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.
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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?
Today I have been listening to The Whole Of The Moon– two versions repeatedly. Someone posted this in Twitter and before I knew it I was hooked going back and forth like what you do in a seesaw. It s a boring Monday and I have been doing paper works with that song in the background. Oh and I have to tell you I am doing this on a break-not during work.
There’s something about the lyrics that captivated my imagination. It’s originally done by The Waterboys in 1985 from the album This Is The Sea. In the early 90’s, Irish singer Terry Reid covered this. Enya collaborated with him on this track providing backing vocals and keyboards.
The Whole Of The Moon lyrics Songwriters: Scott, Michael;
I pictured a rainbow, you held it in your hands
I had flashes but you saw then plan
I wandered out in the world for years while you just stayed in your room
I saw the crescent, you saw the whole of the moon
The whole of the moon
You were there in the turnstiles with the wind at your heels
You stretched for the starts and you know how it feels
To reach too high, too far, too soon
You saw the whole of the moon
I was grounded while you filled the skies
I was dumbfounded by truth, you cut through lies
I saw the rain dirty valley, you saw Brigadoon
I saw the crescent, you saw the whole of the moon
With a torch in your pocket and the wind at your heels
You climbed on the ladder and you know how it feels
To get too high, too far, too soon
You saw the whole of the moon, the whole of the moon, hey yeah
Unicorns and cannonballs, palaces and piers
Trumpets, towers and tenements, wide oceans full of tears
Flags, rags, ferryboats, scimitars and scarves
Every precious dream and vision underneath the stars
Yes, you climbed on the ladder with the wind in your sails
You came like a comet, blazing your trail
Too high, too far, too soon
You saw the whole of the moon
Oh, how [Incomprehensible] did you see the whole of the moon
According to GrecoCelt: On a less speculative note, Mike Scott (The Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist/Pianist of the Waterboys) has said that the song’s subject is “a composite of many people”, including C.S. Lewis.
Once known as a safe haven for fishermen and sailors on the merciless north Cornish coast, Port Isaac, with its typical whitewashed cottages and cobbled lanes, is now a place more recognisable as the setting for television dramas such as Doc Martin and films such as Nigel Cole’s Saving Grace.
However, the Fisherman’s Friends have proved that home-grown talent can grab the headlines, too. The choir, who have sung together for 16 years, first came to critical attention when they released their first album, Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends, on Universal Records at the end of April 2010. Since then, they have performed at Glastonbury, the Cambridge Folk Festival, the Royal Festival Hall, Union Chapel and, slightly closer to home, the Boardmasters Festival in Newquay and the Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival.
Between Worlds the new album by multi-instrumentalist composer Sue Aston now out!
I love how the Cornish landscape is portrayed in the 1939 Hitchcock movie Rebecca. Corn wall embodies bandoned castles, windswept hillsides, moderate climate and so much more. But apart from these scenes, it’s the people who make Cornwall the Celtic nation that it is today.
The violin is a very transparent instrument in a sense that the player decides the kind of sound it produces. Violins don’t lie.Especially when one is an artist who is passionate about both the music and Cornwall’s political struggles.To quote from her : “My muse is the granite cliffs and the rolling moors of Kernow, her legends, her culture and people. Thank you for your kind words of support, I am inspired determined and ready for action!”
The second album has twelve tracks displaying her classical training and the honest sentiments of folk music. Sue ‘s music glides into the senses like fine wine. From the anthemic title track , The playful Mazy Dazey , the dark ominous charm of Storm Cat…the Vivaldi-like Hawthorne Tree, the Cornish Melody in Thursday’s Market (marghas yow), and closing with the introspective melody of Initial Bond. There are other instruments you can hear in the album(both Folk and Classical) as well as classical female voices.
Over the years, Sue Aston collaborated with Chris De Burgh (Quiet Revolution), Gordon Giltrap (Music for the Small Screen), and Andrew Downs (Centenary Firedances / The Marshes of Glynn) among others. But exploring her inner landscapes in albums like Sacred Landscapes and Inspirational Journey , she is able to carve her identity. And she is back in full force with the latest offer Between Worlds.
