My Mother's Country
Background to the songs
Faced with the dilema of writing pieces of music about monuments as old as civilisation itself, I soon realised that there was nothing new that I could add to their meanings and history. I decided instead to capture a moment in time, and to create fictitious characters and view the monuments through their eyes at various moments in time.
Gavin O'Loghlen
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Koyt Tredhewi - (Trethevy Quoit, Cornwall.)
a slow and beautiful song sung in Cornish with whistles, harp, rich harmonies and huge keyboard sounds.
Koyt Tredhewi comes from the Cornish language meaning David's Settlement. It is a burial tomb dating from neolithic times. Who it buried is still a mystery, although during this period of history the relationship of the Earth, the night and death were closely intertwined. The song is sung in the Cornish language.
Golow dres an nos mernans rag mynysenn verr
tanyow war'n brenn an taran an tabour
Geryow a hanas kepar ha mog adro tan myttin
towlow parys ynta rag an vyaj dhe dhos
Bedhow a with an eskern a syns an bywnans a dhifres an golow
meyn kepar ha lagasow an marow a vir dres an nos
Gans faglennow yn dorn proseshyon tanek ha rudh
hynsyow dres koeswith ha qwern troesya a wrussyn
Res erbynn termyn kepar ha bywnans gyllys mar skon ynkleudh an marow
kyns kynsa golowyns an howl
Meyn hir ha gorherys a with an bedh a sel an golow
enter yn nor an morow wolkomm an nos
English Translation
A call in the night a moment's mortality
fires on the hill and the thunder of drums.
Whispering words swirl like smoke around morning fires
plans well prepared for the journey to come.
Graves guard the bones, hold the life, shield the light
stones, like the eyes of the dead, watch through the night.
With torches in hand a fiery processional
pathways through forest and marshes we trudged.
A race against time, like life, all so quickly gone
bury the dead before first rays of light.
Stones tall and capped, guard the grave, seal the light
enter the world of the dead, welcome the night.
Gavin O'Loghlen : Electric guitars, drums, bass, percussion, keyboards, F whistle, vocals
Angelee Theodoros : Lead vocals
Liesl Warner : Harp
Music and words written by Gavin O'Loghlen Cornish translations by Lillian James
Housesteads - Hadrian's Wall, Northumbria
a majestic piece with English vocals, rich keyboards, whistles and fiddles climaxing in massed Highland pipes and drums.
Housesteads was a Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall. It was manned by young soldiers from western Europe. In 382 AD the Picts staged a major uprising. This song is written at that time through the eyes of one young soldier.
Shadows creep like wanton children stalk the lantern on the wall
here alone I wait at midnight hear the footsteps, hear the calls
as the conquered roam amongst the shadows
through the trees and countryside while the legions huddle
locked in mileposts, trying best to hide.
Four years since I joined the legion marched a thousand miles or more
scaled the mountains, sailed the oceans
watched the lions on distant shores
from the farmyards of a Frisian forest
now with Thracians, Pans and Gauls
here we stand forever, backs together
lost on Hadrian's Wall.
Shrouded in mists of midnight,Pictish nations heed the call
conquerers locked in mileposts - Pans and Goths and Gauls
wrapped in our cloaks of conquest here at Housesteads on the Wall
pipes of the Caledonias prophesy our fall - evermore.
Campfires flicker 'neath the ridgeline like a universe of stars
sharpened steel and bow string nerves
rehearse the carnage, death and scars
I'm a Frisian boy on German duty
for Roman rule on British soil
I'm a simple pawn in a mass deception
in someone else's war.
Shrouded in mists of midnight, Pictish nations heed the call
conquerers locked in mileposts - Pans and Goths and Gauls
wrapped in our cloaks of conquest here at Housesteads on the Wall
pipes of the Caledonias prophesy our fall - evermore.
Gavin O'Loghlen : Acoustic and electric guitars, drums, bass, percussion, bodhran,keyboards, kalimba, vocals, F whistle, bagpipes
Stephanie Graeber : Violin Daniel Seymour : Military snare Anne Dormer : Vocals
Angelee Theodoros : Lead vocals
Music and words written by Gavin O'Loghlen
Mont Sen Mighal - (St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall)
a gentle tune with whistles, uilleann pipes, string quartet and lush vocals sung in Cornish.
Legend has it that in 495 AD fishermen at sea, saw St Michael on the island,
which later became a medieval shrine. This song is performed in Cornish.
Blydhen peswar naw pymp
seyth marner gesys yn bew
moryow serrys hag ebrenn dhuhes
ha'n arvor re bell aves
rag aga sawya
Bysyes yeyn a skravin an ayr
goelyow regyes ewyn du desper
war legh ni a'n gwel ena
gans ankov du yn golok
ev a'gan gelow tre
English Translation
A. D. four ninety five
seven sailors left alive
raging seas and blackened skies
and the coast too far away
to save them.
