Be Thou My Vision - Traditional (violin & Harp) Apr 2026

The violin carries the "Slane" melody with a human-like, vocal quality. Its ability to produce both haunting, mournful tones and soaring, triumphant peaks mirrors the hymn's themes of spiritual battle and ultimate victory.

The lyrics are based on an 8th-century Old Irish poem, "Rop tú mo Baile," traditionally attributed to the blind poet St. Dallán Forgaill . The poem is a lorica , a Celtic prayer for protection, reflecting the "High King" imagery of early medieval Ireland. Be Thou My Vision - Traditional (Violin & Harp)

Performing this hymn with violin and harp is more than an aesthetic choice; it is a return to the song's cultural roots: The violin carries the "Slane" melody with a

In 1905, linguist Mary Elizabeth Byrne translated the poem into literal English prose. It was later adapted into the rhythmic verse we recognize today by Eleanor Hull in 1912. Dallán Forgaill