1.How long did it take to create this album?
It took 18 months to create my new album, as I composed many of the tracks as I went along, slotting them in between recording sessions. I was juggling my time with recording new solo violin parts, while working out the piano accompaniment and arranging the parts for the other instruments. Quite often there were two or three tracks on the go at the same time!
2. Was the process hard compare to Sacred Landscapes and Inspirational Journey?
In some respects it was an easier process as I was in total control of all aspects of the musical parts. My first and second albums relied more on the producer creating layers of sound and special effects to support the violin and piano melodies. This album was far more labour intensive for me, but much more satisfying. It also meant that the sheet music was ready to go, as I had had to get the arrangements ready for the other musicians to play on.
3. Your single The Hawthorn Tree is a very powerful piece . Vivaldi comes to mind. What inspired you to compose this?
3. With the Hawthorn Tree track, I wanted to push myself technically as a performer. On my first album, ‘Sacred Landscapes’, the track ‘Madron’ was a piece which I composed for solo violin, and with ‘The Hawthorn Tree’ I wanted another virtuoso showpiece which challenged me further – both as a composer and performer. I could never actually visualise myself recording or performing it – so when I eventually did both of these things it felt like a great personal achievement!
4. You music has always been labeled as ‘beautiful, healing, and elegant’. Has there been other description that you found rather odd?
I’m always fascinated to hear how people perceive my music. My music encompasses a wide range of styles and emotions, and when I perform in a concert it’s great to see people dancing to pieces like ‘Mazey Dazey’, then in tears over ‘The Final Homecoming’ for example.
5.I personally find your compositions challenging because they all have the classical discipline yet the expressiveness and simplicity of Folk. Do you have a plan of venturing into other forms of music?
Because I listened to different genres of music as a child – from Punk Rock to Classical – I have absorbed many styles, but really to me it is just ‘simply music’! On my new album Between Worlds, I improvised on a track called ‘Drift’ with the folk musician Rick Williams. It was recorded in one take, and has a jazzy feel to it with inspiration drawn from Stephane Grappelli.
6. Cornwall has been a visible emblem of your music. Do you consider your self as an artist and at the same time an activist?
I consider myself very fortunate to be living in Cornwall with my family. Because the spirit of Cornwall is deeply embedded in my heart, my creative output is infused with Cornwall, and so anything which affects this amazing place is of great concern to me.
7.What keeps you inspired to record albums?
Living in such a beautiful part of the world is a constant source of inspiration, as is the wonderful feedback and growing support I am so lucky to receive from people who enjoy my music.
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“.
The Irish Lion is featured in a new book along with other news..
Damien Dempsey is among those featured in a new book called With Love, From Me…To Me Letter to my sixteen year-old self here .
About the book:
With Love, From Me…To Me gathers these words of advice, reassurance, admonition, praise and comfort. The letters range from funny to encouraging, hopeful to regretful, but always heartfelt. Contributors include Miriam O’Callaghan, Joe O’Connor, Ray D’Arcy, Sonia O’Sullivan, Maeve Binchy, Charlie Bird, John Boyne, Jason Sherlock, Nell McCafferty, Paddy Moloney, David Norris, Ross O’Carroll Kelly, Ardal O’Hanlon, Patricia Scanlan and Victoria Smurfit. With Love, From Me . . . To Me: A Letter To My Sixteen-Year-Old Self is the ideal gift this Christmas for family, friends – or yourself!
All royalties from this book benefit the Irish Youth Foundation.
He will also join Glen Hansard for a Christmas charity single. More news here.
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But of course we are always awed when we hear something about Julie Fowlis and Salsa Celtica-the latter which has my pal Kenny Fraser playing the fiddle.
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More info on the Golowan Festival 2010 in Cornwall and Sue Aston’s pics.
It is Cornish and Celtic. It happens every year. Penzance come alive with parades and music. Colorful people come from all over the world. Musicians play their wonderful tunes.
Celtic Music Fan 