Deirdre of the Sorrows: Irish Myth and Storytelling [Single]

Diane Edgecomb | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single
• Label: Living Myth Audio
• ASIN: B0001Z94VU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #573,688 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

May/June 2005 Deirdre of the Sorrows by Diane Edgecomb receives a Storytelling World Honors Award in the category of best Storytelling Recordings --Storytelling World / Storytelling Magazine

Product Description

Deirdre is Ireland s most beloved romance; a haunting legend of love and betrayal set in the turbulent world of the pre-Christian Celts. Diane Edgecomb s powerful re-telling is underscored by composer Tom Megan using both original and traditional melodies. Long-time collaborator, Margot Chamberlain accompanies the spoken word performance on Celtic harp. In 1905, Charles Squire said, Gaelic romance is summed up in the one word, Deirdre. Set in a landscape of earthen fortresses and tribal conflicts, Deirdre is said to be based on true events that happened around 1000 BC. Called one of the three sorrows of storytelling by the Irish bards, it was one of three tragic tales that a shenachie (Celtic storyteller) must be able to relate. Over time many versions of this haunting tale have made their way into Celtic storytelling and literature. Most of the adaptations avoided the searing imagery and cultivated a tamer version that prettified the ending. There was only one source that kept the edge of the original - a visceral tension that hovered between sweetness and cruelty. This was The Tain or Cattle Raid- the oldest vernacular epic in Western literature. Diane s version is based solidly on Thomas Kinsella's translation of The Tain. The presence of the druid, the divine rights of the high king, the harshness of the life and the taboos hidden in the geis (a sworn promise given) are drawn from this version and from Diane s extensive research into the life and world of the pre-Christian Celts.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deidre of the Sorrows - A Tale Worth Hearing Again and Again, August 24, 2004

By 

Linda Goodman "Storyteller" (Richmond, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deirdre of the Sorrows: Irish Myth and Storytelling (Audio CD)

To see Diane Edgecomb perform Deirdre of the Sorrows, accompanied by Margot Chamberlain on the Celtic harp, is to watch poetry in motion. Hearing this haunting story on this exquisite recording conjures up images of both beauty and horror, leaving the listener breathless. Do not plan on listening to this recording and then going back to business as usual. It may take a while to recover composure.
Edgecomb and Chamberlain first met to work on Deirdre in 1989. The hauntingly beautiful musical arrangements by composer Tom Megan and Edgecomb's extensive research into the life and world of the pre-Christian Celts have produced an unforgettable adaptation of this ancient tale.
The name Deirdre means sorrow, and sorrow is what she brings to all who love her. Though Deirdre is raised to become the queen, she has visions of the man she will love, and she holds onto her dream until she finally meets him in the flesh. Edgecomb skillfully paints their forbidden love affair in a way that makes us feel we are spying on secret lovers who do not know that we are there. Chamberlain's Harp takes us back in time, and we cannot help but get caught up in the passion. The intensity between the two young lovers is palpable and real. We do not doubt their love for an instant.
Of course, only sorrow can follow such an all-consuming love. Omens of betrayal and tragedy appear throughout the story, and we know that it will not end well. This story is timed perfectly to rise and fall with the crescendo of the harp. The characters are distinct and vivid. They will visit you in your dreams. Even though they break your heart, you will not be able to let go of them.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving, Impressive, and Enduring, February 4, 2005

By 

Cynthia Price-Glynn - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deirdre of the Sorrows: Irish Myth and Storytelling (Audio CD)

The music of Diane Edgecomb's story-telling, and the drama of Margot Chamberlain's harp-music engaged my attention and admiration from the opening of "Deirdre" to its conclusion. Together they paint images and moods from mysterious to romantic, from comic to tragic, from delight to despair. The tale is gripping, and Tom Megan's music as played by Margot punctuates and supports Diane's characters and narratives - portraying not only emotions and actions, but images from sparkling stars to rolling seas. This recording is not only moving and impressive, but also enduring - because I keep remembering it from time to time. Bravo and Thank You to all the artists involved.

Cynthia Price-Glynn, Chair, Harp Department at the Boston Conservatory and Principal Harpist, Boston Ballet