“I really didn’t mean to steal it.” Mr. Williams shook his head. He scratched at his chin nervously. “Why not? That’s what they’re there for. Tunes belong to everybody. So do stories.” — Robert Holdstock’s Mythago Wood
Finch ‘ere. I’m filling in as Reynard, our Barkeep, is off travelling with his wife Ingrid, our Estate Steward, this week.
Care to have a pint of our new All Hallows Eve Ale? It’s quite good. I’ve been getting stellar comments about it from those who’ve had a few pints. Bjorn, our Brewmaster, always seems to enjoy creating new Autumn libations more than those he does for the other seasons. And he’s hinting that he’ll be doing an authentic Octoberfest beer very soon but he’s kept everything a secret from even me.
Iain is running through the tunes that Red Robin will be playing later this evening in the Sanctuary as he’s the caller. Two violinists, one smallpiper plus a mountain dulcimer player — all from Ashville, North Carolina — and it should be quite tasty to dance to.
Book reviews.
Iain has a rather special treat for us as he interviews one of favorite authors: ‘We here at Green Man remember the winter afternoon that Elizabeth Bear carefully tended a pot of turkey stock that many hours later would become one of the most tasty turkey veggie soups ever encountered by anyone ‘ere. Later that week, I got to interview her about all things culinarily that interested here ranging from her ideas picnic basket and what make agreat winter hearty meal to the perfect brownie.’
Film reviews
In new releases, I review Mareld, the third album by Nordic instrumental folk trio Mojna. ‘Once again the music on Mareld treats boundaries as nonexistent, blending European classical ideas with Nordic folk, Carnatic song, Balkan rhythms and harmonies, and the spirit of jazz invention.’
I found the music on The Necks’ Disquiet to be disturbing but essential listening. ‘Artists of all stripes are busily reflecting our chaotic world back to us in their myriad ways, to be sure. But this sprawling set of three discs containing around three hours of entirely improvised music captures the zeitgeist in ways that are as magnificent as they are unsettling.’
The Wolfgang Muthspiel trio record Tokyo is more upbeat. ‘As was the case with the trio’s previous two recordings, their music weaves through the warp and woof of jazz, classical and folk music without recognizing any seams or boundaries. The thing that keeps me coming back to this disc in the end is the way it’s always moving forward, even when it’s reveling in the moment.’
He was less than enamored of two CD’s from a performer called Wah!: CD Krishna and Transformation. ‘What we have is more a disc of tepid mid-80’s college rock, mixed with elements of reggae, and some harmonium. Oh, and some truly wretched lyrics, the sort of lyrical religious drivel that drives people away with hands on their ears.’
Naomi was impressed with fiddler Alistair McCulloch’s first release. ‘Highly Strung is a showcase of Alistair’s talent, its wide range of material showing exactly how readily adaptable to any style of fiddling he is.’
Kim was not impressed with the New Age glop on David Lyndon Huff’s Worldbeat: World Music for a New Millennium. ‘Do you want to meditate to monks chanting? Check. Rain sounds? It’s there. Gaelic sounding female vocals? Yup. Indian strings? Got that too. African vocals? Absolutely. Nature sounds? In abundance!’
Rebecca reviewed a sampler of folk singer Jack Hardy’s music from the two-volume, 10-CD boxed set The Collected Works of Jack Hardy. ‘This sampler presents songs from the ten albums Hardy released before 1995. The tracks are not arranged in chronological order, however. This makes it hard to follow any development or progression is Hardy’s work, but the order of the songs is satisfying aesthetically.’
I reviewed some classic Pablo jazz reissues from Concord, starting with Dizzy’s Big 4 featuring Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Pass, Ray Brown and Mickey Roker. ‘The album opens with a tune that was new at the time but became another Diz classic, “Frelimo.” The tune is named for the Mozambique Liberation Front, part of the Africal independence movement that was part and parcel of the American Civil Rights movement by this time. It has elements of African jazz, American funk and a melody and rhythm that to me sound Brazilian, and is mostly quiet with occasional spurts of volume. And some of Gillespie’s signature bop technique of lightning-fast runs played with jaw-dropping precision.’
Another Concord reissue of Duke Ellington & His Orchestra’s The Ellington Suites, a compilation of suites recorded at different times in Ellington’s career. One of them is from 1959, “The Queen’s Suite,” dedicated to Elizabeth II. ‘This whole suite is absolutely lovely, but if I had to choose one piece to preserve forever it would be the sublime “The Single Petal Of A Rose,” which is Ellington solo on piano accompanied only by a lightly bowed bass.
