Forest Halls Celtic – Radio Show – Midwinter Magical Music

Celebrate the magic of the Winter Solstice with music, folklore, poetry, and story — oh, and lots of harp — on my streaming radio program Forest Halls Celtic. Until Jan. 3, enjoy encore airings of Shows 40 and 19, both devoted to Midwinter wonder and Celtic Christmas themes.

Listen on demand at http://voiceofvashon.org/forest-halls-celtic

Harpers you’ll hear include: Margot Krimmel, Debra Knodel,Orla Fallon,Kim Robertson, Máire Ní Chathasaigh, Áine Minogue, Jesse Autumn, Verlene Schermer, Sileas, The Harpers Hall Ensemble, Derek Bell.

Find out more about Show 40: Midwinter Magic
and Show 19: Midwinter Day

Radio Show – Episode 55 – Respite – September 13, 2020

We’re nearing the Autumn Equinox, sometimes known as the festival of Mabon, in which the length of the night and the day are equal. It’s a time of balance.

But this year in 2020, we’re experiencing anything but balance. Wildfires rage up and down the West coast, the air is otherworldy in the mingling glow of the smoke and sun. Every day seems to bring to light injustices, concerns, and other challenges that feel overwhelming.  That said, since time immemorial, music has been a balm for distressing and difficult times. Celtic music has always spoken to and for the heart. With that in mind, we offer Show 55 as Respite.

Music today travels into the human landscape, and with the sun and the waters. We enjoy a Welsh fairy tale along the way, and head off-trail to experience magical vocal expressions arising from the African-American landscape and a rich mingling of musical tradition and style .

May rains soothe air and land, the breezes be gentle and cleansing, and the wildfires of both earth and heart grow calm.

Harp “sightings”: Enjoy the music of harpers Sandra Parker (she performs piano and her own poem in today’s show), Christina Tourin, Margie Butler (she sings in her piece and plays penny whistle), and Ceri Owen-Jones.

Our second hour is an encore airing of Show 33.

Listen to both shows on demand

01:43 Shantalla – A Band of Gold
05:23 Réalta – Open the Door for Three
08:08 Tannas – O Ho Na Ribeannan / Sean Truibhas / Faca Tu Saor An T-Sabhaidh
14:18 Sandra Parker – High Summer/ Martin Wyndd’s Air
16:12 Christina Tourin – Seal Lullaby
22:39 Golden Bough – The Mermaid’s Song – Song of the Seals
30:25 Ceri Owen-Jones, Elsa Davies, Peter Stevenson – Gvasi Cefn Garsi
36:17 Eve Goodman – Siren Song
40:06 Derw – Dau Gam
46:03 Caladh Nua – Cad é sin don té sin
48:59 Rhiannon Giddens / Wayfaring Stranger
51:24 Jennah Bell / Black Hole Sun
55:58 Mary Dillon / The Boatman

Radio Show – Episode 52 – Sun in Summer – July 5, 2020

It’s Summer! With Show 52, “Sun in Summer,” we enjoy a Solstice poem, folklore and traditional uses of the herb of the sun, St. John’s Wort, plenty of harp music, plus traditional and contemporary voices and music from Ireland and Scotland, and more.

Enjoy the harp playing of Margot Krimmel, Anne Roos, Mike Nielson, Máire Ní Chathasaigh, Rachel Newton, and Sue Richards.

Our second hour is an encore airing of  Show 7, “Place” — in particular, how the nature of the land and summer speak through our hearts, and we in turn give voice and expression to our experience of the land. In this show we also celebrate Father’s Day (yes, several weeks past!) with a few songs honoring dads.

In Show 7, enjoy harp in the playing of Patrick Ball, Verlene Schermer and Kyle Wohlmut, Sharlene Wallace and Kim Robertson, and Siobhán Armstrong.

Listen to both shows on demand

02:44 Éamon Doorley, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Julie Fowlis and Ross Martin / Dá Bhfaigheann Mo Rogha De Thriúr Acú/Dhannsamaid Le Ailean/Cairistíon’ Nigh’n Eoghainn
06:24 Margot Krimmel / The Lass Who Milks the Goats
09:15 Anne Roos / Artemisia
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15:22 Kevin McManus / A Sun Dance at Solstice
17:33 Mike Nielson / Mama’s Waltz
20:21 Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman / Big Sciota
26:49 Rachel Newton / I’m so Lonesome I Could Cry
30:14 Lisa Hannigan / Undertow
34:54 Loah / Cortège
41:00 Jane Valencia – Folklore and Traditional Uses of St John’s Wort
43:01 Johnnie Lawson / Gentle Stream and Bird Song
46:29 Sue Richards and Robin Bullock / Banish Misfortune / Out on the Ocean / Cliffs of Moher
51:54 Kíla / Bearna Waltz
56:10 Éamon Doorley, Julie Fowlis, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre / An tEarrach Thiar