Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Mabinogian

Subject: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: GUEST,Carole Bannister
Date: 14 Apr 12 - 09:53 AM

Hi, does anyone know of any songs out there about this lady who was turned into an owl for betraying her husband? Its Welsh in origin.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: GUEST,999
Date: 14 Apr 12 - 05:03 PM

Blodeuwedd, the Mabinogion.

Try a google of that.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: sian, west wales
Date: 14 Apr 12 - 05:29 PM

Can't think of any specific traditonal songs. Hergest did a song back in the mid '70s. Guto Pryderi Puw has done a modern classical piece. The story has been told in all kinds of dramatic forms in Wales, from the ultra-classical to pantomime.

On a bit of a tangent, birds in Welsh folk songs have changed over the decades/centuries. The blackbird is in many songs sung today, but in the past the 'fashion' has flipped and flopped; owls, magpies, seabirds, etc. Siwsi George was working on an album of bird-related songs when she passed away and the project was never finished ... more's the pity.

s.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: Anne Lister
Date: 14 Apr 12 - 07:15 PM

I have heard a song about that story by two musicians whose names I have forgotten, I'm afraid - I've been fascinated by the story myself for many years, a fascination increased by Alan Garner's wonderful book "The Owl Service". But so far haven't found a handle into writing a song about it.
Nightingales, on the other hand ....

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 04:51 AM

Oh Thanks, Anne, I loved that book as well and have the original Granada TV series on DVD. If you like "the Owl Service" try reading "Red Shift" by Garner, its a rewriting of Tam Lyn.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 04:54 AM

Thanks Sian, very interesting. I play the hammered dulcimer and already play a few tunes with birds as the main subject.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 05:31 AM

Robin Williamson did a piece called The Forming of Blodeuwedd on his Songs of Love and Parting (1981) album that tied in with his other Music for the Mabinogion, the production televised by Channel 4 around 1985 or so. It also featured as part of his Tree of Leaf and Flame which I saw him do in Edinburgh in 1983.   

One of my cherished books is a 1906 first edition of the Everyman imprint of the Lady Charlotte Guest translation, complete with the much later Taliesin and copious notes. It's hardly Folklore though...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: GUEST,SteveT
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 06:45 AM

I've recently written a couple of songs based on tales from the Mabinogion (Pwyll & Arawn and Rhiannon & Pryderi) as well as one based around Gwion and Ceridwen and another about the origins of the Tylwyth Teg. (http://soundcloud.com/sthomason-1 ) They're in the style of the Child narrative ballads. (I can't really sing them anywhere; they're not chorusy enough for most singarounds and too long for most folk club floor spots - but it was fun writing them.)

I've been waiting for the inspiration to strike to have a go at another one – perhaps this is a sign !!!!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: Mr Happy
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 07:03 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabinogion

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: GUEST,Carole Bannister
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 07:06 AM

I'd love to hear them and I hope you now feel inspired to write one about Blodeuedd! I play the hammered dulcimer and I'd like to perform songs abut the Mabinogian.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: GUEST,SteveT
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 11:20 AM

"I'd love to hear them and I hope you now feel inspired to write one about Blodeuedd! I play the hammered dulcimer and I'd like to perform songs abut the Mabinogian."

If this was in reply to my earlier post, you should be able to hear (rough) versions (which nevertheless are clear enough to pick out the words and tunes) by cutting and pasting the Soundcloud web address I put, in brackets, in the other post. (I can never get direct links to work here I'm afraid.)   I've tried all the Mabinogion-based ones with an octave mandolin accompaniment so they should translate quite easily to hammered dulcimer accompaniment.

Like you said in the other thread "I feel there must be a grain of truth in the old legends and songs of magic and it's important to keep it all alive." I think singing the stories is a good way to keep them circulating – you can surreptitiously introduce them to folk audiences that may never come across them otherwise!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: GUEST,Carole Bannister
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 11:37 AM

Thanks Steve,that sounds great! I'll have a go! (Not that brill with techno stuff though) I've set up a page on facebook called "Dulcinea" which I'll be updating soon if you want to check it out. Two other old legends I'm totally fastinated with are Tam Lin and The Mistletoe Bough and there are songs to those which I play.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: maeve
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 11:52 AM

SteveT's Soundcloud link

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: terrier
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 11:58 AM

SteveT's link

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: terrier
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 11:59 AM

Oops! We both had the same idea, Maeve :)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: GUEST,Carole Bannister
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 12:32 PM

Oh thanks everyone one, this Mudcat site is fab! I love the songs, and will try them out on the dulcimer. Hope that's ok Steve.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: maeve
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 12:48 PM

That's teamwork, terrier! :)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: GUEST,SteveT
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 01:21 PM

"will try them out on the dulcimer. Hope that's ok Steve!"

Songs only live if someone sings them. I'm always honoured, and so are my songs, if someone will give will give one of mine life.

Thanks Maeve and Terrier. I can't work out whether my unlinkability is because I'm a guest or technologically inept - but thanks in either case.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: maeve
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 01:43 PM

SteveT- There's an underlined phrase under the bottom right of the dialog box saying, " Make a link ("blue clicky")" You copy your link address, click on "Make a Link..." to magically cause the handy link-making tab/window appear. Paste your link in the URL link space. If you want to give the link a description (eg. Steve's link)type that in the URL second space. Click on Make Link, copy the resulting link, paste it back at the ranch, in the Mudcat dialog box. Voila! One Blue Clicky with little technological knowledge required. You can keep the Make a Link page hanging around, or send it home by clicking "X" as usual.

You're always welcome to become a member, too. There should be a link near the top of the home page. You'll be told how to email Joe.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: maeve
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 01:44 PM

And perhaps one of our beloved moderators will correct the typo in the title?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Mabinogian
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 02:31 PM

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: Susan of DT
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 05:45 PM

A modern song about another branch of the Mabinogeon:
Annwn

Subject: RE: Folklore: Blodeuedd, the Maginogian
From: Carole Bannister
Date: 19 Apr 12 - 02:13 PM

Now thanks to Steve there is a lovely song about Blodeuedd on Soundcloud called "Oak, Meadowsweet and Broom."