It’s a breeze for big record labels to push songs up the charts. They just open up their pocket books and wave a wad of cash around. Boom! They own the Celtic Top 10.
If you listen to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, you know that it’s not that big labels have better music, it’s that they have more money and expertise to promote the music they own. That is not the case for the indie Celtic musician… all we have is YOU!-Marc Gunn
I like Marc Gunn’s idea of breaking down the walls of major record labels. For musicians out there who might be having cold feet, this is the time to stop the hesitation and I’d say go for whatever musical ideas you have. Don’t be afraid to form a band or play solo, don’t be afraid to record and MOST of all don’t be shy to spread your music.
Talent is one thing but confidence is another. If we read the bios of famous bands or singers, we learned that they started like everyone else. They aren’t gods. U2 did not become U2 over night. So let us all start a music revolution and start recording whatever you got there. So get up, get on and get everyone involved. If you are a blogger and you are reading this, I hope this will help you start a chain of events in your community by helping out artists that you think deserve such attention.
Check this link out to learn about Marc Gunn’s Top of the Charts.
The bombarde is a loud and intoxicating instrument. In a hands of an expert it becomes addictive. Note the kid in this video…he was covering his ears! Just to cite and example of these really loud Celtic instruments.
Description:
Playing an An Dro with one bombarde and one set of Scottish bagpipes to demonstrate how a standard duet works, with guest star Breton bombarde tutor Gwenael Lamour from Bagad Kemper, visiting New Zealand.
Happy Monday folks. I guess you are all hesitant to get out of that bed and go to work eh? Me too. Work starts tonight but I had to get up to write this blog. Yes this is my life and I am happy to be connected to all of you. And perhaps you are happy once in a while when you drop by as I give you the links to the coolest sites in the Internet never been heard or seen before.
There’s this wonderful quote I read today: When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends-Japanese Proverb. What do you think? I love quotes and this one is interesting as this always hold the truth for me.
***
BZH a.k.a Radio Stalig is an umbrella site of all other radio stations in Brittany broadcasting in both FM and WebRadio Media. As long as you have internet connection, it plays automatically. All you need to do is go to each station by clicking the links on the left corner. For example I am now listening to Radio Arvorig which plays a combination of Breton and Pop music in English. Don’t be surprise if you hear rap back to back with your typical Celtic music. By the way I made a screen shot of the station and edited it. Do you like it?
As weekend is here, I will be away from the Internet(I hope so but after getting a smart phone that would be hard to resist but still… ). I was trying to figure out what to post to cover my weekend of absence. I always make it a habit now to avoid checking even social networking sites like facebook or myspace. maybe I’d be with a nice book or be somewhere having an interesting conversation with someone at Bob’s Cafe. Whatever the case I will be away.
It’s usually important to detach oneself from the virtual world and enjoy the sunny outdoors-even for just two days! So what will I post here? I don’t have any interview with a Celtic musician yet…or album to review. And then it hit me. I have been posting videos from youtube on my facebook profile today. I have been inspired once again by the music of Brittany. So our ears point to the West of France this week 🙂
Take for instance this beautiful presentation with the music of Dan Ar Braz “Borders of Salt”….
(This video is done by Snuffesnuitje who, like me is also trying to find a good translation. His effort is highly recommended).
Alan Stivell’s 1995 hit does it for all generations
Been listening to Alan Stivell’s 1995 album Brian Boru today. There are actually two versions of the title track. One is the album version (Longer with elaborated percussion arrangement) and the radio edit which has been used in compilations.
There is a lot of everything for everyone in this album. Pan Celtica sums up what he does, combining the brotherhood of the Celts, covering not only his native Breton language but Gaelic as well. Although some people might be new to the style (Breton music and language is considered ‘harder’ than its Irish and Scottish counterpart) this will prove to be a good listening experience. A balance between groovy alt rock tracks with jazzy ,folkie and calming numbers; his harp shines through.
I have been looking for a translation of the title track that is appropriate and I found one. This is done by a guy that goes with an online name mhwombat: Now, it’s actually done both in Gaeilge and then in Brezhoneg repeatedly. http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/translation/topic27600.html
Brian Bórú
Alan Stivell
(Gaeilge) Maraíodh Brian Boru chun beatha na hÉireann Síochain in gCuige Uladh agus i mBaile ‘Cliath Aontacht an teaghlaigh, aontacht na dtuath Aontacht an domhain is na gCeilteach
Brian Boru will die for the life of Ireland
Peace in the province of Ulster and in Dublin
Family unity, tribal unity
Unity of the world and the Celts
(Brezhoneg) Diouzh nerzh ar c’hadou da nerzh an ehan Diouzh ‘bed doueek bennozh ar c’haroud
(Gaeilge) O neart an chatha go neart na síochana On bhith dhiaga beannacht an ghrá
From plenty of battle to plenty of peace
From a world of diving blessings, love
From plenty of battle to plenty of peace
From a world of diving blessings, love
Duirt siad gurbh é seo sochraide ar muintire Gur choir duine bheinn sollunta féin Bíodh nach raibh brónach
They said that this was a procession of people
That people would be solemn
Be, were not sorrowful ??? Can’t make sense of the Irish ???
