Fair Folk Podcast

This episode draws on the folklore of the household spirit (gnome, tomte, tonttu, nisse, domovoi, et al)and the folk music of Scandinavia to explore the ancient traditions of animism and ancestor veneration at midwinter. Music: Intro theme: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods “Tomtarnas Julnatt” by Göteborgs Symfonietta (instrumental) “Nisse-Polka” by Sing Song Sisters “Winter Darkness (Mørketid)” by Georg Buljo & Nils Økland “Haugebonden” by Folk Och Rackare “Tomtarnas” Julnatt by Fem Bobbies “Tomtehallingen” by Øyonn Groven Myhren “Tomten” by Kraja “Hej Tomtegubbar” by Nina Persson & Oscar Johansson The book I referred to in the intro: Gnomes and Secrets of the Gnomes Wil Huygen and illustrator Rien Poortvliet Resources for this episode: The Tradition of Household Spirits by Claude Lecouteux Russian Folk Belief by Linda J. Ivanits Tomten by Viktor Rydberg (a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rJ0Ec-jYg8)

I recorded this conversation last fall with the award-winning Irish storyteller Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair, who lives in Donegal, Ireland, and learned her craft from the last living traditional storytellers in Donegal. Get the Fair Folk tote at my new website www.fairfolkcast.com! Notes: *The book Eithne mentions at 39:00, Women Who Run With the Wolves is written by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. It’s available at used and new bookshops all over. *42:05 the "schools collection" she refers to is part of the National Folklore Collection of Ireland, at University College Dublin *This episode edited by Laura Hamill of Perennial Collective! http://www.perennialcollective.com/ Music: Intro theme: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods “Carolan's Farewell to Music” by Julia Seager-Scott “Untitled” by Jean Christian “Carolan - Five Tunes By the Irish Harper: IV. Carolan's Farewell to Music” by Da Camera “When She Cam Ben” by Da Camera “Untitled” by Jean Christian “Carolan's Farewell to Music” by Julia Seager-Scott “The Great Silkie

This episode explores the ancient traditions behind today's favourite Halloween activities: trick-or-treating, jack-o-lantern carving, divination, and... communing with the dead. This episode's music: Intro Music: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods 2:09 “Nöstmo Halvar” by Per O G Runberg 7:04 “King Orfeo” by Alva 13:07 “Samhain” by Ron Allen 14:55 “Punkie Night” by Withe & Stone 17:11 “Tam Glen” by Jean Redpath 22:45 “Colcannon” by The Black Family 26:30 “The Wife of Usher’s Well” by Alfred Deller & The Deller Consort 31:38 “Souling Song” by the Watersons 38:10 “Faithful Johnny” by Bryony Griffith & Will Hampson 42:30 “Lyke Wake Dirge” by the Young Tradition Image: Witch plate. Fancy dresses described, or, what to wear at fancy balls, Arden Holt, 1882.

An astounding performance and conversation with Finnish expert runo-singer and jouhikko player, Outi Pulkkinen. Pulkkinen is a Doctor of Music specializing in runo-singing and holistic improvisation with voice, movement and speech. She also works with several bands, eg. the female a cappella groups MeNaiset and Pulkkinen-Räss-Sadovska. She is currently researching archaic music through a shamanistic approach, and she teaches folk music, voice training and holistic improvisation at University of the Arts Helsinki. She has released three solo albums, which you can purchase here: http://shop.digeliusmusic.mycashflow.fi/search/?q=Outi+pulkkinen You can also listen to her music on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/outipulkkinen Find her group MeNaiset on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-505647846 The MeNaiset album Kelu can be purchased here: https://www.kansanmusiikkiliitto.fi/nettiputiikki/aanitteet/menaiset-kelu MeNaiset has recorded another album, which will be released next year, so keep your eyes op

