New pop airs to James Joyce poems

DUBLIN - March 2, 2020 - PRLog -- On Thursday 12 March 2020, Krunchie Killeen releases his recording of the James Joyce song "Bid Adieu to Girlish Days." The tune and arrangement are by Krunchie, who also sings the song.

It will be available on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Amazon, and several other streaming services.

This follows the release earlier this year (on 8 February) by Krunchie of an album of eight James Joyce songs, drawn from "Chamber Music" a collection of poems published in 1907, and "Pomes Penny each" published in 1927.

James Joyce wrote the poem "Bid Adieu to Girlish Days" in 1904, following his successful wooing of his sweetheart, Nora Barnacle, who became his life-long partner and eventually his wife.

James Joyce also wrote a tune for the poem himself; in fact it was his only musical composition (except for "The Ballad of Perce O'Reilly").  Krunchie's tune is very different. While Joyce's tune was classical in style, Krunchie's is more like a folk song or pop song.

A selection of photos of Krunchie can be viewed and downloaded from:

https://p-ocillin.tkhcloudstorage.com/item/c3e7ed8999a2452a8cce961491f421cf

Krunchie uses "Glossneen" as his record label. The range of recordings so far issued under the "Glosneen" label can be found here: https://Glossneen.blogspot.com/

Joyce's air can be heard in tenor Kevin McDermott rendering on YouTube: www.youtu.be/CPjgE29xi1k

Krunchie's version can be previewed on You Tube at: www.youtu.be/E8CjGKA_vzI

The poem begins:

Bid adieu, adieu, adieu;
Bid adieu to girlish days.
Happy love is come to woo
Thee, and woo thy girlish ways,

Krunchie Killeen is a retired Civil Servant who lives in Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland. He first put an air to a Joyce song over 50 years ago, but only now has he recorded them, having recently learned how to use the software to create the score and make and distribute digital recordings.

Some years ago, he put on a straw boater hat, Joyce-style glasses and dickey bow for a celebration of Bloomsday. People said he looked very like James Joyce, so he repeats the impersonation every year, and does readings from Joyce's works.

Krunchie's biography can be viewed on: www.KrunchieKilleen.Blogspot.com/ and www.krunchiekilleen.blogspot.com/p/life-story-part-2.html

Further information: Krunchie Killeen, +353 87 908 5149; krunchiekilleen@gmail.com