Cold fingers claw the air
torn sails, black foam, despair
on a ledge we see him there
with oblivion in sight
he calls us home.
Gavin O'Loghlen : Acoustic guitars, drums, bass, percussion, keyboards, D whistle, vocals
Angelee Theodoros : Lead vocals, cello
Jack Brennan : Uilleann pipes
Stephanie Graeber : Violin Suzannah Graeber : Violin
Music and words written by Gavin O'Loghlen Cornish translations by Lillian James
Cerne Abbas, Dorset
a catchy reel for guitars, fiddles, whistle, Uilleann and Highland pipes.
Cerne Abbas was a fertility site believed to have been cut in the second century AD. Whether it was made by giants, monks or Romans is unknown.
As far as we can gather, this is only the third time a duet for Uilleann and Highland pipes has appeared on CD.
Gavin O'Loghlen : Acoustic and electric guitars, drums, bass, percussion, bodhran, keyboards, D whistle, Highland pipes
Jack Brennan : Uilleann pipes
Daniel Seymour : Military snare Stephanie Graeber : Violin
Music written by Gavin O'Loghlen
Ellen Vannin - (The Isle of Man)
beautiful lyrical English vocals, with a choral finale sung in Manx.
In 1974 the last native Manx speaker died. With a resiliance as great as the island itself, the language has been resurrected and is now spoken and taught. The last stanza is sung in Manx Gaelic.
So they came from the North seeking conquests and gold with the mists in their eyes
and we stood on the shore of this magical Isle hundred times our real size
saw the missionaries come from the West gave us God, took the snakes and the toads
Irish Bishoprics took full control 'til the Norsemen from King Orry's Road plundered all.
So they came from the East with their tartans and kilts Alexander's pipe band
and soon Magnus had gone and the haggis installed while the English made plans
Aristocracy came from the South and like cards we were dealt to new hands
English Earls, Lords and Dukes took control we were bartered, dismembered and banned
.... we were sold.
Fodee'd gaggyrt traie as cashtal
fodee'd geeck da ronney vrann
cha bee nyn greeyn lhieusyn dy bragh
ny'n moyrn ain t'ainyn foastagh.
English Translation
They may claim our coasts and castles
they may buy their shares of dreams
but they will never own our hearts
or the pride that dwells within.
Full Manx Version
As haink ad veih'n twoaie shirrey barriaght as airh as'n rough ayns ny sooilyn oc
As hassoo shin er'n traie'n innis falgey shoh lane s'moo na shin.
Honnick shin ny sushtallee cheet veih'n sheear hug Jee dooin, ghow'n aarnieu as'n beayf.
smaghtee aspickyn Yernagh dy chooilley red
derrey ren ny Loghlinee voish raad Ree Orry
craght agglagh.
As haink ad veih'n shiar as ny breckanyn oc bann ny piobey Alexander
eisht va Magnus ersooyl as'n haggish ayns shoh choud's ren ny Sosnee croutagh
Haink ooashlaght veih'n jiass as va shin cantit goll rish maase
Linnee eearlaghyn as chiarnyn as diuicyn Sostnagh
va shin coonrit as rheynnit as castit
Va shin creckit.
Fodee'd gaggyrt traie as cashtal
fodee'd geeck da ronney vrann
cha bee nyn greeyn lhieusyn dy bragh
ny'n moyrn ain t'ainyn foastagh.
Gavin O'Loghlen : Acoustic 6 & 12 string guitars, drums, percussion, bass, bodhran, keyboards, vocals
Angelee Theodoros : Lead vocals Anne Dormer : Vocals Harry Theodoros : Vocals
Manx Translations : David Hathaway
Music and words written by Gavin O'Loghlen
Stonehenge, Wiltshire
a powerful song for keyboards, guitars, low and tin whistles and vocals.
The enigma of Stonehenge remains today as great a mystery as it must have been for the slaves who hauled the bluestones from the Prescelly Mountains, Wales to Salisbury Plain. This song is written from their viewpoint.
Head bowed, the calm before the storm hollowed eyed and bent await the dawn
in my mind I hear the spirits call "all will see".
Come rest my head come soothe my soul
my aching bones rest on this cold, wet soil.
The bluestone lies ensnared by rope
we slaves entwined chained to a life long yoke.
Head bowed, the rope bites into flesh heavy steps, we grind towards our quest
hear the voice, the dark approaching death "all will see".
Prescelly Hills the journey's start
the blackness comes choking my throat and heart.
Through season's change through mountain glen
through endless pain and I ask .. for what end?
Gavin O'Loghlen : Acoustic and electric guitars, drums, bass, percussion, bodhran, Nagori & Nagada drums, keyboards, D whistle, low whistle, bagpipes, lead vocals
Anne Dormer : Fretless bass, vocals Angelee Theodoros : Vocals
Music and words written by Gavin O'Loghlen
Tintagel, Cornwall
(including Merlin's mayhem)
a delightful instrumental with harp, whistles and string quartet.
