New Video Release: "Annwn"

New Video Release: "Annwn"

August 14, 2011, 12:12 am
Filed under: Bran, Celtic Harp, Celtic Symbolism, Memorable Data

Greetings to you all …

I share with you this recent release on video of a tune of my own … I composed this tune on praise of the “Annwn”, which is the “Otherworld” in Welsh mythology. Ruled by Arawn, or much later by Gwyn ap Nudd, it was essentially a world of delights and eternal youth where disease is absent and food is ever-abundant. It later became Christianised and identified with the land of souls that had departed this world.

In the First Branch of the Mabinogi, entitled Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, the eponymous prince offends Arawn, ruler of Annwn, by baiting his hunting hounds on a stag that Arawn’s dogs had brought down. In recompense he exchanges places with Arawn for a year and defeats Arawn’s enemy Hafgan. Meanwhile, Arawn rules Dyfed. During this year, Pwyll does not sleep with Arawn’s wife, earning himself gratitude from Arawn. On his return, Pwyll becomes known by the title Penn Annwn, “Head (or Ruler) of Annwn.”

In Culhwch and Olwen, an early Welsh Arthurian tale, it is said God gave Gwyn ap Nudd control over the demons lest “this world be destroyed.” He led the Wild Hunt. A Christian story tells of the Welsh Saint Collen entering Gwyn’s palace to banish him with holy water.

The early medieval Welsh poem Preiddeu Annwfn (“The Spoils of Annwn”), found in the Book of Taliesin, describes how King Arthur leads an expedition to Annwn to seek a cauldron. According to the poem: ” Three shiploads we went; save seven none returned.”

This track was recorded along with Xandru Reguera (co-founder of my folk based band BRAN) and was included on the digital edition of BRAN’s EP – “ANNWN”

Personnel

Eliseo Mauas Pinto: irish lap harp, keyboards

Xandru Reguera: Acoustic Guitar, Sound Engineering

Recorded at Two Hound Studios

This is a Remastered Version from original tracks ( 2010 )

I am specially grateful to my Spanish friend Diosa(E.M.R.) for her collaboration on the edition and layout art of this video, which includes two of her own photomanipulation works plus free footages and the inclusion of excerpts of the film Legend [1985] by Ridley Scott (director’s cut 2pts)

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