I don't know a thing about it, but I'm jealous...it is lovely!!!! Maybe Linda C will come along and tell us about it!

Posted by shrimper22 (My Page) on Wed, Jul 19, 06 at 22:18

This picture frame and picture belonged to my grandfather and I was wondering if anyone would know anything about it. Inscribed on the top are the words, "Melodie IrLandaise". Musical notes and bars surround the whole frame itself which are also inscribed. The notes on the top of the picture frame have the numbers "123432" and there are some numbers on the side too. The picture is the one that came with the frame and it is a lady playing the harp. Thank you for any help you could give me concerning this piece. Susan in PA

So, have you played any of the notes. Do they belong to a song?

Thank you, petemich1, for cutting and pasting the above info. No, I haven't played the notes but my mother has. I think the name of the song is, "Melodie IrLandaise" but I don't remember all that she told me about the song, itself. Aside from that, I was just intersted in knowing something about the frame itself. We're not interested in selling it but just knowing any history that surrounds this very unique picture frame and picture. Thank you, Susan in PA

I haven't located any info on the frame....

Mélodie Irlandaise
(Imitée de Thomas Moore)

Le soleil du matin commençait sa carrière,
Je vis près du rivage une barque légère
Se bercer mollement sur les flots argentés.
Je revins quand la nuit descendait sur la rive :
La nacelle était là , mais l'onde fugitive
Ne baignait plus ses flancs dans le sable arrêtés.

Et voilà notre sort ! au matin de la vie
Par des rêves d'espoir notre âme poursuivie
Se balance un moment sur les flots du bonheur ;
Mais, sitôt que le soir étend son voile sombre,
L'onde qui nous portait se retire, et dans l'ombre
Bientôt nous restons seuls en proie à la douleur.

Au déclin de nos jours on dit que notre tête
Doit trouver le repos sous un ciel sans tempête ;
Mais qu'importe à mes voeux le calme de la nuit !
Rendez-moi le matin, la fraîcheur et les charmes ;
Car je préfère encor ses brouillards et ses larmes
Aux plus douces lueurs du soleil qui s'enfuit.

Oh ! qui n'a désiré voir tout à coup renaître
Cet instant dont le charme éveilla dans son être
Et des sens inconnus et de nouveaux transports !
Où son âme, semblable à l'écorce embaumée,
Qui disperse en brûlant sa vapeur parfumée,
Dans les feux de l'amour exhala ses trésors !

and translated:

Irish melody
(Imitated of Thomas Moore)

The sun of the morning began its career,
I live close to the shore a light boat
To rock mollement on the silver plated floods.
I returned when the night went down on bank:
The nacelle was there, but the fugitive wave
Did not bathe any more its sides in sand stopped.

And here is our fate! in the morning of the life
By dreams of hope our continued heart
Balances itself one moment on the floods of happiness;
But, as soon as that the evening extends its dark veil,
The wave which carried us withdraws, and in the shade
Soon we remain alone in prey with the pain.

To the decline nowadays one says that our head
Must find the rest under a sky without storm;
But what imports with my wishes calms it night!
Return to me the morning, freshness and the charms;
Because I prefer encor his fogs and his tears
With the softest gleams of the sun which flees.

Oh! who did not wish to suddenly see reappearing
This moment whose charm woke up in its being
And of the unknown directions and new transport!
Where its heart, similar to the embaumée bark,
Who disperses by burning his scented vapor,
In fires of the love exhaled its treasures!

REPOSITORY
Library of Congress. Music Division.
MEDIUM
1 score

CALL NUMBER
M1.A12I vol. 32 Case Class original bound volumes

PART OF
American 19th-century sheet music. Copyright deposits, 1820-1860

Jaybird, thank you for interpreting the lyrics. I will cut, paste, and print that out to place on the back of the picture. Susan in PA

And Linda C doesn't know a thing about the picture nor the frame! LOL!
Is the picture a cromo-litho? Or another kind of print? Or an original of some sort?

Susan in PA

You are welcome re the cut and paste. I didn't want your original message to get too far separated from the photo. And, over time, these posts do that.

Michele in CA

That tune is possibly by William WALLACE (1812-1865)
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Sept02/Wallace_Celtic.htm

Thomas Moore ... FAMOUS Irish poet of the late 1700s and early 1800s. Moore was a well-known singer, and his publisher suggested a book of Irish songs to the music of Sir John Stevenson. The "Irish Ballads" were a resounding success, and paid well for the next 25 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Moore

His works at Project Gutenberg
http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/m#a2185

And he had a biting wit ...

When I lov'd you, I can't but allow
I had many an exquisite minute;
But the scorn that I feel for you now
Hath even more luxury in it!
Thus whether we're on or we're off,
Some witchery seems to await you;
To love you is pleasant enough,
And oh! 'tis delicious to hate you!

Thank you, lazygardens for the info you sent. Linda, the picture looks like a very OLD photograph of a lady playing a harp. I was just curious as to the frame. It's so unique and was purchased around 1920 by my grandfather but I don't know anything else about it. Thank you all who have responded to my post. Susan in PA