Nigel Pennick is the author of over fifty books, on topics ranging from paganism and folk magic to geomancy and divination with the runes. His book The Eldritch World will be available soon in an American edition, produced by Arcana Europa. You can read the preface here: https://arcanaeuropamedia.com/blogs/arcana-blog/preface-for-nigel-pennicks-the-eldritch-world Many of Pennick's past and future books can be found at Inner Traditions, including the soon-to-be-released Operative Witchcraft: https://www.innertraditions.com/author/nigel-pennick/ Music: "Edith Swan-Neck" by Paddon and Pennick "Ellacombe (Berthon)" by Nigel Pennick "Ground Hog Blues" by John Lee Hooker "Fairy Bells" by Nigel Pennick "The Outlandish Knight" by Will Noble "The Bobtail Mare" by Nigel Pennick The image Nigel mentioned of the sorceror's apprentice is here: https://tinyurl.com/yy53sg4x Subscribe to the Fair Folk Almanac on my Patreon page: www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast

Aslak Tolonen, recorded live in Riihimäki, Finland June 16, 2019. You can find more information about his music or contact him about purchasing a kantele here: https://nestfin.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/nestfinland or email him at nestfinlandia@gmail.com The intro music for Fair Folk is "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods Patreon: www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/fairfolkcast

In July of 2018 I spent a month in Iceland looking for performers of a stye of Icelandic folk singing called "tvísöngur." What I found was that the history of folk music in Iceland is far more complicated than I could have ever guessed. I found myself asking: In a nation known internationally for its indie music, why is Icelandic folk music so hard to come by? Thank you to the many musicians, researchers, and friends who contributed music, personality, and information to this episode. Special thanks to Gunnstein Olafsson, Linus Orri, Eyjolfur Eyjolfson, Orn Magnusson and Marta Halldorsdottir, Kimberly Cannady, Runa Inginumdardottir, Gudny Robertsdóttir Orlygur Kristfinsson, and Gustav Danielsson. Thank you also to the Icelandic folk music centre in Siglufjordur and Herhusid artist residency for hosting and helping me while I researched this topic. My paper on tvísöngur for the International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony October 2018: www.academia.edu/37863707/Tv%C3%A…rary_Performance Fair Folk Patreon:

May Day, or Beltane in Scottish Gaelic, is a joyous occasion to welcome new growth and fertility in the fields, the hills and home. With its all-night bonfires, green branches, towering may poles and delicate flowers, this might be the most tactile and sensual holiday of the entire year. And it's just bursting with song. Check out my 2020 May Almanac episode and others: https://www.patreon.com/posts/generous-wood-36480866 Instagram: danica.boyce https://www.instagram.com/danica.boyce Youtube channel: Fair Folk https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw5BgVgYLuRWmEs66AHx38A/featured Music: Intro: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods "Hal-An-Tow" by the Watersons "Arise, Arise" by Robert White "Jack in the Green" by Martin and Shan Graebe "Maypole Dance" by Richard Myhill "Searching For Lambs"(feat. Graham Coxon) by Lisa Knapp "As I Walked Through the Meadows" by Magpie Lane "As I Roved Out" by The Voice Squad "Bedfordshire May Carol" by Jack Sharp "In the Merry Month of May" by Patricia Spero "The May Morning Dew" b

This episode traces the age-old European origins of many of the Winter Solstice traditions we enjoy today, from mother goddess worship through stories of the wizard child Jesus, to Christmas fortune telling with bones. Support Fair Folk: www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast PayPal.me/DanicaBoyce Music: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” by the Ballycastle Players “Miri it is While Sumer Ilast” by Ensemble Belladonna “O Frondens Virga” by Augsburg Early Music Ensemble “Podblyadnye Song” by byAgrafena Glinkin “Ancient Gates” by Olga Glazova “Podblyadnye Songs” by Ensemble Joy “Persephone” by Stellamara “Tec, Peleite, Zernju Zogtu” by Kitka “The Holly She Bears a Berry” by the Voice Squad “Haugebonden” by Tiriltunga “Oi Linksta Suolaliai” by Keisto Folkloro Grupė” “Et Lite Barn Så Lystelig” by Julestemmer “The Bitter Withy” by the Valley Folk “Cherry Tree Carol” by Shirley Collins “Mari Lwyd (The Grey Mare)” by Carreg Lafar “Ecco donne la befana / Ninna nanna ninna oh (Filastrocche e canto natalizio Bologna)” by

