Coming to You from Bisbee, Arizona

Bisbee is a small city situated one-mile-high, in the Mule Mountains in southeastern Arizona USA, just 10 miles from México. This is the "Sky Islands" region of North America, one of only a dozen mountainous regions on Earth where neo-arctic, or neo-Antarctic, climates meet and blend with neo-tropical influences. Known for an especially unique diversity of plants and animals, in the case of Bisbee this wild diversity includes its human inhabitants. For more information about these unique landmasses please refer yourself to this excellent organization: http://www.skyislandalliance.org/
In the early years of the 20th Century, thousands of fortune hunters from all over the globe lured by precious metals encased deep within these mountains, for a time made Bisbee the most populous city in the United States between St. Louis and San Francisco. Present-day Bisbee is a community of 7,000 people. After copper mining operations were shut down in 1975, turn-of-the-century shacks and mansions sat vacant, being sold for a song.

Since then, artists, writers and bikers, playwrights and plasterers, dancers, bird-loving scientists and many other free spirits, slowly integrated with mine workers families, cattle ranchers, and other "colorful" characters of Cochise County, creating a demography that is truly diverse, mostly civil, and seldom dull.

KBRP: Bisbee's Radio for the People

By 1997, some of these folks decided that the time had come to bring public, community-based radio to the changing ears of Bisbee. Educating themselves on the logistics and legalities of launching a radio station, the radio-minded vanguard decided that the most cost effective and least governmentally intrusive way to bring radio to Bisbee was as a low-power community station.

The Bisbee Radio Project Incorporated is entirely all-volunteer owned and operated. Automated radio programming on KBRP began the 21st of November 2004, with LIVE programming hitting the airwaves one month later at 96.1 FM.

Over five years later, KBRP radio Participant Members strive to enrich audiences with interests ranging from children's programming to live radio theatre. Thanks to its technological visionaries the station is Live-Streaming to Estonia, Chicago, and even North Wales as well. In all likelihood KBRP is streaming to the very machine you're reading these words upon. Go to: http://www.kbrpradio.com/

Naturally, border issues and hot local news are also a highlight of KBRP programming. The station is proud to have been gifted with national and global news from Pacifica Radio International. Musical programming brought to the air by local volunteer DJ's partially includes: acoustic folk, blues and jazz, Swing & Big Band, purely experimental always sublime, old-timey country, hard rock and roll, far-reaching world music, and of course, an eclectic Celtic mix of humble renown.

Getting Into Eclecti-Celt

This website brings you access to music--tunes and songs, and sometimes poetry and prose readings, and politics on occasion, from the nations where the Celtic languages and cultures are yet influenced, informed and invigorated. As the responsible party for "Eclecti-Celt" it is only fair that I offer a simple definition of what in my mind artistically constitutes "Celtic".

So much more than synthesized meditation music: new age music to accompany a massage or root canal. Wonderful Celtic tunes as performed by many artists linked here in "Eclecti-Celt", traditional and traditionally-inspired, they are determined masters of the strings and the driving drones of bagged and bellows pipes. Like dear neighbors coaxing crossroad dances from a close-knit community, with a breathing concertina, dancing till dawn to the backbeat of the goat-skinned bodhrán, an ancient musical instrument and harvest tool.

Introduced and freshly incorporated with affection and expertise, you'll find musicians practising precise ornamentation of the Mediterranean-born bouzouki, and the plucky tenor banjo, African-bred via Appalachia, and fingers flying furiously over the fretboards of beer battered guitars.

The sympathetic pulse of triple harp in the hands of these Celts brings tears to our eyes and causes the throat to tighten, sharing through the tune the universality of human sadness and longing. And don't forget the pitch of whistles wooden and tin. And like honey to the ears out of a dolmen's overhang, the lilting of an Irish wooden flute.
The voices heard on "Eclecti-Celt" are always heartfelt, and sometimes unaccompanied. In the Irish: "sean nós" style, the old style. Traditionaly, these songs could be spinning or harvest songs, love songs and lullabies, or battle songs and laments. Many are long, extremely stylized and melodically amazingly complex. Perhaps no other styles of singing has an emotional, piercing effect as does Celtic singing.

