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National Eisteddfod of Wales Discovery:Esyllt Tudur

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

National Eisteddfod of Wales attracts up to 160,000 visitors.

The National Eisteddfod has been attracting foreign visitors annually and numbers increased up to 160,000 attendees. It  costs around £2.8m to stage. It is traditionally held in the first week of August and the competitions are all held in the Welsh language. According to Wiki:

The festival has a heavy druidic flavour, with the crowning and chairing ceremonies for the victorious poets being attended by bards in flowing white costumes, dancing maidens, trumpet fanfares and a symbolic horn of plenty. However, the heritage of this ceremony is of dubious provenance and owes its existence within the Eisteddfod structure to Iolo Morganwg, whose Gorsedd ceremonies were adopted by the Eisteddfod from 1819. Nevertheless, it is taken very seriously, and an award of a crown or a chair for poetry is a great honour. The Chairing and Crowning ceremonies are the highlight of the week, and are presided over by the Archdruid.

Pic courtesy of : thenewportship.com

Pic courtesy of : thenewportship.com

The musical aspect of this event is huge and as a result a lot of musicians flock into the annual gathering . This is like a Loollapalooza of Celtic music. Only that we will be expecting poets and other members of the ‘learned’ crowd to be there.

I have been attracted to the singing of Esyllt Tudur . She been a familiar face and voice in this event. I heard her singing Ar Lan y Mor and it stuck with me. The mystical voice coupled with right instrumental arrangement creates an atmosphere of being transported into the age of Merlin. Her debut CD contains some of the music that Esyllt has enjoyed performing over the years, as well as some classical favourites.
1. Ar Lan y Mor
2. Breuddwydio Wnes
3. Gwydr Glas
4. Dyrchefir Fi (You Raise Me Up)
(Gyda Cor Creuddyn)
5. Gobaith yn y Tir
6  Gwn Dafydd Ifan
7. Suo Gan
8. Myfanwy
9. Adre’n Ol
10. Pererin Wyf Mewn Anial Dir
11. Un Dydd ar y Tro
12. Chwarae’n Troi’n Chwerw

http://www.myspace.com/esyllttudur


New Brenda Wootton Album: All of Me

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 6 Comments

Featuring unreleased tracks from this legendary Cornish singer.


A few months ago I wrote something about Brenda Wootton. Then Gloria from http://www.livingincornwall.com/ told me that they discovered recordings of her just ‘sitting there’ and they decided to remaster it for a release.  I think it’s amazing. I think every one of my readers can relate to this feeling-to uncovered musical treasures lying somewhere. Just imagine the full potential of it. The magic and the fact that it will really sound ‘new’ because no one has heard it before.

The album has finally got its release this November 1. What a good date to release an album from a late singer . And it’s like she’s back to serenade us with her beautiful voice from the other side…just for us – her listeners and those who just stumbled upon her music.

There’s always been something magical about Cornwall. And part of it is due to Brenda Wootton(1928-1994).

Buy the album here:

http://www.brendawootton.com/buynow.html

Life After Catatonia,Cerys Matthews Goes Celtic

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 1 Comment

Ex-Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews performing Welsh traditional ‘ Ar Lan Y Mor’ in front of a small audience in Rhosygilwen, Pembrokeshire.

Catatonia were a highly melodic alternative band in the late 90s which produced a lot of international hits . Years later, they just disappeared. Unlike fellow Welsh singer Donna Lewis who has no plans of giving up the pop sound, the band’s lead vocalist Cerys  Matthews moved over to the left of the field-Celtic music. Matthews was born in Cardiff and brought up in Swansea and Pembrokeshire, and is a fluent Welsh speaker and multi-instrumentalist.

She has always been noted to posses the light almost ethereal voice of true sopranos but I never realized that she is going to let those pipes sing traditional Welsh songs. And this looks like a good start for a musical reformation.

Ar Lan y Môr

Ar lan y môr mae rhosys cochion
Ar lan y môr mae lilis gwynion
Ar lan y môr mae ‘nghariad inne
Yn cysgu’r nos a chodi’r bore.

Ar lan y môr mae carreg wastad
Lle bum yn siarad gair â’m cariad
O amgylch hon fe dyf y lili
Ac ambell sbrigyn o rosmari.

Llawn iawn yw’r môr o swnd a chregyn,
Llawn yw’r wy o wyn a melyn,
Llawn yw’r coed o ddail a blode,
Llawn iawn o gariad ydwyf inne.

Ar lan y môr mae cerrig gleision,
Ar lan y môr mae blodau’r meibion,
Ar lan y môr mae pob rhinweddau,
Ar lan y môr mae nghariad inne.

Translation:

By the seaside there are red roses
By the seaside there are white lilies
By the seaside is my sweetheart
Sleeping at night and rising in the morning.

By the seaside is a level stone
Where I spoke a word with my love
Around it grows the lily
And an occasional sprig of rosemary.

