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 56 – Surrender – October 11, 2020

We’re leaving the time of balance when day and night are in equal partnership. With shedding and shadow, sunlight has begun its surrender to the dark of the year. Enjoy poetry for the season by Kevin McManus, plenty of music to celebrate the warmth of harvest and love, and honor the shifting waters of emotion and separation. We share some Celtic tree lore as well, that of the magical Rowan. Join us in Forest Halls!

Harpers featured in Show 56: Sandra Parker, Sue Richards, Woad (Deborah Bennett & Maggie Pritchard), Jane Valencia

Listen to Forest Halls Celtic on demand

Also enjoy encore airings of Show 13 “Fulfillment” and Show 14 “Creative Fire.”
Featured Harp Music: Show 13 – Verlene Schermer and Sileas. Show 14 – Spookytree (Debra Knodel & Jane Valencia), Sharlene Wallace and Kim Robertson, The Harp Twins

01:31 Niamh Ní Charra – Rhubarb and Ginger / The Swaggering Jig/ Hardiman the Fiddler
05:26 Laura Risk – North Highland Reel #18 / North Highland Reel #21 / The Nine Pint Coggie / Sandy King
09:04 The Bothy Band – Do You Love an Apple
13:39 Poem by Kevan McManus with Music by Jane Valencia – The Light of the Water
17:11 Relativity – Gracelands
22:51 Sandra Parker – The Fairy’s Love Song
25:34 Sue Richards and Robin Bullock – Loftus Jones
31:18 Songs of Separation – Unst Boat Song
33:40 Rachel Sermanni – Ae Fond Kiss
37:51 Woad – Mist-Covered Mountains / Short-Coated Mary
42:33 Lore from The Scots Herbal:The Plant Lore of Scotland by Tess Darwin and Music by Jane Valencia – Rowan Tree Folklore
47:48 Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill – P. Joe’s Reel / The Obama Reel
51:16 The Gloaming – Casadh an tSúgáin
57:40 The Irish Consort – Light o’ Love / Lightly Love Ladies

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