And of course, these days the tunes and songs are often Electrified and Amplified...to the most entertaining effect. Actually, a fair percentage of the tunes and songs getting aired on "Eclecti-Celt" represent the new blood, the younger artists who push the boundaries of what has defined the genre up to about the 1980's. These folks grew up rocking. And I mean hard rocking. They may be singing in the language of their Celtic ancestors, but they have the amps turned up and the songs embody the grist of their 21st Century awareness.
PLEASE, don't forget to tune-in LIVE to "Eclecti-Celt" on Bisbee's community radio station KBRP 96.1 FM, or live-stream on the website http://www.kbrpradio.com/ most Monday's from 8 pm to 10 pm, Arizona Mountain Standard Time. If you can't get enough, the Monday show is re-broadcast the following Sunday between 1 pm and 3 pm.

Which usually means--without regards to silly Daylight Savings Time changes--add seven or eight hours in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland, the Isle of Man and in Brittany. Now you can stream the program at the ridiculous hour of 3 am to 5 am, Tuesday mornings. TAKE HEART though, you can stream the re-broadcast Sunday nights from 9PM to 11PM your time. Of course, in Boston and Buffalo and New York City, check it out either day and either times--it's not THAT late. Anyplace else please feel free to do the math! Except of course, for daughter Dawn in The Gambia--go for 9 - 11 Sundays--and daughter Aurora in Zambia--an hour later on Sundays! THANK YOU!

The Celtic Sense of Place: Languages and Landscapes

Award-winning Irish broadcaster, film-maker and author, Frank Delaney, states in his 1986 book and documentary, "The Celts",

"Using geographical, archaeological and perhaps even anthropological evidence, an argument may be sustained that the Celts are to be found all over Europe: some may even be traced in vivid migrations such as the Irish in North America, or the curious, intensively Welsh colony in Patagonia."
Empirical opinions are made as to whether languages, such as Gaelic Manx and Cornish, while not strictly extinct, are far from common usage and therefore beyond recovery. Equally pessimistic are some such as British author, Marcus Tanner, who believes that the strength of the survival of Celtic languages and culture is largely misplaced. In the conclusion of his 2004 book, "The Last of the Celts" he writes:

"The much-trumpeted Celtic revival lives off the accumulated cultural savings of the past. It presupposes the language's continuing existence somewhere, either in a gaeltacht, up some mountain, or in some other remote place."

Although hundreds of thousands still commonly speak and live the inheritance of Welsh and Breton, and fewer thousands, Irish, Scottish and Galician, many experts consider it safe to predict the demise of these ancient European lifeways, as does Tanner:

"What happens when Irish, or Welsh or Breton or Scottish Gaelic can no longer retreat deeper...Europe needs living Celtic languages. Their disappearance has obviously impoverished the people who spoke them, as the barren cultural wasteland of South Wales...shows only too clearly."
Mr. Tanner and others of the dominant view may be technically correct, given the ruthless or complacent homogenization of unique languages and lifeways around the globilization. But when laments Tanner, "The existence of the language is the motor that has powered the music, poetry and art." Wait a minute here! He and his ilk and myself have somehow not shared the same settings. I wonder how could anyone have missed the obvious raucous revival on so many levels?
What absolutely still thrives in the Celtic nations and diaspora is the music, the poetry and the artistry. Memory-old and freshly-penned tunes and songs. Songs which are sung with ancient spirit from fiery young voices, clear as holy wells and Celtic as kilts! Sydney and Vancouver and San Francisco and London and in every major city and most small communities in 'Celtic country' have notices and newspapers and even BLOGS, featuring people dedicated to the survival of language and therefore culture. And of course, politics thrives as well.

