A Time of Turning, a Season of Adventure...

Welcome to Autumn: a season of adventure, a season of change, a season of hope renewed! For me, fall brings an immense nostalgia for the adventure tales that have followed me all my life. In that spirit, this month’s selections approach change with a light heart full of wonder and hope.

Keith Hopwood · Malcolm Rowe , feat. Jack May -"Wayfarers All"

Not long ago, I revisited the children's classic The Wind in the Willows, and I was struck not only by the charm of the stories but the beauty of the language Kenneth Grahame uses in telling them. The song "Wayfarers All" comes from the BBC stop-motion animated series based on The Wind in the Willows, and it is named after a memorable chapter from the book, which is about the unfolding of autumn and the restless call of adventure. Ratty receives a visit from a mysterious seafaring stranger who invites him to come away from his comfortable burrow to follow the life of a wanderer. The wayfarer speaks fondly, among other things, of the ports of Italy, allusions which now have special meaning to me after my recent travels abroad!

Blackmore's Night - "Under a Violet Moon," "Home Again," "Village Lanterne"

Pray humor me, good friends! Blackmore's Night, headed by British rock legend Ritchie Blackmore and multi-talented vocalist Candice Night, is music to celebrate the good times, past and present! Their infectious medievalist tavern songs cannot help but lift one's spirit. The first two of the following selections are from their concert DVD "Castles and Dreams":

"Under a Violet Moon" conjures images of night festivities in the age of knights and ladies.

"Home Again" is the perfect tavern song, a wonderful counterbalance between tender reminiscences and rousing choruses.

"Village Lanterne" is especially touching to me; it pairs a melody strongly reminiscent of the love theme from The Princess Bride with a rousing but tender tale of sacrificial courage and love for home.

David Arkenstone- "Love Always Waits" and "Misty Mountains Cold/Song of the Lonely Mountain"

Over the decades, David Arkenstone has become yet another legend of adventurous music, fearlessly fusing electronic and symphonic textures in delightful and unexpected ways to bring to life myths, legends, and stories of imagination.

The engrossing album "Loveren," which tells a story of a sailor who falls in love with a mermaid, is becoming increasingly harder to find, I'm afraid! However, one of the highlights still available online is "Love Always Waits," an exuberant anthem which beings with an incantation in the fantastical language of mermaids!

Following the release of the Hobbit films, David Arkenstone, king of electronic symphonic adventure music, released a magnificent set arrangement of the dwarven fireside ballad "Misty Mountains Cold" as well as a delicious instrumental of Neil Finn's interpretation, "Song of the Lonely Mountain." As chillingly beautiful as David's opening vocals are, it is the instrumental portion that I find most engrossing. Wait for it... It is well worth it! Not only is the violin solo powerful, but the conclusion lingers longer on the final phrase, repeating it over several times, just as I had longed for someone to do!

Joe Hisaishi- "Mononoke Hime"

Social science tells us that autumn is also a time of new romance. The theme song from the Studio Ghibli film Princess Mononoke, with its hushed quality of wonder, captures the sentiment of wonder when one unexpectedly encounters something beautiful or surprising, like a white stag in the forest, or even "love at first sight." "Mononoke Hime" has long captivated me, but only recently have I begun to work on this song with my voice teacher! In English, it is sometimes interpreted as "Nobody Knows Your Heart," and I also relate to this sense of the mystery of the heart...

In the moonlight, I felt your heart
quiver like a bow string's pulse.
In the moon's pale light, you looked at me:
Nobody knows your heart.

When the sun has gone, I see you,
beautiful and haunting but cold
like the blade of a knife, so sharp, so sweet:
nobody knows your heart.

All of your sorrow, grief, and pain
locked away in the forest of the night,
Your secret heart belongs to the world
of the things that sigh in the dark,
of the things that cry in the dark.

 

English version as performed by Sasha Lazard:

 

Japanese version from the original soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi:
https://open.spotify.com/track/3vhkYEfMVAsTfr9T1Q2Ulc?si=7387567a3c4041c6

 

 

 Faun -"Tamlin" (German and English versions)

 

In calling themselves a "pagan folk" band, Faun seems to be declaring more of an aesthetic identity than a religious agenda since they seem to be equally comfortable performing sacred medieval music, world folk music, and storytelling songs of old such as the stirring "Tamlin." With their own original melody, they have ennobled the old tale as a moving story of love that is faithful through trials. I absolutely love the virtuosic instrumental solos on flute and hurdy-gurdy! I so often cannot help but dance when I hear their music...

 

German version

English version

 
 

Various Artists- “Itron Varia Rostren”

One of the most haunting melodies I have ever heard is the 14th century Breton melody of the early 20th century Breton hymn “Itron Varia Rostren." It is probably known best nowadays by the title Alan Stivell gave it when he reinterpreted it as a kind of New Age hymn under the title "Spered Hollvedel" (Universal Spirit), also translated as "Spirits of the World." This timeless melody has been embraced in one form or another by many artists, including Loreena Mckennitt (who sneakily inserted it into her song "Lullaby" from the album Elemental!), Aine Minogue (as "Spirits of the World" on the frankly outstanding album The Twilight Realm), and the Revels (as "Spered Hollvedel"). I also had the honor of performing this song  on mountain dulcimer with Gianna Williams on harp at some concerts during my recent trip to Italy!

Holy Mother of God, Our Lady of Rostren,
Queen of this word, hear our prayer.
Open your arms, open your heart
To give to your children, your blessing, O Lady.

 

 Aine Minogue- "Spirits of the World"



The Revels- "Spered Hollvedel"

Jessica Comeau and Gianna Williams
Live in Montalto, Italy, Aug. 2, 2024, "Spirits of the World"

Rory Cooney's "The Canticle of the Turning"

This political year begs for just such a reflection of peace, love, and seasonal fire as "The Canticle of the Turning," which shares a melody with "The Star of the County Down." It is loosely inspired by Mary's Magnificat prayer from the Gospel of Luke. It is a powerful hymn that, while I have not sung it very often, I have always enjoyed singing as a cantor at church!

A group called "The Crossing" gives a frankly Celtic styling to this song and pairs it to great and rousing effect with the traditional Gaelic melody "Óró Sé Do Bheatha 'Bhaile," which means "You are welcome home." Overall, this version reminds me a great deal of the brave Saint Brendan's legendary sea voyages!

 

 

Buddy Greene has also given us an impassioned country/bluegrass version as well that still retains some strong Celtic elements in the midst of traditional American folk vibes. It has wonderful dynamics with the volume swelling and backing off at very effective moments. I have to say that in the end, I like these different interpretations equally well!

Peace be with you all, and Happy Autumn!