Jul. 12th, 2012

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I first heard this lovely song on [livejournal.com profile] marcgunn's Irish and Celtic Music podcast, and loved it right away. It's on Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer's album Stones on the Ground.

If you're wondering: that instrument Vicki's playing? It's a Swedish nyckelharpa. I've never seen it before, either. Here's a bit from a review of one of their performances:
Vicki was spectacular on her wooden flute and the Scottish smallpipes, but pride of place went to her fascinating Swedish nyckelharpa, which translates as "keyed instrument." Vicki was strongly influenced by her Swedish mother, and Swedes have played the nyckelharpa for 600 years. She was inventive and ambitious in blending the nyckelharpa with British songs, but the instrument really came into its own when Vicki played a breathtakingly beautiful Swedish minor waltz which segued into a delicate Scandinavian song. Jonny was the perfect accompanist, his dancing guitar and mastery on the accordion complementing Vicki's sheer musicianship.

One of the many appealing factors about Jonny and Vicki is that the duo fashion an old song and mould it into a sleek and beautiful work of art - for instance, the old chestnut Billy Boy suddenly became polished and sparkling when touched with their quiet, confident magic. Full marks to them!




Twice-monthly Celtic and Irish music by the best independent Celtic music groups. Irish drinking songs, Scottish folk songs, bagpipes, music from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Wales, Nova Scotia, Galacia, Australia and the United States. Hosted by Marc Gunn of the Brobdingnagian Bards.
pegkerr: (Default)
An adorable cover of the song by Malvina Reynolds made famous by Pete Seeger "Little Boxes" (appropriately enough, saw this on the Caine's Arcade Facebook page). All instruments and the set constructed from cardboard boxes:




And here's a video on the making of the video )

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