Tar a thighearna


Tar a thighearna is a beautiful Gaelic chant by singer and composer Ruth Cunningham. Translated "Come, Lord, come thou Being," the piece is a powerful invocation and useful for centering/gathering, prayers, and times when a gentle, focused energy is needed. 

The text and the melody can be learned through call and echo. Take your time and repeat passages that need extra care, especially those with ornamentation. Invite improvised harmony when the community is ready.

Gaelic:
Tar a thighearna.

Pronunciation: tahr ah hear-nah, tahr-ah-hee

English translation:
Come, Lord, come thou Being.

Ruth has given faith communities permission to sing and share the song without copyright restrictions.

Sheet music can be found in Singing In Community, our latest songbook published by Augsburg Fortress. It also appeared in Music By Heart, MMC's first collection of paperless music. 

Ruth and Ana Hernández recorded the song on Blessed By Light. Here's a link to a recording of Emily Scott teaching the song, then offering suggestions for how to lead it without paper.

Watch Rachel Kroh lead Tar a thighearna at Union Seminary in September 2015:


Showing 2 contributions

  • Rachel Kroh
    responded with submitted 2018-03-07 21:59:35 -0500
  • Rachel Kroh
    responded 2015-04-06 12:54:09 -0400

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