Featured Artists, Poets & Performers

The poets and performers that are featured in "Eclecti-Celt" have earned the tonic of their Celtic inheritance. In their tunes and songs they share this legacy with the world. Please explore the sites and sounds of the gifted folks whose music and spoken word are shared with you here. Listen to samples of their work. They have been selected with great care and reckless abandon, calculated to entice you to peruse their websites.


From Ireland...Kíla -- Check out this AMAZING band of most gifted and wild musicians
Most importantly, if you love the music, support the musicians! If you love the poets, provide for their provision! Please go to their websites, discover who these people are, bringing us so much fun and reflection. Explore the "Festivals and Frolic" page on this website. Find out where they are performing LIVE, buy tickets and go see them--and be prepared to wiggle and stomp your feet and clap your hands. Meet them during the Intermission--they would love to meet yourselves. (Tell them "Hello!" from Eclecti-Celt...and that I wish I could have been there!) And buy their CD’s or Downloads. Help support their melodies and lilting lyrics. Thank you!

Special -- Just for Eclecti-Celt

Special -- Just for Eclecti-Celt
Gwilym Morus is a Welsh singer, songwriter, guitarist, certainly bardic in the honored tradition of his predecessors. His work as a vocalist with the group Drymbago is well regarded in Europe. He spins a rhythmic groove, his voice husky, clear and clean. "Traffig," was his first solo release in 2004 and displays equal helpings of abandon and control. Great young Welsh musicians accompany and back-up Morus' compositions. From "Traffig"...Gwilym Morus's first release

"Dan y Nen" was his second solo album, released in August 2006. This work more prominently featured other Welsh musicians including, Alun Tan Lan. Rasal.net states, "This is a purely acoustic album, where Gwilym has tried to keep the songs striped down and simple. He launched the album at the National Eisteddfod in the Grand Theatre, Swansea." "Tra Bo Dau"...from his second release. Even greater depth, more soul, than before.

"O Fethlehem i Fangor" a first Alternative Information ep, released December 2006, represents Morus' creative collaboration with fellow Welshman, Luke Evans, and two talented musicians from Palestine, Tarriq Rantissi and Mohamed Najem. Much of the work was recorded live at the Galeri Theatre, Caernarfon. With "Byd Dan Ddedfryd," Gwilym and friends cut loose..LIVE.

In an email in December of 2007, Gwilym told me that a Welsh-English language release available as a limited download was ready to go. "Word On The Border" was a "mini album" with great depth, even moodiness. Unfortunately, the release is no longer available and was not officially published. He assures us on his website that new mixed Welsh-English language releases are on their way. Title track to an unreleased Gwilym Morus "mini-album"...Word on the Border.

Gwilym Morus is a native of Wrecsam, North East Wales, and is currently pursing a doctoral degree in the Welsh Department at Bangor University. He has just launched his own independent recording label, Eilio, and has recently completed training as a mountain guide in the breathtaking Snowdonia region of north Wales, where he resides. Needless to say, Morus leads a busy, exciting life. He is a cornerstone of a new generation of Welsh singer-songwriters. And the wait after "Word on the Border" was worth it. He states the album "The Dressing Gown Goddess" was recorded in Bangor University’s Powis Hall. Released in 2008, the album brings together an eclectic feast of native roots and the funkieness of his band, Drymbago. This music carries on in your head long after the last cut has ended. And in 2009, there's more Gwilym has brought out..."Llwyn Eosiaid". Clearly, Gwilym Morus is soulful and a prolific, hard-working musician. From this Welsh songwriter, the bluesy..."Awen Boeth"...from "The Dressing Gown Goddess"

09 January 2011

The Briar and the Rose


This program of music from the Celtic countries features two covers of a Tom Waits song, "The Briar and the Rose". And how, why, who? Tom Waits? Oh yes! Besides the fact that Niamh Parsons' cover is absolutely hauntingly rendered and got stuck in my head for the week, Waits is as Celtic a poet troublemaker as ever lifted pen to paper. All the rest of the tunes and songs this week's Eclecti-Celt just seem to fit, to support each other and shine.

