Gathering May

Broceliande (Artist, Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Broceliande
• Audio CD (May 1, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Flowinglass Music
• ASIN: B0001Z6774
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #519,386 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Brocelïande plays Celtic music from the British Isles and the Medieval and Renaissance music of the European courts, castles, and countrysides. Featuring stellar vocal and instrumental harmonies, their entrancing sound is built on the interweaving of up to 4-part vocals with the lyrical music of the Celtic harp, octave mandolin, cello, guitar, flutes, whistles, percussion, harmonica, and melodeon.

Their repertoire includes original arrangements of traditional and Early music and ranges in feel from driving, danceable Celtic beats to haunting ballads to 4-part a capella madrigals. Their lyrics, including some in Medieval French and Portuguese, speak of love and longing, quests and revels, magic and transformation, in an evocative style in the same vein as Loreena McKennitt, Clannad, and Alan Stivell.

Their latest project is Songs of the Season, a 4-CD set of songs inspired by or traditionally performed during each of the four seasons. Broceliande tours throughout the West Coast and has been performing since 1999.

Product Description

Songs of May and Spring Celebrations. This joyous collection consists of music traditionally performed during or inspired by the Spring Season. Performed by Celtic/Medieval band Brocelïande. Lovely instrumental and vocal arrangements for Celtic harp, cello, guitar, octave mandolin, voices, oboe, English horn, flute, melodeon, recorders, whistles and drums.

From the CD insert: "As we continue our musical journey around the cycles of the year, we sing of maypoles, morning dew, nightingales of the wood, love lost and regained — all the trappings of the fairest season. You will hear the legendary Helston Furry dance, as sung annually in Cornwall on the 8th of May while dancers spread flowers and spring cheer all through the village. ‘Dereen Day, Dereen Day,’ the nightjar calls, as your child goes gathering may. ‘Oh, Lusty May!’ an old Scots secular carol, will conjure images of lovers and their ladies, birds all a-twitter, and making ‘hey, nonny, nonny’ while the sun shines. These songs of celebration come from as far afield as Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Spain, and Italy and date from the twelfth century (‘A l’Entrade del Tens Clar’) to the nineteenth (‘Sally Gardens’).

Gathering May is the second volume — after Sir Christèmas — of Songs of the Season, which will include two more albums to complete the cycle. ’Tis the season of rebirth, love and life. So come! Pour yourself a glass of sweet May wine (see the traditional recipe within) and raise your cup with us! We celebrate the human spirit and wish you a Merry May and blessings the whole year through."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bouquet of May Songs for the Season, April 20, 2010

By 

Christopher H. Merrell "CHM" (Denver, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gathering May (Audio CD)

this is my first CD by this artist. I found the music extremely pleasant to listen to. The packaging includes lyrics - so I can sing along! Since I am of the pagan/wiccan faith - this CD is an excellent resource for May Day rituals. Thank you.