Ash Grove

This is an online fiddle lesson for the Welsh song "The Ash Grove."

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Genre: Holiday, Celtic
Skill Level: Beginner
Keys of D, C and G

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Video #1: Here is a video of me playing the Welsh song "The Ash Grove."

"The Ash Grove" is a traditional Welsh folk song whose melody has been set to numerous sets of lyrics. The best-known version was written in English by Thomas Oliphant in the 19th century.

The first published version of the tune was in 1802 in "The Bardic Museum". The book was written by Edward Jones, a harpist. About 4 years later a version with words appeared, under the name "Llwyn Onn". It tells of a sailor's love for "Gwen of Llwyn." At the end of the song, Gwen dies, and in one version of the piece, the writer talks about him mourning and that she is lying " 'neath the shades of the lonely ash grove."

The tune of "The Ash Grove" is used for the hymn "Let All Things Now Living" in 1939 by composer Katherine K. Davis. This hymnal version resulted in it being included on a number of Christmas albums up through the 1950s; like Jan August's 1955 album "Christmas Favorites" (Mercury Records #MG 20160). It was in use as a hymn long before the 20th century under the title "The Master Hath Come" by Sarah Doudney (1871) and has been updated since in a retelling of the nativity by Robert Cullinan as "On This Night, Most Holy" (1996). Another hymn set to the tune of "The Ash Grove" is "Sent Forth by God's Blessing."

source: wikipedia

The Ash Grove (Chords and Lyrics)
by Thomas Oliphant

     D                          Em         A
Down yonder green valley, where streamlets meander,
     D           G        D     A   D
When twilight is fading I pensively rove
   D                         Em       A
Or at the bright noontide in solitude wander,
 D            G             D      A   D
Amid the dark shades of the lonely ash grove;
       D                              Em         A
‘T was there, while the blackbird was cheerfully singing,
  G              Bm            A      E  A
I first met that dear one, the joy of my heart!
 D                         Em             A
Around us for gladness the bluebells were ringing,
    D           G             D       A      D
Ah! then little thought I how soon we should part.

Still glows the bright sunshine o'er valley and mountain,
Still warbles the blackbird its note from the tree;
Still trembles the moonbeam on streamlet and fountain,
But what are the beauties of nature to me?
With sorrow, deep sorrow, my bosom is laden,
All day I go mourning in search of my love;
Ye echoes, oh, tell me, where is the sweet maiden?
"She sleeps, 'neath the green turf down by the ash grove."

Let All Things Now Living (Chords and Lyrics)
by Katherine Davis

Let all things now living 
a song of thanksgiving 
to God the Creator triumphantly raise, 
who fashioned and made us, 
protected and stayed us, 
who guides us and leads to the end of our days. 
His banners are o’er us, 
his light goes before us, 
a pillar of fire shining forth in the night, 
till shadows have vanished 
and darkness is banished, 
as forward we travel from light into light.

His law he enforces; 
the stars in their courses 
and sun in its orbit obediently shine; 
the hills and the mountains, 
the rivers and fountains, 
the deeps of the ocean proclaim him divine. 
We too should be voicing 
our love and rejoicing; 
with glad adoration a song let us raise, 
till all things now living 
unite in thanksgiving: 
to God in the highest, hosanna and praise!