This show then, has all the makings of a briar and a rose, I think.

Tune or Song | Time | Artist | Release
Welcome and such | 2:00
Traffig | 3:07 | Gwilym Morus | Double Play
The Lark In The Morning | 4:31 | Steeleye Span | The Lark In The Morning
Lake Of Shadows | 4:49 | Moving Hearts | Platinum
Downtown | 2:29 | Moving Hearts | Platinum 16:16
Review | 3:00
Myles | 4:30 | Kíla | Soisin
An Tiománaí | 3:52 | Kíla | Lemonade & Buns
Little Lion Man | 4:07 | Mumford & Sons | Sigh No More 31:05
Review | 5:00
The Briar And The Rose | 3:26 | Niamh Parsons by Tom Waits | Loosen UP
The Manali Beetle | 6:02 | Peatbog Faeries | Heart Of Scotland
Ar Graouenn Muskades | 2:09 | Erik Marchand And Thierry Robin | An Heñchoù Treuz
Oxford City | 4:04 | Julie Murphy
The Glen Cottage - John Brosnans - Peata An Mhaoir (polkas) | 3:51 | Danú | Seanchas 55:37
Review | 5:00 :37
The Yew Tree | 4:04 | The Battlefield Band | Anthem for the Common Man lullingfolks!
La Harpe et l'Enfant (The Young Boy and the Harp) | 5:54 | Alan Stivell by Donatien Laurent | Beyond Words
LAVENDERS | 4:19 | ELIZA CARTHY | DREAMS OF BREATHING UNDERWATER
Courtown Harbour - The Lisnagun | 2:35 | Neill Lyons | Skins and Sins
Brother Fusion | 2:46 | Neill Lyons | Skins and Sins
King of the Faeries Set | 4:26 | Lucia Comnes | Across the Wide Ocean 23:21
Review | 5:00
Set Dance and Jig: Rub the Bag/The Old Grey Goose | 3:34 | Séamie O'Dowd | Masters of the Irish guitar
Hang Your Head | 5:45 | Rónán Ó Snodaigh w/ the 'Water off a duck's back' band - Liam Ó Maonlaí - keys and vocals, Steve Cooney - guitar, Martin Brunsden - double bass, Conor Murray - Drums. Recorded by and additional vocals ; Myles O Reilly (Juno Falls) | Water off a Ducks Back
The Tempest | 4:26 | Sarah McQuaid | When Two Lovers Meet
Just Around The Window | 4:57 | Jacky Molard, Patrick Molard & Jaques Pellen | Triptyque 46:23
Review | 5:00
Sweet Rosemary | 2:26 | Sandy Denny | Sandy Denny 53:09
Review | 2:00 Slán agabh!
The Briar And The Rose | 3:50 | Tom Waits | The Black Rider 58:59
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Who's responsible for this?!

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P.O. Box BH, Bisbee, Arizona, USA 85603
I have worked many years as a wilderness ranger and fire lookout on several lovely US Forest Service fire towers in the western states, and so knew how to speak into a radio microphone, but I had never produced a radio program prior to the first broadcast of "Celtic Sessions" on the 1st of January 2005. What I brought to the broadcasting booth was lifelong appreciation of my ancestor's legacy. The program was, and is, most warmly received. Amazing! Live interviews have been given by artists the caliber of Paddy Moloney, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Rónán Ó Snodaigh, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and Gwilym Morus. AND, if you are a musician, are in a band, know a special band, or poet, author, or rabble-rouser of the Celtic kind, please get in touch with myself and we can discuss getting these tunes or songs or oratory on-the-air. If you like, you can telephone as well as correspond in writing. My cell number is (520)366-1176, Arizona Mountain Standard Time.