Singers

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

On a Weekend Over Leo’s Tavern

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 8 Comments

Hi folks, these are the pics from what happened in Leo’s Tavern over a weekend. We spot Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh with Moya Brennan onstage. Guess who are the other famous faces!

View the complete album here.

I realized that Moya Brennan of Clannad is named after her mom Moya ‘Baba” Brennan.

Celtic Woman’s Lynn Hilary:Makes a Name for Herself

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 11 Comments

Before her name became an international hit, she released a solo album called Take Me Home. As a former member of Anuna , you won’t be surprise where she got her vocal swirls….Too bad there is a news that Alex Sharpe is leaving the group. How can these women really bond when everyone comes and goes..well except the core members. I still miss Hayley

Tracks:

  1. Melody Of Life
  2. Swimming In The Barrow
  3. Erin Beo
  4. Sunset Of Gold
  5. Carolina Rua
  6. Annie Watches
  7. What Makes The Sunset
  8. Take Me With You
  9. Shona Mara
  10. Slán Le Maigh
  11. Road To Glory
  12. Angel Doves

Traditional; Arranged by Lynn Hilary

O slan is cead, on dtaobh seo uaim
Cois Maigh na gcaor na gcraobh na gcruach
Na stait na sead na soar na slua
Na ndan na dreacht na dtrean gan ghruaim

Och, ochon, is breoite mise
Gan chuid, gan choir, gan choip, gan chiste
Gan sult, gan seod, gan spoirt, gan spoinnadh
O seoladh me chun uaignis

O Slan go heag, do saorfhir shuairc
Da dhaimh, da chleir, de heigs, de sua
Do’m chairde cleibh gan chlaon, gan chluain
Gan chaim, gan chain, gan chraos, gan chruas

Is fanach faon me, is fraochmhar fuar
Is tamhlag traith, is taomach trua
I mbarr an tsleibhe gan aon monuar
I m’ phairt, ach fraoch is gaoth aduaidh

Och, ochon is breoite mise
Gan chuid, gan choir, gan choip, gan chiste
Gan sult, gan seod, gan spoirt, gan spionnadh
O seoladh me chun uaignis

My Tribute to Liam Ó Maonlaí

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

A lot of people might have identified Liam O’ Maonlai as the lead vocalist/instrumentalist of a popular rock group Hothouse Flowers. I have one of their records. But like any thing that sounds mainstream, something in my chemistry does not totally respond to the sound of the band.  Not that they aren’t Ok, Hothouse Flowers are in fact one of the most influential Irish bands around. The music has been what you would consider as distilled and at par with the likes Traffic, Van Morrison’s, The Boomtown Rats, Chris Isaak’s, Elvis Costello and far better than most British and American bands I have heard. In fact this band deserves a cover in a Rolling Stone magazine. But then again this is Rock and Roll and my musical preference has always been the other way around. Then came the Irish language project in the Irish Independent.

I rushed right away to download this file which was given for free. His speaking voice became a regular thing at home next to the evening news. I realized that like true artists, Liam is a conservationist of the Irish Gaelic language and music. He has a charismatic personality and this is evident in his stage performances. Wild hair and hypnotic gaze, this guy need so little effort to get his message across. Yes most singers are gifted to put audience in a spell, but then again there are few that have the gift of Bardic charisma, which is a stuff that most spiritual leaders possess. And he has all that-aura, personality, voice, talent in so many musical instruments, a talent for painting and amazing intellect.  In fact singing in his native tongue and performing such music makes him a cut above the rest.

Liam is one of those outspoken in the preservation of Tara and has even recorded a song for it. You can listen by visiting: http://www.myspace.com/songfortara. You will really really love this song! Like anyone passionate about anything Irish I encourage everybody to please do our best to save Tara. Spread the word, blog about it, compose music and raise money. With unity we are invincible.

http://www.myspace.com/liamomaonlaimusic

There is this wonderful interview here: http://www.newstalk.ie/programmes/all/therighthook/liam-o-maonlai/ I have it recorded.