songs

A Class Act

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Christopher Lee sings.

Tolkien and Celtic music? Why not? Tolkien made either direct or indirect references to the Celtic lore. Even the film version by Peter Jackson embraced the look and feel of the druidic times. Although the movie didn’t feature Loreena McKennitt, Clannad or other artists noted for their haunting voices but it has Enya. And what could be more Irish than that? Or should we say Celtic?

I had no idea Christopher Lee did a musical project with the Tolkien ensemble singing Treebeard’s song. As a kid I was fascinated with his portrayal of Count Dracula. Just goes to show that an excellent actor will always be rediscovered through generations. His singing is what I consider as a class act.

More info:

Those were the broad days! Time was when I could walk and sing all day and hear no more than the echo of my own voice in the hollow hills. The woods were like the woods of Lothlórien, only thicker, stronger, younger. And the smell of the air! I used to spend a week just breathing.”
Treebeard fell silent, striding along, and yet making hardly a sound with his great feet. Then he began to hum again, and passed into a murmuring chant. Gradually the hobbits became aware that he was chanting to them:

In the willow-meads of Tasarinan I walked in the Spring.
Ah! the sight and the smell of the Spring in Nan-tasarion!
And i said that was good.
I wandered in Summer in the elm-woods of Ossiriand.
Ah! the light and the music in the Summer by the Seven Rivers of Ossir!
And i thought that was best.
To the beeches of Neldoreth I came in the Autumn.
Ah! the gold and the red and the sighing of leaves in the Autumn in
Taur-na-neldor!
It was mor than my desire.
To the pine-trees upon the highland of Dorthonion I climbed in the Winter.
Ah! the wind and the whiteness and the black braches of Winter upon
Orod-na-Thô n!
My voice went up and sang in the sky.
And now all those lands lie under the wave,
And I walk in Ambaró na, in Tauremorna, in Aldaló më.
In my own land, in the country of Fangorn,
Where the roots are long.
And the years lie thicker than the leaves
In Taremornaló më.

Music by Caspar Reiff & Peter Hall
From the CD-box
“The Tolkien Ensemble & Christopher Lee – Complete Songs & Poems”

Soundtrack for a Rainy Day

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Picture courtesy of http://www.monasette.com

Rain has finally fallen in this part of the world. When it rains I usually create a playlist which changes a week. Rain is good. It is the best time for reflection, the best time to curl on a blanket and sip hot chocolate over bread and butter. It is the best time to watch the leaves dance and feel the breeze against your face. It is the best possible way to smell the damp earth rising to your nostrils as liquid diamonds patter and patter. The tympani of heaven break loose midst the spotlight dancing on clouds. There is something supernatural about this weather and what better soundtrack to match the moment than these gems I have compiled. You can look them up in the internet, or if you are curious and want a copy then email me.

  1. Suantraithe-Noirin Ni Riain
  2. Prayer-Oona McOuaut
  3. Stolen Child(live)-Loreena McKennitt
  4. Mhorag’S Na Horo Gheallaidh-Clannad
  5. The Wind That Shakes the Barley-Dead Can Dance
  6. Black is the Colour-Cara Dillon
  7. Erin-Solas
  8. When Juniper Sleeps-Seamus Egan
  9. Tighnn Air A’mhuir Am Fear a Phosas Mi-Capercaillie
  10. Dark Carnivale-The Gypsy Nomads
  11. Nau Bretoa- Carlos Nunez.
  12. Na Laetha Geal M’oige-Enya
  13. Brian Boru-Alan Stivell
  14. Dream Angus-Teresa Doyle
  15. The Dawning of the Day-Mary Fahl
  16. The House Carpenter-Mick McAuley
  17. To America-Ashley McIsaac
  18. Tread Softly-Grada
  19. Siamsa-Ronan Hardiman
  20. Daouzek Hunvre-Denez Prigent

Are you happy today? The top 5 happy tunes.

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

It’s four in the morning and it’s always the best time to write, read and listen to music I like to write about. Here are my list of lively tunes to make your day.

Orinoco Flow (Enya) She’s been around since 1980. Made this big splash in 1988. Enya is not all airy fairy stuff. This lady is made of steel. Just check out her more than 75 000,000 albums world wide without having a single tour. And yes, only trusted friends and family members are allowed in her castle. She  made all those voices and instruments. She does play a little violin in later albums to add that real pizzicato effect (she’s not all synths baby).

Whisper to the Wild Water (Moya Brennan) Taken from the album of the same title, Enya’s sister and Clannad’s lead vocalist simply knows how to take you on a journey with loops, swells, drums and yes a bit of rock and roll.

Santiago(Loreena Mckennitt) This Canadian and former veterinarian is now an international Celtic sensation. I just love how her voice swells in this Mid-eastern spiced track from The Mask And The Mirror.

One Glimpse of You(Brigid Boden) Trivia: After a childhood spent in Dublin, she studied dance there and in New York City, culminating in a scholarship to the Dance Theatre of Harlem.[1] She then moved to London to focus on songwriting. Her” hills to heaven” voice couldn’t be more sweeter when accompanied by reggae beats in this wonderful track.

Rithill Aill(Karen Matheson)-The Dreaming Sea is a solo album of Capercaillie’s

lead vocalist. Scottish singer Karen Matheson has been described as having a ‘throat kissed by God”.