of swaying Davy Shea.
In a world of possibilities
This is the only way.

His face a summer morning
When the sun decides to smile
Tom Keane touches enchantment
With Charming Carrig Isle.

I've seen men in their innocence
Untroubled by right and wrong.
I close my eyes and see them
Becoming song.

All the songs are living ghosts
and long for a living voice
O may another fall of snow
Bid Broderick rejoice!