Finally, I revisited another compilation disc, Latin Noir. ‘This is the fifth edition of the Noir Series by Berlin’s excellent world music label Piranha, subtitled “Everything Happens on the Beach.” I can overlook a little marketing gimmick if it brings us such excellent music. This compilation features 13 selections, what the label refers to as “happy sad musical treasures” from Cuba, Argentina, Colombia and New York, with influences from the New World as well as “both sides of the Mediterranean,” which I take as a reference to Iberia and Africa.’
Our What Not this time is an authors’ look at his work, a work deeply infused with Arthurian, Celtic and English folklore, to wit Robert Holdstock on his Mythago Cycle. Richard reviewed for us the entire Mythago Cycle as the author calls it here but it’s illuminating to hear what the author has to say: ‘It came as a shock to realise that 2009 is the 25th anniversary of Mythago Wood, the novel I wrote from my dreams, and under the influence of my grandfather’s eerie tales, told to me when I was a child. I loved his stories: frightening and vivid. They shaped me.’ (Holdstock would die in November of the year at the age of 61, having been in intensive care since his collapse with an E. coli infection not long before.) You can read his article here.
Summer is over, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. In fact, autumn started about three weeks ago. It’s the season when the earth readies itself for its winter sleep, but it’s also a time for festivals celebrating the harvest and summer’s bounty. So, to honor the season, here’s “Aumumn” from Antonion Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons:
I'm the Librarian for the Kinrowan Estate. I do love fresh brewed teas, curling, English mysteries and will often be playing Scandinavian or Celtic music here in the Library here in Kinrowan Hall if the Neverending Session is elsewhere.
I'm a violinist too, so you'll me playing in various contradance band such as Chasing Fireflies and Mouse in the Cupboard as well as backing my wife Catherine up on yearly Christmas season tours in the Nordic countries.
I'm the Librarian for the Kinrowan Estate. I do love fresh brewed teas, curling, English mysteries and will often be playing Scandinavian or Celtic music here in the Library here in Kinrowan Hall if the Neverending Session is elsewhere.
I'm a violinist too, so you'll me playing in various contradance band such as Chasing Fireflies and Mouse in the Cupboard as well as backing my wife Catherine up on yearly Christmas season tours in the Nordic countries.
What’s New for the 12th of October
Finch ‘ere. I’m filling in as Reynard, our Barkeep, is off travelling with his wife Ingrid, our Estate Steward, this week.
Care to have a pint of our new All Hallows Eve Ale? It’s quite good. I’ve been getting stellar comments about it from those who’ve had a few pints. Bjorn, our Brewmaster, always seems to enjoy creating new Autumn libations more than those he does for the other seasons. And he’s hinting that he’ll be doing an authentic Octoberfest beer very soon but he’s kept everything a secret from even me.
Iain is running through the tunes that Red Robin will be playing later this evening in the Sanctuary as he’s the caller. Two violinists, one smallpiper plus a mountain dulcimer player — all from Ashville, North Carolina — and it should be quite tasty to dance to.
Book reviews.
Iain has a rather special treat for us as he interviews one of favorite authors: ‘We here at Green Man remember the winter afternoon that Elizabeth Bear carefully tended a pot of turkey stock that many hours later would become one of the most tasty turkey veggie soups ever encountered by anyone ‘ere. Later that week, I got to interview her about all things culinarily that interested here ranging from her ideas picnic basket and what make a great winter hearty meal to the perfect brownie.’
Film reviews
In new releases, I review Mareld, the third album by Nordic instrumental folk trio Mojna. ‘Once again the music on Mareld treats boundaries as nonexistent, blending European classical ideas with Nordic folk, Carnatic song, Balkan rhythms and harmonies, and the spirit of jazz invention.’
I found the music on The Necks’ Disquiet to be disturbing but essential listening. ‘Artists of all stripes are busily reflecting our chaotic world back to us in their myriad ways, to be sure. But this sprawling set of three discs containing around three hours of entirely improvised music captures the zeitgeist in ways that are as magnificent as they are unsettling.’
The Wolfgang Muthspiel trio record Tokyo is more upbeat. ‘As was the case with the trio’s previous two recordings, their music weaves through the warp and woof of jazz, classical and folk music without recognizing any seams or boundaries. The thing that keeps me coming back to this disc in the end is the way it’s always moving forward, even when it’s reveling in the moment.’
From the Archives, Big Earl presented a hefty omnibus review of several CDs of Anatolian music from the Turkish label Kalan: Maras Sinemilli Deyisleri & Ulas Ozdemir’s Ummanda, Erkan Ogur & Ismail H. Demircioglu’s Gulun Kokusu Vardi, Kardes Turkuler’s Dogu, Yarkin Turk Ritm Grubu’s Ten/Skin, and Selim Sesler ve Grup Trakya’nin Sesi’s Kesan’a Giden Yollar. ‘The Kalan label concentrates on the wonderful music of this area, with a particular interest in presenting the traditional forms. This set of discs present but a few facets of Turkish music, giving us a hint at the musical diamond that exists.
