Midsummer Solstice

06/02/18 • 51 min

This episode explores some of the better and lesser known celebrations and songs of the midsummer solstice in Europe. In the process it addresses some of the perennial questions of this holiday, like: What is a maypole? Why are all of those Russians bathing together? And how can I find buried treasure when all I’m wearing is this garland of mugwort? And what’s all this about human sacrifice? Music: Intro: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods "Sumer Is Icumen In" by Shelley Phillips "Helan går" by Polyteknikkojen Kuoro "The Fiddle: Kvitbergjen, springleik" by Petters Erik Eriksson, Hans Brimi, Mauno Jarvela & Levy Wilsen "I denna ljuva sommartid" by Frifot "Set Dance: King of the Fairies" by Tom McHaile "Oro Mo Bhaidin" by In Harmony's Way "Tansys Golowan (Midsummer Bonfire)" by Dalla "Sumer Is Icumen In" by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels "Ivan Na Rada (Ivan spoke to Rada)" by Donka Paneva and Mitka Petkova from Malomir Village, Yambol District "Ligojati, Ligojati" by Skandinieki "Midsummer Song" by Stalti Family "Kupala" by Tim Rayborn "Porushka" by Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble "Summer Solstice/Kupala Na Ivana" by Zeellia "Fern Flower" by Nutopia "Celies, Brālīti" by Skandinieki Image: Ivan Sokolov, Night of Ivan Kupala Some articles I used for this episode: Leslie Ellen Jones, “Hi, My Name’s Fox”?: An Alternative Explication of “Lindow Man’s” Fox Fur Armband and Its Relevance to the Question of Human Sacrifice among the Celts” http://celtic.cmrs.ucla.edu/22papers/jones.pdf Sandra Billington, “The Midsummer Solstice As It Was, Or Was Not, Observed in Pagan Germany, Scandinavia and Anglo-Saxon England” http://anthreligion.commons.uaa.alaska.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2015/10/Midsummer-solstice.pdf

Previous Episode

Polyphony Worldwide feat. Joseph Jordania

The second in a series on traditional polyphonic singing, this episode visits the hunter-gatherer pygmies of the African rainforest, the peasants of pre-Christian Russia, and the possible residents of outer space, via one very special song from Georgia. It also features an interview with Georgian ethnomusicologist Joseph Jordania, organizer of the International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony in Tbilisi, Georgia, and author of several books on polyphony and early human evolution, including the award winning Who Asked the First Question: Origins of Vocal Polyphony, Human Intelligence, Language and Speech. Fair Folk listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/R8QZJT5 Music Intro: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods “Central African Pygmy Polyphony” from Simha Arom and Rounder “Bobangi” by Aka Pygmies (from Aka Pygmy Music - UNESCO Collection from Smithsonian Folkways) “Nzombi [I]” by Aka Pygmies (from Aka Pygmy Music - UNESCO Collection from Smithsonian Folkways) “Mongombi” by Aka Pygmies (from Aka Pygmy Music - UNESCO Collection from Smithsonian Folkways) “Mo-nzombe” by Pygmees Mbenzele “U vorot, vorot solovey poet” (“There is a nightingale singing at the door”)by the Ensemble of village Krasnyi Zilim “Strela (The Arrow)” by Belyj Svet and Vyselki “Love Is Gone (feat. The Gypsy Orchestra of the Cabarets Russes de Paris & Gyula Kokas)” by Micha Thomas & Serge Nicolaieff “Typu (Stepan)” by The Women's Vocal Folklore Ensemble of Chindyanovo “Oak Forest” by Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble “Chakrulo” by Rustavi Folk Choir “Song for "Thinking: Piere” - Gbaya men (Central African Republic - UNESCO Collection from Smithsonian Folkways) “Zinskaro” by Vokal Ansambl Gordela “Hawsa” by Marewrew “Group of Nurstani singers, accompanied by harp (watj) and drum (jamba)” recorded on Sept. 10, 1968, Vienna Phonogram Archive “Dikoboda Sombe” by Aka Pygmy Singers You can find Joseph Jordania’s books and projects at http://josephjordania.com The International Research Center for Traditional Polyphony: http://polyphony.ge/en/home-2/ Learn more about Ekaterina Rets and her band Belyj Svet here: https://www.art-laguna.com/ Survival International advocates for Central African Pygmies: https://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/pygmies

Next Episode

July Update and a Summer Playlist

A brief update about Fair Folk's summer and fall plans from northern Iceland, plus a spontaneous summer playlist to enjoy on the road or at home. To contribute to the Fair Folk travel fund: www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast paypal.me/DanicaBoyce Music: Intro: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods "Langspils - Kvæðalag" by Eyjólfur Eyjólfsson "Lenten is Come" by Briddes Roune "Aililiu Na Gamhna (Calling Home The Calves)" by Iarla O' Lionáird "The Band of Shearers" by Carla Sciaky "Två Konungabarn" by Myrkur "A Maid in Bedlam" by the John Renbourn Group "Hares on the Mountain" by Shirley Collins and Davey Graham "Nay, Ivy, Nay" by Sue Brown and Lorraine Irwing "Herding the Calves" by Noirin Ni Riain "Heiemo og Nykkjen" by Kirsten Bråten Berg "Hollin Green Hollin / Thomas The Rhymer / Young Benjie / Tam Lin" by Gordon Mooney "Rideboll" by Hallvard T. Bjørgum "Alex'Julpolska" by Daniel Peterson "Death and the Lady" by John Fleagle