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

Winter Solstice Poem with Harp

I wrote the following on the Winter Solstice itself — the sentiment remains!

It’s been pouring here on our little island, with no chance to see the Jupiter-Saturn “Christmas star” conjunction. But I want to wish you all a Merry Midwinter and Joyful Winter Solstice. Today was the shortest day of a very long year. May blessings and beauty abound through these hallowed nights and days when the “sun stands still,” and may they spin us into a year of bounty, health, peace, and well-being for absolutely one and all.

Poet Kevin McManus and I have been collaborating across land and sea (Ireland and the U.S., respectively), with me putting harp to his rich earth-based poems. Please enjoy this video that I put together today. Kevin narrates his poem. Harp music, art, and photos are by me.

This poem is from Spirits in the Forest: A Collection of Poetry by Kevin McManus, available on Amazon UK and Ireland and Amazon US.

Episode 40 – Radio Show – Midwinter Magic – December 22 and 29, 2019

Celebrate the season with Celtic and Celtic-inspired music, folklore, poetry, and a tale in which we help the sun take wing. We’ll enjoy a sparkling landscape of beautiful and lively tunes to honor the illuminated Dark, and to beckon the Sun to return. Pure enchantment!

Harp music  is sprinkled through the show. Enjoy the song and harp of Beth Gadbaw and Margot Krimmel (respectively),  and harp by Debra Knodel,  Órla Fallon in Celtic Woman, Kim Robertson, and a mystery harper or two (if you can identify them, please let me know!).

The second hour of the show is the rebroadcast of Episode 19 – Midwinter Day.

Listen here.

You’ll be able to hear this show on demand for two weeks.  Links to the artists forthcoming!

12:00: Spookytree – Lochaber No More
12:01: Margot Krimmel & Beth Leachman-Gadbaw – Icy December
12:03: Phil Cunningham and Manus Lunny – When the Snow Melts
12:09: Debra Knodel – Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
12:12: The McCallans – Highland Christmas
12:15: Altan – Soillse Na Nollag
12:21: Susan Cooper – Poem
12:22: Eimear Quinn – Winter Apples
12:26: Celtic Woman – Don Oiche Ud I Mbeithil (That Night in Bethlehem)
12:28: Kim Robertson – Gabhaim Molta Bride / Gabriel’s Message
12:36: Johnny Cunningham – King Holly, King Oak
12:40: Jane Valencia – Shell and Govan and the Little Sun
12:48: Scott Cossu – Last Snow
12:53: Alison Kraus and Natalie MacMaster – Get Me Through December