The voices of cold reason were talking, as usual, to deaf ears. — Brother Cadfael’s Penance (Ellis Peter’s Chronicles of Brother Cadfael series)
That lovely aroma is the smell of apple pumpkin tarts baking in the Kitchen a few hundred or so feet down this floor from the Pub. That spicing? Cinnamon and nutmeg of course. And lots of butter of course. One of the perks of being the Pub Manager is that it is quite close to the Estate Kitchens so that no matter when the sudden urge to grab a bite occurs I can head that way quickly and procure something delicious. And of course I can smell every one of those ever so tasty things being conjured up there which is another great perk indeed!
Indeed Mrs. Ware and her oh so talented Kitchen staff spend much of the period from late November right through to lambing season providing lots of edible treats that are placed around Kinrowan Hall and the grounds as well, such as peanut butter dark chocolate fudge behind the bar in the Pub; s’mores ready for roasting in the warming hut out by the Mill Pond; and carefully wrapped clay pots of smoked turkey, rice and veggie soup in the Barn for those doing outdoor chores in this cold weather, to name but a few of them.
Now let’s see what I’ve got for you in this edition….
Cat says ‘Politics are always a bitch. And Murder in the Cathedral demonstrates this reality quite well. Generally thought to be the best of T.S. Eliot’s five plays, Murder in the Cathedral is about the murder of Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas à Beckett in 1170 in his cathedral. But it’s really about the now long-concluded struggle in Britain between secular and religious authorities that was still raging at that point in time. It is a dramatization in verse of the murder of Thomas Beckett at Canterbury, which over the years has become more important than it really was.’
Elizabeth looked at a unique shared story narrative: ‘The Medieval Murderers (authors actually: Michael Jecks, Susanna Gregory, Bernard Knight, Ian Morson and Phillip Gooden), after pooling their talents on The Tainted Relic, have done so again with The Sword of Shame. As in Relic, each author contributes their own murder mystery, written within the time period of their choice and with their own characters, with the only catch being that each story revolves around the same object.’
Mia says ‘Since Ellis Peters started it all with her Brother Cadfael series, the medieval mystery genre has exploded in popularity: Candace Robb’s Owen Archer series; Margaret Frazer’s Sister Frevisse mysteries; Edward Marston’s Norman Domesday tales. Noted for her historical novels, such as the marvelous The Sunne in Splendour, Sharon Kay Penman entered the fray in 1996 with The Queen’s Man, a murder mystery centered around Justin de Quincy.
The unacknowledged bastard son of a bishop, Justin stumbles across a dying man with an important message for the queen — none other than Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of the reigning King Richard and the scheming Prince John — and is drawn into the intrigue of Eleanor’s court at Winchester. Becoming the queen’s man, Justin is charged with solving the murder, which, with the help of a motley crew of sheriffs, innkeepers, and lovely double agents, he does.’
And speaking of Cadfael, she looked at that series as well: ‘The unacknowledged bastard son of a bishop, Justin stumbles across a dying man with an important message for the queen — none other than Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of the reigning King Richard and the scheming Prince John — and is drawn into the intrigue of Eleanor’s court at Winchester. Becoming the queen’s man, Justin is charged with solving the murder, which, with the help of a motley crew of sheriffs, innkeepers, and lovely double agents, he does.’’
Mucking about the net one quiet afternoon, I chanced upon an interesting sounding article, Tofi Kerthjalfadsson’s Recreating Medieval English Ales, (a recreation of late 13th – 14th c. unhopped English ales). The author says that ‘These recipes are a modest attempt to recreate ales that are not only “period”, i.e. pre-17th century, but is actually medieval. These ales are based on newly available evidence from the late 13th and early 14th centuries.’ It’s an entertaining look at just what it takes to replicate these ales.
Richard looks at what is a now a “best beloved”for many here: ‘For those who haven’t seen the filmed version of the play (and shame on you if you haven’t), stop reading right now and go watch the bloody thing), The Lion In Winter details one rather dysfunctional family’s Christmas gathering in France. Of course, the family is that of Henry II of England (including Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionhearted and the future King John, among others); the invited guest is Philip Capet of France, and the holiday gathering takes place at Henry’s castle of Chinon.’