He was less than enamored of two CD’s from a performer called Wah!: CD Krishna and Transformation. ‘What we have is more a disc of tepid mid-80’s college rock, mixed with elements of reggae, and some harmonium. Oh, and some truly wretched lyrics, the sort of lyrical religious drivel that drives people away with hands on their ears.’
Naomi was impressed with fiddler Alistair McCulloch’s first release. ‘Highly Strung is a showcase of Alistair’s talent, its wide range of material showing exactly how readily adaptable to any style of fiddling he is.’
Kim was not impressed with the New Age glop on David Lyndon Huff’s Worldbeat: World Music for a New Millennium. ‘Do you want to meditate to monks chanting? Check. Rain sounds? It’s there. Gaelic sounding female vocals? Yup. Indian strings? Got that too. African vocals? Absolutely. Nature sounds? In abundance!’
Rebecca reviewed a sampler of folk singer Jack Hardy’s music from the two-volume, 10-CD boxed set The Collected Works of Jack Hardy. ‘This sampler presents songs from the ten albums Hardy released before 1995. The tracks are not arranged in chronological order, however. This makes it hard to follow any development or progression is Hardy’s work, but the order of the songs is satisfying aesthetically.’
I reviewed some classic Pablo jazz reissues from Concord, starting with Dizzy’s Big 4 featuring Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Pass, Ray Brown and Mickey Roker. ‘The album opens with a tune that was new at the time but became another Diz classic, “Frelimo.” The tune is named for the Mozambique Liberation Front, part of the Africal independence movement that was part and parcel of the American Civil Rights movement by this time. It has elements of African jazz, American funk and a melody and rhythm that to me sound Brazilian, and is mostly quiet with occasional spurts of volume. And some of Gillespie’s signature bop technique of lightning-fast runs played with jaw-dropping precision.’
Another Concord reissue of Duke Ellington & His Orchestra’s The Ellington Suites, a compilation of suites recorded at different times in Ellington’s career. One of them is from 1959, “The Queen’s Suite,” dedicated to Elizabeth II. ‘This whole suite is absolutely lovely, but if I had to choose one piece to preserve forever it would be the sublime “The Single Petal Of A Rose,” which is Ellington solo on piano accompanied only by a lightly bowed bass.
Finally, I revisited another compilation disc, Latin Noir. ‘This is the fifth edition of the Noir Series by Berlin’s excellent world music label Piranha, subtitled “Everything Happens on the Beach.” I can overlook a little marketing gimmick if it brings us such excellent music. This compilation features 13 selections, what the label refers to as “happy sad musical treasures” from Cuba, Argentina, Colombia and New York, with influences from the New World as well as “both sides of the Mediterranean,” which I take as a reference to Iberia and Africa.’
Our What Not this time is an authors’ look at his work, a work deeply infused with Arthurian, Celtic and English folklore, to wit Robert Holdstock on his Mythago Cycle. Richard reviewed for us the entire Mythago Cycle as the author calls it here but it’s illuminating to hear what the author has to say: ‘It came as a shock to realise that 2009 is the 25th anniversary of Mythago Wood, the novel I wrote from my dreams, and under the influence of my grandfather’s eerie tales, told to me when I was a child. I loved his stories: frightening and vivid. They shaped me.’ (Holdstock would die in November of the year at the age of 61, having been in intensive care since his collapse with an E. coli infection not long before.) You can read his article here.
Summer is over, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. In fact, autumn started about three weeks ago. It’s the season when the earth readies itself for its winter sleep, but it’s also a time for festivals celebrating the harvest and summer’s bounty. So, to honor the season, here’s “Aumumn” from Antonion Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons:
Iain Nicholas Mackenzie
I'm the Librarian for the Kinrowan Estate. I do love fresh brewed teas, curling, English mysteries and will often be playing Scandinavian or Celtic music here in the Library here in Kinrowan Hall if the Neverending Session is elsewhere. I'm a violinist too, so you'll me playing in various contradance band such as Chasing Fireflies and Mouse in the Cupboard as well as backing my wife Catherine up on yearly Christmas season tours in the Nordic countries.
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About Iain Nicholas Mackenzie
I'm the Librarian for the Kinrowan Estate. I do love fresh brewed teas, curling, English mysteries and will often be playing Scandinavian or Celtic music here in the Library here in Kinrowan Hall if the Neverending Session is elsewhere. I'm a violinist too, so you'll me playing in various contradance band such as Chasing Fireflies and Mouse in the Cupboard as well as backing my wife Catherine up on yearly Christmas season tours in the Nordic countries.