(Brezhoneg) Marv Brian Boru ‘reiñ buhez ‘n Iwerzhon Dihan e Bro-Ulad ha ba kêr Dulenn Unded an tiegezh, unded an dud-mañ Unded ar Gelted hag an douar
Brian Boru will die for the life of Ireland
Peace in the province of Ulster and in Dublin
Family unity, tribal unity
Unity of the world and the Celts
(Gaeilge) Maraíodh Brian Boru chun beatha na hÉireann Síochain in gCuige Uladh agus i mBaile ‘Cliath Aontacht an teaghlaigh, aontacht na dtuath Aontacht an domhain is na gCeilteach
Brian Boru will die for the life of Ireland
Peace in the province of Ulster and in Dublin
Family unity, tribal unity
Unity of the world and the Celts
(Brezhoneg) Diouzh nerzh ar c’hadou da nerzh an ehan Diouzh ‘bed doueek bennozh ar c’haroud
(Gaeilge) O neart an chatha go neart na síochana On bhith dhiaga beannacht an ghrá
From plenty of battle to plenty of peace
From a world of diving blessings, love
From plenty of battle to plenty of peace
From a world of diving blessings, love
Tá muid ‘nos na haimsire Go h-airid an ghrían Agus thogh muid áit bhóg cois ashann
We are like the weather
Especially the sun
And we choose a soft place beside the river
Note: I suspect ashann = abhann
***
Don’t forget to catch the music festival devoted to minority languages: Liet 2010. Here’s what I copied form the website:
The finalists of Liet International 2010
Faroese and Vepsian band in the final of Liet International 2010
In this pic: Fiach Moriarty
The selection jury of Liet International 2010 has selected the last five finalists of the 7th edition of European minority language song contest Liet International 2010, which will be held in Lorient, France on the 27th of November. The independent jury, which was composed of independant music experts from Brittany, Friesland and the Council of Europe, had a tough job. They listened to 46 songs in 21 different minority languages from all over Europe, from Galicia to Russia, from the Faroe Islands to Cyprus. Also the variety in styles was huge, ranging from folk to rock, rap, pop, tango and even folkopera.
Out of those 46 songs the jury has selected the following five artists for Liet International 2010 in Lorient, Breizh/Brittany, France:
1. Rachel Walker, Fada Bhuam, Scottish Gaelic
2. ORKA, Rumdardrongurin, Faroese
3. The Temporary, Cupan Toast, Irish
4. Mafia Gallega, Billarda Sempre, Galician
5. Jousnen Jarved, Verrez Tullei, Vepsian song from Russia
It will be the first time that Liet International will present songs in Faroese and Vepsian. Faroese is a minority language in Denmark, spoken by 48.000 people on the Faroe islands. The Liet Foundation is impressed by the quality of the music production in this small nation. The song of Eisvor Palsdottir was one of the nine songs Liet International received. All songs were of good quality and produced professionally. Vepsian is endangered Finn-Ugrian language spoken by only 4.000 people in Russian Karelia.
Five other bands/artists already qualified for Liet International earlier this year by winning a song contest in their part of Europe.
These five artists/bands are:
6. Xera, the winner of the Premiu al meyor cantar, Asturias 7. Pia Maria Holmgren, winner of the Sámi Grand Prix, Sámi from Sweden 8. Equal Souls, winner of Liet 2010, Fryslân 9. Stéphane Casalta, winner of Suns, Corsica 10. Resistence in Dub, winner of the public vote of Suns, Friûl, Italy
During the coming weeks the Festival Interceltique de Lorient (FIL) will select a Breton song and artist for Liet International 2010. As the host of the European minority language song contest it is their privilige to do this. This means that, apart from the Breton finalist, the line-up of Liet International 2010 is ready.
The seventh edition of Liet International is the first which will take place in France. Liet International was invited to Lorient, Brittany by de Region Breizh/Bretagne and the Festival Interceltique de Lorient (FIL). Since 2008 Liet International is organised under the patronage of the Council of Europe. Liet International is also supported by the the autonomous region of Asturias in Spain and by the province Friesland in the Netherlands.
Liet International was conceived and developed in Friesland, the Netherlands, by the Liet Foundation in 2002. Since then Liet International has become one of the larger events for the promotion of minority languages to a larger audience, attracting lots of media from all over Europe. The last edition of Liet International took place in Ljouwert/Leeuwarden, the Netherlands in 2009 and was won by Sámi rockband SomBy from the north of Finland.
Celtic Music Fan 