An Táin, by Lorcan Mac Mathuna

An Táin

by Lorcan Mac Mathuna

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1.	The Pillow Talk 03:47	info	buy track
2.	The Prophesy of Fidelm 05:53		buy track
3.	The Slighting of Cú Chulainn 02:11	info	buy track
4.	Cú Chulainn's Sleep 05:44		buy track
5.	The Sorcerous Distortions 05:18	info	buy track
6.	Dinnseanchas 01:29		buy track
7.	The Manipulation of Ferdia 03:34	info	buy track
8.	Caoineadh Fherdia 08:18	info	buy track
9.	The cries of Sualtaim’s head (Scread Ceand Sualtaim) 05:48	info	buy track
10.	The rut and carnage 05:31	info	buy track

about

A culture-shaping epic of few parallels which has echoed relevant and contemporary lessons throughout the intervening period of over two millennia. An Táin has a place amongst the epic myths of the world. Set in a time of tribal allegiances, An Táin mobilises the peoples of the entire territories of Ireland in an epic tale of greed, ambition, political manoeuvring, deceit, and heroism. The driving force of the tale is the ambitious and ruthless Meadhbh, whose thirst for supremacy and wealth; represented in the pastoral Iron-Age society of Ireland by a prize bull; drags the tribes of Ireland into a bloody conflict. Foremost in the slaying and gore that mounts on the Táin is Cú Chulainn, whose superhuman feats thwart Meadhbh’s ambition repeatedly. The conflict of these two implacable nemeses draws the tribal nations of Ireland into a shared fate and a shared story. An Táin, with its epic scale of heroism, bloodshed, and involvement, has justly been called the Irish Iliad.

In Gaelic courts of the Middle Ages Irish chieftains would listen attentatively to the parable of political intrigue that is An Táin. The depiction of combat and heroism makes for a compelling story but it is the themes of greed, overreaching ambition, and political corruption, that these Gaelic chieftains would have contemplated in detail, themes that ring true to our contemporary age.

The Music arrangement
This interpretation of an Táin is drawn from the text of The Book of Leinster. The Book of Leinster (12th C) is the most comprehensive redaction of An Táin in existence and it is written in a style typical of the pre-Christian oral tradition. Its movements and passages are epic and striking and this is the inspiration for the music. There are ten movements in the piece, each based on particular passages of the origional text which are in Old-Irish. The music is text based with the lyrical line providing the main melodic drive. The complete arrangements are motivated by the epic nature of An Táin and create a soundscape evocative of the themes explored by the legend.

credits

released September 1, 2011

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about

Lorcan Mac Mathuna Dublin, Ireland

From the cradle Lorcán Mac Mathúna was surrounded by traditional irish music. Sean-Nós singing was the soundscape of his youth, the air he breathed.

Drawing on the deep roots of Sean-Nós he has brought the fundamentals of this ancient tradition into contemporary collaborations and compositions. He is truly a modern singer who sits comfortably with ancient tradition and the avant-garde. ... more