Music Review: Celtic Myths and Legends - Storytellying and Music by Claire Hamilton

Music review by Mut Danu, HPS The Apple Branch, a Dianic Tradition and founder of La Branche du Pommier, France

In The Three Noble Strains, The Dagda, Good God of theTuatha de Danaan must rescue his magical harp, Daurdabla, who has been stolen. First Daurdabla and the Dagda play a song so forlorn that everyone feels uncontrollable grief and loss, then together they play a song so inspiring that everyone is filled with indescribable joy and hope, and at last they play a song of sleep and then tiptoe silently out of the hall, while everyone slumbers peacefully...

The second tale is that of The Lady of Llyn y Fan Fach. I had read this story in the past but was surprised to learn that the lake in question actually exists in Wales. This is the oft told tale of the young shepherd who marries a Faery woman, a lady of the Lake. Everything goes well, years pass, they have children, but... she can only remain in the mortal lands as long as her husband treats her with love and respect, never striking her. The small events, all related to her being of the Faery folk, such as crying at a wedding and laughing at a funeral, lead her loving husband to give her three taps...

The last story is about Sir Gawain (of Arthurian Romance) and the Lady Ragnell. When King Arthur encounters a mysterious Dark Knight while hunting in the forest, a quest is launched...“to discover what every woman most wants”. Though every woman in the land is happy to oblige, filling a book of desires for rooms of shoes and silver crowns... only one Lady has the correct answer. In order to have the question and save the life of his king, Sir Gawain must agree to marry to most Loathly Lady in the land...

Although it is certainly possible to be transported while reading a myth of ancient days, to be read to is to rediscover a forgotten pleasure of childhood, and to have the story told to period music is to be carried off to the Otherworld itself. First with her voice, the artist captures the mood and inflection of each character. Then together with her harp, evokes a mood that brings every description to life. The words become fleshed out as people and jewels and places. Rather than sitting in my chair, a passive listener, I found myself in the Great Hall as the Three Strains were played, and by the lake waiting for the appearance of the Faery woman, and in the hall of King Arthur, face to face with the Loathly Lady Ragnell.

This is a recording that should never be played as background music, but as music that merits listening as the main activity. My untrained ear was completely focused on what was happening with each story and so I could not discern the many traditional, medieval and sometimes new compositions of the artist. Each musical selection is so carefully woven into the fabric of each story, that instead of hearing a change in composition, there was only the change of mood, or of action in the story. As for the harp! How to describe music with words? Soothing, transcendent, transforming one emotion to another... Claire Hamilton's talent as a harpist creates a listening experience that should not be missed.

The audio recording “Celtic Myths and Legends: Storytelling and Music” copyright Hamilton Harps is licensed to The Cole's Press. Claire Hamilton resides in Wales, UK where she performs as a solo storyteller, and runs workshops on myth and music. You can discover her writing and music at www.livingmyths.com.