Category: Storytelling

Mugwort – Artemesia vulgaris
Welsh name: Y Ganwraidd Lwydd
Irish name: Mongach meisce
Scots name: muggert, muggons
Shetland name: grey bulwand

Silvery like the Moon, and embodying certain qualities that the Moon holds in tradition, Mugwort is an herb with long medicinal and magical use in Britain, Ireland, and throughout Europe. These days, Mugwort is called upon to assist dreaming.

In Show 53, we musically travel into “Mugwort dreaming.” To be honest, I actively chose only a few of the pieces with this plant in mind. Still, the intention of the theme was there. Perhaps you’ll discover how the music and Mugwort interlace with one another. If you find the medicine in the music, please share your reflections and insights!

As a side note, I’ve upleveled my ability to record harp at home, and I’m delighted at the quality of sound I’m now able to get for my wire-strung harp. The musical improvisation underlying the Mugwort folklore is my first expression with this setup.

Enjoy the harp playing of Robin Williamson, Tiffany Schaefer, Julia Cunningham, Jane Valencia, Sue Richards (in Ceoltoiri).

Catch the show on demand here

The second hour is a rebroadcast of Show 8 – “Power of Music.” Irish myth describes “Three Noble Strains” of music, known as the geantraí – song of joy/merriment, the goltraí – song of sorrow, and the suantraí – song of comfort/for soothing. You’ll hear expressions of all three “strains” in the music and stories played and told today.

Harpers featured: Máire Ní Chathasaigh (in the Heartstring Quartet and solo), William Taylor,  Barra the Bard‘s retelling of “Harp of Dagda”, Fiona Davidson (harp and story), Anne-Marie O’Farrell (in Anúna), Tiffany Schaefer,  Siobhán Armstrong (in The Irish Consort)

Listen to the show on demand here

You can also catch Show 9 – Island Life for another week. Harpers featured are: Harper Tasche, Seumus Gagne, Chris Caswell (in The Owner’s Daughter), Jane Valencia, N’Faly Kouyaté (kora playing in the Afro Celt Sound System, Sakaue Masume.

See you in Forest Halls!

Playlist for Show 53 – Mugwort Dreaming

00:50 Lúnasa – Black River
04:22 Mary Jane Lamond & Wendy MacIsaac – Jewels of the Ocean
11:38 Robin Williamson – Lammas
16:00 Ayreheart – John Barleycorn
23:14 Tiffany Schaefer – Road to Lisdoonvarna
25:27 Julia Cunningham – Innocenza
31:00 Jane Valencia – Mugwort Dreaming
38:19 Ceoltoiri – Far Away
43:47 Beòlach – Annie’s New Heart
48:52 Ashley MacIsaac with Mary Jane Lamond – Sleepy Maggie
53:25 Spookytree – Lochaber No More
55:02 Auļi – Ozoliņi