No, not medieval but the setting and even the characters though they be wee mouses are set then and are a version of that time, so April reviews the first volume in an ongoing series by David Petersen: ‘The year is 1152, treachery is afoot, and the Mouse Guard, defenders of all mice, must suss out the traitor in their midst before the Guard is destroyed. So goes the basic plot of Mouse Guard: Fall 1152, a graphic novel collection of Petersen’s award-winning comic. And just so there’s no confusion, Mouse Guard isn’t a nickname or colloquialism — the protagonists really are mice, the small, furry rodent kind.’
In new music, Gary reviews two new albums of traditional Norwegian winter holiday music. ‘If you’re looking for some winter holiday music that almost totally avoids the familiar and yet is still recognizable as yuletide music, here are two that fit the bill, one by a longstanding Norwegian folk trio, the other by a Nordic supergroup of sorts.’ Read his review of Berit Opheim’s Helgasong, and Gjermund Larsen Trio’s Christmas Sessions.
Gary is enthusiastic about two archival jazz releases coming out just in time for the holidays and your year-end lists: guitarist Emily Remler’s Cookin’ at the Queens, and pianist Bill Evans’s Live in Norway. Of the former, he says, ‘Remler is such a joy to behold with her clear, classic tone, impeccable technique and creative soloing. In early listening, I find the quartet portion of this set the most inviting, but from first note to last Cookin’ at the Queens is essential.’ And of the latter, he notes, ‘This trio is focused and energetic, pushing each other to heights on a program of familiar Evans pieces.’
Who doesn’t like a good compilation? Gary reviews a new one that sounds very good. ‘The German label Folk Galore, part of the CPL-Music group, has put together this year’s compilation of top tracks from the group’s 2024 folk music releases. Folk and World Music Galore Vol. 3 is, as usual, a good way to sample some of the excellent and exciting folk and world music releases. A fine way to introduce yourself to this varied music coming mostly out of central and northern Europe that doesn’t get much exposure in the Americas.
Gary also reviews two albums that blend European and Middle Eastern instruments and styles. First up is Wishamalii’s Al-Bahr: ‘World renowned Finnish pianist Kari Ikonen joins with Palestinian-Jordanian singer, composer and oud virtuoso Nemat Battah, and Ethopian percussionist Abdissa “Mamba” Assefa on this soulful collection of songs that center ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts and the plight of refugees and immigrants.’ Next is Aylin’s Soulgarden’s Bu Bir Demdir: ‘ I’m a big fan of Turkish psychedelia, and Aylin’s Soulgarden shares some of that music’s DNA, particularly the liberal use of analog synthesizers, but overall it has more of a feel of pop and indie folk-rock tossed in a blender with melodic Turkish songcraft.’
From the archives, Brendan delved into a sampler of World music: ‘The Music of Nubenegra showcases the achievements of these remarkable artists. There are a total of twenty tracks from almost as many releases. Individually, each of these songs seem to illustrate a particular tradition. Yet, taken together, there seems to be a common thread of Mediterannean — and especially Spanish — culture and its influence on the Americas.’
David appreciated Vishwa Mohan Bhatt & Sandeep Das’s Indian Delta: ‘It is not danceable, you will not be whistling the tunes, or snapping your fingers even though a maestro of percussion is present. It is meditative, beautiful, challenging and the mohan veena cuts through like a sabre. World music for people looking to experience something new!’
Gary found a lot to like on John Prine’s post-throat-surgery album Fair & Square. ‘The songs are prime Prine. Featuring strongly are tales of lovable losers like the guy in “Long Monday,” “sittin’ all alone on a mountain / by a river that has no end” pining over a lost love; or the fellow in “I Hate It When That Happens To Me,” who gets arrested for climbing a tree naked because his girl left him; or the codger who has learned to take a little mental vacation to the “Other Side of Town” when his wife starts criticizing him.’
