Twenty three pieces arranged for solo cello by Ilse de Ziah. From the stark, intensely sad keening music and the entrancing, meditative Aisling, to the joy of Queen of the May, the music ranges from deeply introspective to sublimely uplifting. There are devotional songs, hymns, keening songs, an Aisling, and music used in religious services, representing music from the distant past to the near present. Beautifully arranged and helpful for working on technique including double stops, harmonics, exploring varied feels, and the interpretation of Irish slow airs. These pieces can be performed in sacred or secular settings, solo cello concerts, wedding ceremonies, funerals and other services. A must have for the performing cellist, an excellent collection to have in your repertoire. Being the first published sheet music collection of Irish sacred music for solo cello, it breaks new ground for the development of the Irish cello tradition. Original, beautiful and satisfying to play.Eleven of the solo cello pieces can be heard on "Transcendence" , the 2020 album release from Ilse de ZiahIntermediate to AdvancedMusic Included:A Athair Dhílis an AonMhic - Dear Father of the Only SonBe Thou My VisionBí a Íosa im’ Chroíse - Christ be in My Heart Mo Ghrá Thú - Liam LawtonO God Thou Art the Father Prayer - Ilse de ZiahSeacht Suáilcí na Maighdine Muire - The Seven Rejoices of MarySt Columba A Íosa Glan mo Chroíse - Jesus Clean my Heart Don Oíche Úd i mBeithil - That Night in Bethlehem Love Came Down at ChristmasHail Glorious Saint Patrick Queen of the May (Bring Flowers of the Rarest)Caoineadh an Spailpín - The Spalpeen’s Lament Caoineadh do Leanbh Marbh - Caoine for a Dead Child Caoineadh na dTrí Muire - Lament of the Three MarysÚir Chill a’ Chreagáin - Fair Churchyard of CregganAn Phaidir - Ár nAthair from Ceol an Aifrinn - Séan Ó RiadaÁr nAthair - Our Father - Carl HardebeckÁr nAthair - Our Father from Aifreann Cholmcille - Tomás Ó CanainnCeol don Ofráil - from Aifreann Cholmcille - Tomás Ó Canainn ‘Sé an Tiarna m’Aoire - Psalm 23Tabhair dom do Lámh - Give me your HandThe keening practice in Ireland is called Caoineadh, which means literally ‘to cry, to weep’. The earliest record is from the 8th century. Keening is a ritualised lamentation for the dead which took place at home around the coffin or in a communal setting. Led by a bean chaointe (keening woman), who was often paid for the service, it could go on for days and would build in intensity. Improvised verses were sung based on a formulaic opening line, followed by short rhymed lines. The keen would include a litany of who the person was, with both positive and negative themes expressed. Groups of women would join and support the bean chaointe, singing choruses, rocking, kneeling and clapping. They would cry their hearts out in a huge cathartic release of grieving. The tone could be hard and intense, with tremendous power. When you heard them keening it was said the hair would rise on the back of your neck. There are no recordings of keening during a ceremony, and the nature of the music meant it was not documented. The few recordings that exist are only examples of what would be sung. Keening was banned by the Catholic church from 1670 for being a pagan remnant. The church dictated that women could not be a conduit between earth and the afterlife, as this was the priest’s job. There are stories of priests whipping women away from the graves as they wailed.