The Passing of Pete Seeger and Podcast #22

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My late mom used to sing me a song called Where Have All the Flowers Gone. It’s such a sweet poignant song that reminds me of dusk and summer, of petals getting blown to nowhere. It was not decades later when I learned it’s written by the late Pete Seeger who passed away today. I heard a lot of his songs (without knowing him) because I was raised by people who grew up after the Second World War. So my upbringing was a combination of the old ways and the love for exploring new things. Judy Collins was also a popular artist in my childhood. So I get to hear Turn Turn Turn a many times in the house. My cousins were huge fans of folk music.

I started venturing into Celtic music in my late teens. He was associated with banjo and 12-string guitar. He has a continuing powerful influence   to other singer/songwriters with  names like Billy Bragg, Jackson Browne, Donovan, , Nanci Griffith, Indigo Girls, Tom Paxton, Bonnie Raitt, Martin Simpson, and Bruce Springsteen are associated with him.

I think his impact to me is more as a songwriter than a performer. His songs get better with time. The distinctive folk elements in his songs tell you: this is how to write a song. Pete Seeger will be sorely missed. It’s characteristic of people who carve their names in everyone’s heart. Life is a collage of all things that you’ve heard, seen and felt. His songs were the songs of the best years of my life. How could I let those go?

When I feel this heaviness in my heart I go into this little corner and listen to the songs of my childhood. And like magic the pain disappears. Where Have All the Flowers Gone indeed? Life is a mystery that is temporary. But memories are forever.

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The Baxteria Podcast #22

Podcast 22 comes with a live concert featuring The Gloaming.
Track listing:
The Gloaming-Set at the National Concert Hall of Ireland(Live concert)
Robbie MacInnis-Massacre of Glencoe (ft. Robbie MacInnis)
Eivør-Hounds Of Love
BrowneProject-Silver Sun
J.P. Kallio-Time
Once A Tree-Light Me Up
Paula-I Could Be
Dadawa-Sister Drum

The Log Drivers: Folk and Modern Beauty

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The Log Drivers

The Log Drivers deliver another fresh sound from Canada. They combine that love for traditional style and modern sensibility to create a kind of sound that teeters between the ancient and the urban. Even fiddler and singer Julie Fitzgerald maintains that jazzy vibe with an understated vocal delivery that comes out elegant and timeless. I already know Spencer Murray ( Flute, Pipes) through his other projects. Nate Douglas (Guitar) maintains that wispy and vigorous playing which he does with his other band The High Drive.

The debut self-titled album combines influences from folk, jazz, world and even pop. It sounds rich as they add the other instrument to the mix including bagpipes, drums and various strings. It has to be noted that Canada is blooming with great talents in all genres. The Log Drivers are riding the waves of beautiful independent music that will appeal to all types of listeners.  Their music is energetic without being intrusive. Their talents are sublime. You will love Blue Reel, A Miner’s Life and more. So better get their debut album quick! You can sample their sound here: http://www.thelogdrivers.ca/music

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A Taste of Cornish Music and Language:She’s to Blame “Dhe Vlamya Yw Hi” by Phil Knight  

Softly caressing her hair,
As the sun was rising, before my love had awakened,
Did I see on looking closely
That she was silently weeping, hiding her misery?
Tear turned to frown,
And when I spoke… in one leap,

Gone was my love, my sweetheart,
No doubt you would recognise her well.
No wonder, although my heart’s completely broken,

She has left me;
I long for her.
She has left me;
She wants to forget.
She has left me
And it seems I don’t matter
But she is to blame.

When I looked up she had gone,
No longer could I see her, only her track in the yellow corn.
The dawn sky was red,
The sun sparkling through leaves and a cow was lowing.
Though she had disappeared from sight,
Her anger and cruel words were still with me.

Gone was my love, my sweetheart.
No doubt you would recognise her well.
No wonder, although my heart’s completely broken,

She has left me;
I long for her.
She has left me;
She wants to forget.
She has left me
And it seems I don’t matter
But she is to blame.
But she is to blame.
But she is to blame.
But she is to blame.

Lyrics printed with permission

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Check this out: Top 10 Irish Traditional Album Covers of 2013

Albumcovers1

Here’s the link to the full article:

http://tradconnect.com/m/blogpost?id=6391199%3ABlogPost%3A146811

 

Eve at Celtic Connections 2014 Live

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Eve Williams album art

I like first hand information on events as huge as The Celtic Connections. I have been watching uploads and news related to it. I also know who in my friend’s list are performing. It is great to see musicians come together in Glasgow every year to perform music together and even sit down and discuss about possible projects. It is a colorful environment as what my friend singer/songwriter Eve Williams noticed. It is teeming with great talents and you have to be your best when you perform there. No wonder it’s an event that continues to grow bigger each year.

There are notable names like Capercaillie, Lunasa and Moya Brennan who took part in the event.Celtic music artist Kyke Carey is there to record her new album. There are also artists who have just released their debut albums and they try to showcase their music. Eve recorded the event and posted a blog  entry on her website. In this recording, she’s with guitarist Steven McKnight. Steven is definitely good! I like how Eve explains the history of every song. She doesn’t sound nervous and I sometimes joke to  her that she would make a good music teacher. I am glad she carries every tune with minimal effort(considering the amount of people who are there)!

A Tune for Burns Supper

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Robert Burns was a charmer with sad eyes. Anyone can draw their own conclusions but that’s what I see in him ( the portrait by Alexander Nasmyth) and in his poems. There’s that heart breaking beauty in all his works. It is interesting how history can transcend his growing up in up poverty and hardship . Now his legacy resides in the hearts of many men and women.  Scottish folk tunes introduced me to the works of Burns. The

The best-known portrait of Burns, by Alexander Nasmyth, 1787

The best-known portrait of Burns,
by Alexander Nasmyth, 1787

First Time I Heard Ae Fond Kiss, I was struck at the themes of sadness and longing in the song. Perhaps it’s because I find sadness in my life and I connect to that. Or perhaps Burns is really a poet who can speak to every soul of all races and classes.

Indie folk artist Layne Greene covered a  Scots tune called The Massacre of Glencoe for this occasion. Many have covered this tune including The Corries in 1976. Robbie MacInnis provided the bagpipes. This is an interesting arrangement because Greene layered the bagpipes in the mix and the result is really fascinating. I’d say this is a perfect tune for Burns supper!

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Celtic Connections!!!

I will be posting more Celtic Connections related blogs but I am leaving you with this one. Don’t forget to tune in 4:00 pm German time for “The Baxteria” on http://www.radiohappy.eu

Post Bodhran Questions to the Bodojo Bodhran Community

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I became an official member of  bodojo(known as THE Bodhran Site & Community) this week. If you find that your bodhran lessons seem too technical and complicated then you should check bodojo.  The members are always helpful whither you are a beginner or an expert. People are always there to answer your questions. You don’t even have to post questions. All you need to do is just check out any thread and there will always be people posting answers (or asking questions) relevant to you.

The website started in 2001. With new great information and discussions every day, I know that even those with no inkling on the instrument will be encouraged to learn. The bodhran has gone a long way. It is now raised beyond its pulse-keeping past. I confess I get that want to own many bodhrans as there are lots of shapes and sizes being made out there.

I really thank the people in the bodojo community for getting me started.

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Please don’t miss my radio showon www.radiohappy.eu every Saturday afternoon (4:pm German time) where I play mostly Celtic music along with other genres.