I interviewed Sue Aston a couple of moons ago and I am so impressed with her responses. Just goes to show that behind that enchanted violin lies a woman who is opinionated and witty. She released her new album this year with a great ensemble of well-heeled musicians. Here’s one of her great videos. Enjoy:
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Traditional Music from Cornwall…
It has everything for everyone. For those who have been looking for something really Cornish and celtic then this is your introduction. This is one reference guide . Great packaging and samples you can hear from the web prior to purchase. Grab your copies now and celebrate Cornwall’s legacy to the music world.
What I learned is that Gorseth Kernow (Cornish Gorsedd) is a non-political Cornish organisation, which exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Also, The Gorseth Kernow (Gorsedd of Cornwall) was set up in 1928 at Boscawen-un by Henry Jenner, one of the early proponents of Cornish language revival, who took the name “Gwas Myghal”, meaning “servant of Michael“.
It like trekking on a landscape of Sarah McLachlan, Delirium and Bjork. But Moot is actually a trio that have made music since the early part of this decade. The first time I stumbled upon them I am awed by the stage presence of the singers and the spare instrumental intervention. This is elevating music! Details about them have been sketchy and I am still haunting the cyberspace for things I can get. But here’s is Moot singing gloriously from a sound that can only come from the Isle of Man.
According to youtube:
Song: Baiht
Baiht is an original love song in Manx Gaelic written by band’s flute player, Breesha — its chorus translates: ‘I am drowned in your rays/I am full of light/I am at one with the world’ Moot is made up of three friends from the Isle of Man, who draw inspiration from the Manx music that they were brought up with; Gaelic songs of fishing and farming, love and loss. Their music does not remain in the folk tradition – not initially a conscious decision – just the result of drawing inspiration from somewhat eclectic record collections. Aalin’s ‘soaring, jazz-tinged vocals’ are complemented by Breesha’s mellifluous flute, driven along by Robert’s dub-tinged looping soundscapes and random percussion!
Moot enjoys performing and meeting musicians from other cultures and has featured at various music festivals such as the Festival Interceltique de Lorient (2002&2003) and the Liet-Lavlut international song contest for minority languages, Sweden (finalists 2006).
In 2006, Moot’s second CD, Holdfast, appeared. It features original and traditional songs in Manx and English. Moot can also be heard on the compilation of contemporary Manx music The Lighthouse, and on the debut album Uprooted.
For more information on booking this band for your festival please contact mhfmusic@mhf.org.im.
Filmed by the Manx Heritage Foundation for the promotional DVD Manx Music & Dance/ Kiaull as Rinkey
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
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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.
New musical project will keep ears revisiting for more.
The music has that melancholy touch which is something you’d hear in most Breton music. Can’t wait for the album to come out. Phil Holland and Dave Palmley are two stalwarts in the music business having drawn their own musical geographies all over Europe. Phil, with her gentle yet expressive playing which compliments Dave’s crystal clear strums. There is chemistry and -the right ingredients that make music work. Please share the beauty of this recording and visit their official myspace page:
Meet Pablo Lojo Luthier, musician and a builder of instruments. For this album, it’s all about his glossy design of the new Athy FashionHarper’s harp. Very impressive. Everything is in Spanish but please enjoy the pics.
Celtic Music Fan 