In this episode I speak with Vicki Noble, co-creator of the Motherpeace Tarot Deck, a set of cards for divination that incorporates images of the sacred feminine from mythology and folklore. The creation of the Motherpeace Tarot in the late 1970s in Berkley California helped to kickstart the so-called Goddess movement, whose influence endures today. Links: Fair Folk Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast Paypal: paypal.me/DanicaBoyce Michael Levy, ancient lyre: https://www.ancientlyre.com/ Music: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods “Demeter’s Song” by Starhawk & Reclaiming “The Temple of Venus (Original Composition for Replica Lyre in the Ancient Hypolydian Mode)” by Michael Levy "Hurrian Hymn No. 6 (c.1400BCE) Ancient Mesopotamian Musical Fragment” by Michael Levy

This episode is a recording of Žemyna Trinkūnaitė playing a Kanklės, a traditional Lithuanian instrument, in a concert for a small group of people in a Baltic pagan temple in Lithuania. For more recordings, contact Žemyna Trinkūnaitė by email at zemynat@gmail.com To support Fair Folk: www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast paypal.me/DanicaBoyce

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

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 "Kupa

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 Mus

The first in a series on vocal polyphony, this episode gives credit to the ancient origins of vocal polyphony in rural community practices, looking specifically at the polyphony of Lithuania, whose sutartinės are a symbol of the nation's strong pre-christian folk heritage. Music: "Georgia: Vocal" by Greek Orthodox Church Choir "Vay, More" (Oh, the Sea) by The Women's Folklore Ensemble of Staraya Terizmorga Chant dedicated to St. Boniface, patron saint of Germany, 10th century by Quintin Beer and John Clapham "Responsory: Favus Distillans" by Anonymous 4 "Äs Zäuerli" by Öse Schuppel Latvian Song recorded by Andres Jurian in 1895 by Ensemble Sausejas "Kaval Sviri (The Flute Plays)" by Bulgarian State Radio & Television Female Vocal Choir "Porazh Veles" (Porazh Village) by The Women's Folklore Ensemble of Staraya Terizmorga "Trep Trepo, Martela" by Trys Keturiose "Kas Tar Taka" by Obelija "Kā Palinkai, Berželi?" (Recorded 1939) "Ka Palinkai, Berželi" by Jievaras "Daudas" by Kūlgrinda "Vakarinė Žvaigždelė" by Kū

This episode I chat with Jonny Dillon, an archivist at the Irish National Folklore Collection at University College Dublin. We discuss the history of the Folklore Collection, his podcast, Blúiríní Béaloidis / Folklore Fragments, and the deep need for folk tradition in modern life. The Irish National Folklore Collection is one of the largest folklore collections in Europe, and has just this month been ascribed to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Blúiríní Béaloidis / Folklore Fragments Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/folklore_podcast The National Folklore Collection: https://www.ucd.ie/irishfolklore/en/ Music: Intro: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods "Amhráin na Trá Báine" by Fiachra O'Regan "Aisling Gheal" by Fiachra O'Regan "An Leanbh Sí" by Fiachra O'Regan Image: An Irish family outside thatched cottage: Eason Photographic Collection, National Library of Ireland

Traditional herding calls from Sweden and Norway, with an interview with Swedish folk musician and kulning instructor Siri Holm. Music: Intro theme - "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods “Kulning” by Adolf Fredriks Kyrkas Kammarkör & Karin Backstrom “Kulning” Maria Hulthén Birkeland “Kulning” by Susanne Rosenberg “Farlock (Sheep Calls) - Getlock (Goat Calls) - Kalvlock (Calf Calls)” by Karin Edvardsson Johansson “Kulning” by Nygards Elisabet Nordkvist “Lockrop” by Karin Edvardsson Johansson “Koukning, get - och farlock (Goat and Sheep Calls)” by Erika Johansson “Kulokk” by Eli Storbekken “Kulokk” (Grieg) by Reidun Horvei “Hornlat fran Rattvik och Ore (Herding Call from Rattvik and Ore)” by Pelle Jakobsson “Vallat efter Frisell, Mockfjard” by Pelle Jakobsson “Lurlat fran evertsberg efter Tommos Kersti” by Pelle Jakobsson (interview begins) “Puksanger - Lockrop” by Lena Willemark, Susanne Rosenberg & Helena Gabrielsson “Kolock (Cow Call)” by Lena Willemark (interview ends) “Komarschlåten” by Ulrika Bodén Mastered