The sea is full of sand and shells
The egg is full of white and yellow
The wood is full of leaves and flowers
And I am full of love

By the seaside are blue stones
By the seaside are the sons’ flowers
By the seaside is every virtue
By the seaside is my sweetheart.

More about the song here.

Performing Ei Di’r Deryn Du on the London Eye. Taken from her album “TIR”

A ei di’r deryn du
To my dearest love?
O cais fy nghangen gu
For I’m so deep in love.

Ni welaf yn un man
Such a damsel in my sight
Â’r ferch mor lân o liw
She is a beauty bright.

Mae’i gwallt yn felyn aur
Just like a ring of gold
A’i phryd fel eira gwyn
The truth it must be told.

“Tir” (Rainbow City Recordings – 2010) is her new album.

Tir
“Tir is fabulous. It’s a considerable and thoughtful collection, but more than that, it’s beautiful. Her voice, both frail and innocent, mature and world-weary – as required by such history-rich songs. She asks us to revisit these songs, to engage in their purpose or meaning in a way I never have…” – Taplas

Barleyjuice:Skulduggery Street Album Track by Track

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 3 Comments

About Barleyjuice:

Barleyjuice is a sextet devoted to traditional music. It was started by Staten Island native, Keith Swanson. Although all sing with various Celtic accents, all six of the band members – Kyf Brewer, Keith Swanson, Billy Dominick, Jimmy Carbomb, Eric Worthington, and Gregor Schroeder – are native Americans (Last FM)


I got in my hands the catchiest Celtic rock album I’ve listened so far. I am glad I have Fior from Daly Communications who is so keen in bringing out the best of Celtic music. I’ve heard of these guys before but I never got my hands on an album until now.    Here are my own  impressions of the songs :

1. Skulduggery Street-More like an anthem but with a top 40 Radio twist .

2. Connemara Ground-Kyf Brewer’s baritone and Irish swagger works here. He sounds more like Christy Moore  but with a sensual twist. I love the fiddle and the fast marching beat.

3. Prettiest Girl At The Fair-Highly melodic plus the blessing of the gruff vocals. This is a nice ballad with a beautiful acoustic guitar. It’s a perfect waltzing song after you had a pint of Guiness.

4. The Postman Always Jigs Twice-The bodhran makes the intro here. This is an instrumental so infections you can’t help but sway your head and stump your feet. Talent flows in every bar of the song.

5. Get Your Irish On-In the tradition of The Waterboys. Definitive Celtic rock in all aspects. Fans of Chris Isaak will have something to enjoy here. The barbershop humor makes the party. My cousin who is a big fan of country music danced to this as well.

6. Molly’s Girls-Kyf Brewer does have versatile vocals.There’s this hot harmonica solo that makes my eyes roll. This is closer to the Beatles(If John, Ringo and the gang went Celtic at that time) than any other band. Really great harmony vocals to.

7. Whiskey Maid-Follows the wonderful harmony vocals of the previous track but this has a more relaxed pace. Reminds you of a yellow sky on a Sunday morning.

8. Jock MacGraw-Chorus and response kind of song with hand claps. This is a song about a Scottish hero.

9. Piss ‘n’ Ginger-“She is a bonny girl”…the song starts and it tells you about this strong character by the name of Ginger.No one messes with Ginger or she will kick your arse.

10. Scottish Green-This reminds me of things that Fairport Convention did in the 70s. The downbeat, dramatic stops and bagpipes keep the guys going.

11. Drunken Sailor-Put your ska boots on and the do the pogo dance . This is a song for the party to get started.

12. Playground Jig-Another beautiful instrumental track.

13. 13. Pour That Whiskey-A  song with a rebel attitude. No compromise!

14. Generations-Beautiful , elegant folk tune. Makes you long for more of this wonderful stuff.

This is a wonderful album that works for all types of crowd. Highly melodic and well-crafted. So guys grab your copies and spread the word.

http://www.myspace.com/barleyjuice

http://www.barleyjuice.com/

Reflection

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 8 Comments

It has been a while since I last wrote an essay here. And I love essays. They compel you to set down and bleed your thoughts either in the computer screen or on a piece of paper. I still belong to the old school who values writing journals on paper but I love what computers can do as well.

Samhain is what is New Year to Celts. Here we put down our thoughts or even share them on  a bonfire.  And with that there’s a lot of music, food and drinks. I don’t really believe in excess. I am a person who should KNOW that since I lived my life in excess before. But now that’s changed. When you reach your thirties, you start to realize that you have responsibilities not only to yourself but to other people as well. You start to really live for others . In this sense you become strong. Because you have to. Other lives depend on you.

So I guess now that Halloween is drawing near, it is time to give thanks to the people around who changed our lives one way or the other. It is the time to show more kindness in a world that threatens our belief in free speech and human equality. May you all be blessed.