Gary also was impressed by the reissue of the debut album of American folk icon Odetta. ‘Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues reveals Odetta’s influence on the second generation of folk singers, particularly Joan Baez (in choice of material and approach to singing it) and Bob Dylan (in the recognition of the blues as a timeless and boundaryless folk art form). I daresay this recording holds up better than the early efforts of those two.’
Pat enjoyed the self-titled album from Halali, which consists of fiddlers Hanneke Cassel, Laura Cotese and Lissa Schneckenburger. ‘The influences are evident here in the tune selection. For the most part, traditional standards like “Paddy’s Trip to Scotland” and “The Humours of Westport” are thrown in with tunes from Brian Pickell, John Morris Rankin, Michel Bordeleau and Jerry Holland, all played in a style reminiscent of the big Scottish fiddle bands popular in recent years.’
‘Habib Koite’s rich guitar playing and complex, poetic lyrics make Muso Ko an album of literary proportions,’ Patrick says. ‘Throughout the 16 tracks, the immensely talented Koite tackles prostitution, work ethics and morals, politics, the dangers of cigarettes, and the respect and welfare of children. A Herculean effort, but one that the Senegal native tackles with ease, all the while making music that’s as listenable as it is danceable.’
And Patrick had mixed feelings about Lama Gyurme and Jean-Philippe Rykiel’s Rain of Blessings: Vajra Chants. ‘I don’t think this is a bad CD at all. I do think you need to be in the right frame of mind to listen — or have the patience to let the music take you there. Since that is a part of what meditation — and Buddhism — are all about, I would have to say this work serves its purpose quite well.’
Peter has turned in a lot of Celtic music omnibus reviews, and they always cover a lot of ground and are very informative. Says Peter: ‘I don’t think it is either right or fair to file Celtic music all under one hat, as the variety in these albums illustrates. In this review I look at a double handful of them, all different in their own way.’ Read his review of Carreg Lafar’s Profiad, Robin Flower & Libby McLaren’s Steelhead in the Riffles, Ken Kolodner’s Journey to the Heartland, Various artists’ The Independence Suite, Brendan Begley’s We Won’t Go Home Til Morning, Rosie Shipley and Matt Mulqueen with Peter and Trevor Shipley’s At Home, Rosheen’s Musique Celtique, Dochas’s The Second Glance, Iain MacKintosh’s Gentle Persuasion, Jim Reid’s Yont the Tay, and Finlay MacDonald, Simon McKerrell, & Chris Gibb’s Highland Games.
Our What Not is of a Dragonish manner which is fitting as medieval lore is full of the creatures, so let’s have Camille start off for us: ‘Like every Folkmanis puppet I’ve so far seen, the Baby Dragon Puppet is a marvel of workmanship for the price: carefully stitched seams, articulated wings, darts along the inside of the limbs and belly to allow for movement and keep shape. The tag tells us it’s made in China, so we know who to thank.’
Mia finishes off with a look at four of Folkmanis’s creations, to wit Blue Dragon, Green Dragon, Three Headed Dragon, and Phoenix and she says, ‘Oooooh, shiny! I have a box of dragons here! Folkmanis makes the best puppets ever, and their dragons are some of the finest of their puppets.’
It’s not medieval really but it’s sort of. Or least it could be sometimes. The band’s Malicorne, which Gabriel and Marie Yacoub formed in the fall of ’73.
Gabriel had been a member of Alan Stivell’s band, playing folk-rock based on Breton music such as ‘Kost Ar C´hoat’ which was performed Germany on the 11th of May 1975, but Gabriel and his wife decided to focus more broadly on French trad music, which is why Steeleye Eye Span’s the most apt comparison in British folk music to them, as both are decidedly electric folk. Well sometimes again.
So let’s now hear ‘Pierre De Grenoble’ which is also the name of what I consider their best album. It was recorded at Hunter College in New York State on the 21st of July ’84.