Malevolent or helpful, pinched and small, or beautiful beyond description, elves are a mainstay of western folk belief. Today we’re exploring the many manifestations of elf belief, delving into the folklore of the British Isles and Scandinavia, the two regions where elves have been most robustly represented. This episode features an interview with Terry Gunnell, professor of Folkloristics at the University of Iceland, and expert on the history - and present - of elf belief in Iceland. Music: Intro theme - "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods "Ólavur Riddararós" by Valravn "The Pilgrim's Prayer" by Oliver Schroer "The Elfin Knight" by Mary O'Hara "Trivium" by Arvo Pärt "Liti Kjersti og Elvekongen" by Kirsten Bråten Berg "Cello Suite No. 1, Op. 72 II. Lamento Lento Rubato" by Denise Djokic "True Thomas" by Christina Stewart "The Passing of the Elves" by Howard Shore "Queen of Elfan's Nourice" by Rachel Newton Interview: "Hollin Green Hollin / Thomas the Rhymer / Young Benjie / Tam Lin" by Gordon Mooney "Metamorphos

This episode is dedicated to the many wonderful tales shared in ballad form in Scandinavian countries. You'll learn that not all stories have happy endings (most don't), which part of the dragon you need to eat in order to gain the gift of prophecy (the heart), and how Groundhog Day is really a holiday about a Scottish hag's woodpile (she's called the Cailleach). Music: Intro theme - "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods "Herr Peders Sjöresa" by Hilma Ingberg "Kall Og Svein Ung by Sláið Ring" (Faroese ballad dancing) "Alex'Julpolska" by Daniel Peterson "Sigurdskvadet" by Strengleikr and Renessanse Consort "Drömde mig en Dröm" by Thomas von Wachenfeldt and Leo Flavum "Röcklavisan" by Sågskära "Kallt Väder" by Triakel "Rolandskvadet" by Jessica Comeau "Silibrand" by Marianne Maans "Maria Magdalena" by Hulling "Ebbe Skammelson" by Carin Kjellman & Ulf Gruvberg "Abrege - Folk Suite for Nyckelharpa and String Orchestra: Till Farmor" by Emilia Amper & Trondheimsolistene, Geir Inge Lotsberg, TrondheimSolistene, The Trond

Elves, epic poetry, sheep milk and murder... welcome to the world of Icelandic folk music! This episode features an interview with Bára Grímsdóttir and Chris Foster, two of the most accomplished performers of Icelandic folk music, and experts on rímur chanting, a form dating from middle ages, with its ancestry in the Icelandic Sagas and Eddas. Music: Opening theme: Forest March by Sylvia Woods Heyr Himna Smiður by Anneke van Giersbergen & Árstíðir Icelandic Folk Songs: I. Iceland, Land of Prosperity by Duo Landon Icelandic Folk Songs: VIII. The Virgin by Duo Landon Nafnaþula by Sólveig Indriðadóttir Haustið Nálgast by Steindór Andersen & Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson Interview: Vorvísur by Steindor Andersen Kveðið Við Spuna by Funi (Bára Grímsdóttir & Chris Foster) Göngu-Hrólfsrímur by Helgi Einarsson Ríma Afhent by Bára Grímsdóttir Stóð ég við Öxará by Eddukórinn Gott Ár Oss Gefi (Give us a Good Year) by Funi (Bára Grímsdóttir & Chris Foster) --interview end Krummavísur by Þrjú á Palli Íslandsklukkur by Íslands