Tintagel is associated with a sense of enchantment, magic and mystery. The place of legends, it has seen monastaries, castles and caves come and go.
Gavin O'Loghlen : Acoustic guitars, drums, bass, percussion, keyboards, Prophet 5, bodhran, F whistle
Stephanie Graeber : Violin
Liesl Warner : Harp
Suzannah Graeber : Violin
Angelee Theodoros : Cello
Music written by Gavin O'Loghlen
LLanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
- Wales
a very silly song with fiddles, guitars and a catchy singalong chorus sung in Welsh.
A tribute to that modern day monument - The Railway Sign -
Well he went to school, but he never learnt much reading, writing, geography
but his maths was great and he hoped to make university
so the day arrived - the examination - all hinged on the aural score
he was just ahead, final question said how do you spell - oh no!
LLanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Well he failed the test, he was devastated no future that he could see
so his father said "I've a friend of mine who could help maybe"
so he got a job with the North Wales Railway seventh station along the line
and as his train arrived on his first big day he could read the sign - oh no!
LLanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Gavin O'Loghlen : Acoustic guitars, drums, bass, percussion, keyboards, lead vocals
Angelee Theodoros : Vocals Anne Dormer : Vocals Harry Theodoros : Accordion
Stephanie Graeber : Violin Suzannah Graeber : Violin
Music and words written by Gavin O'Loghlen Welsh pronunciation : Elen Shute
Dun Trodden Broch, Scotland
a soaring vocal melody with piano, string quartet, uilleann and highland bagpipes.
Brochs are defensive forts that date from the iron age and are found only in Scotland. They provided shelter and safety from the Roman slave ships that plundered the coasts.
The second duet for Uilleann and Highland pipes.
Somewhere in the darkness I could hear a young voice sigh
somewhere in the Sound of Sleat the demons lie
with their sleek ships of death with their oars, capes and crests
and with sword in hand raised to the sky.
Somewhere on a hillside we had seen the broad white sails
words and legs had scrambled down to tell our tale
that the Romans had come and we children had run
from themountain side down to Gleann Beag.
Sometimes words have no meaning
sometimes truth sounds like lies
sometimes life is believing we are not meant to die.
Gathering the young and aged we climbed the stony stairs
hiding in the darkness of our own despair
while the men, swords in hand from their guard cells made plans
for the Roman hoards soon to appear.
Sometimes words have no meaning
sometimes truth sounds like lies
sometimes life is believing we are not meant to die.
Somewhere on a mountain top we heard the battle cry
heard the crimson tunic call to slavery
as we crouched in the gloom of our Dun Trodden tomb
a young voice was heard - "man must be free".
Sometimes words have no meaning
sometimes truth sounds like lies
sometimes life is believing we are not meant to die.
Gavin O'Loghlen : Acoustic guitars, drums, bass, percussion, bodhran, keyboards,
Highland pipes, vocals
Angelee Theodoros : Lead vocals Jack Brennan : Uilleann pipes
Daniel Seymour : Military snare Stephanie Graeber : Violin Suzannah Graeber : Violin
Music and words written by Gavin O'Loghlen
Silbury Hill, Wiltshire
a rich and hypnotic song for keyboards, guitars, whistles and vocals.
Silbury Hill is a man made hill built 4,500 years ago. Despite constant excavations it has revealed only a handful of grain at its base. Perhaps it was built simply for the joy of life.
Dawn of Lugnasadh, season of plenty the children rejoice
warm breath of summer, season of lovers and light
waist deep in grain, feel the rhythm of flailing
the slash, the fall, the knife
four seasons spinning unravelling the reasons of life.
High on a hilltop circles of white chalk reach up to the sky
barrows of earth creep like fingers on ropes up the side
higher and higher the white chalk is dyed with the kiss of Mother Earth
carries our visions our hopes and intentions, our worth.
Silbury Hill
what a world we can achieve
what a way to meet your needs
what a view of life I see
these are dreams I can believe.
On a hilltop, high emotion where the ley lines run in perfect motion
on a hilltop high above all the doubts below
feel the wind blow warm and free on my cheek and hair, staring ever onwards
to the visions far away as the eye can see.
Silbury Hill
what a world we can achieve
what a way to meet your needs
what a view of life I see
these are dreams I can believe.
On a hilltop man has made with his honest toil and sheer devotion
see the patterns come and go of the world below
like a top that's spinning faster
as the years slip by and forever after
little left to leave this world
to mark my time.
Silbury Hill
what a world we could achieve
take our share and meet our needs
play our part and live our creed
these are dreams I can believe.
Gavin O'Loghlen : Acoustic & electric guitars, drums, bass, percussion, bodhran,
keyboards, C whistle, lead and backing vocals
Angelee Theodoros : Vocals Anne Dormer : Vocals Harry Theodoros : Accordion
Music and words written by Gavin O'Loghlen
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Special CD Packages
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Illustrations by
Anne Dormer
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