My answer to a creative challenge posed by the very talented Ali English - create *something* around the theme of Seers...

Seer

Traditional (arranged by Chantelle Smith, 2015)
(Rough recording, a capella with some reverb added)

The Invocation To St. Bridget is traditionally sung on Candlemas Eve by the women of the Isle of Man - the song welcomes St. Bridget into their homes to bless them for the coming year.

I first heard this song sung by a Manx harpist who visited my school when I was 11 but for a long time I could only remember the first two lines.  Last year I found the words and a pronunciation guide so I could finally sing the whole song through.  As I don't speak Manx Gaelic, my pronunciation may be a little off but I've been told by Gaelic speakers that they understood what I was singing so I don't think I'm that far off.

I added an approximate English translation as a second verse so that non-Gaelic speakers could understand what the invocation means.  Also, Bride (also Breed) is another name for St. Bridget.

Invocation To St. Bridget / Clean Suggane / Arrane y ven−thie

I got old mountain 'love song' from Sheila Kay Adams. One of those songs that, once heard, demands to be learned. 

Pretty Saro

A recording from one of our practices. We got this from the Sacred Harp, a very fine collection of sacred songs and spirituals, usually sung in spine-tingling four part harmony by a roomful of people sat in a hollow square. 

We have quite a few hymns in the repertoire. The religious have been nicking tunes from the secular for years, so turnabout is fair play.

Wayfaring Stranger

First attempts to record with the concertina.  

The Rose

Growing (The Trees They do Grow High)

A quick test of my shiny new Shure MV88

This is one of those songs that folkies learn by osmosis. Seek out Sam Larner's version on Now Is The Time For Fishing if you want a real treat.

And now it's updated with the full recording

Pleasant and Delightful

No effects, no autotune, no overdubs.  Just attempting to remember who I was once.  It's raw, yes.  But very, very real.

SilverSpringsAnnie

So this came about (after, of course, watching the excellent The Witcher TV series) with me wondering what folk music in the world of The Witcher could be like and also what the Battle of Sodden Hill would have been like for the random background NPCs so I wrote this song.

It uses a lot of references from English folk idiom but references things from the world of The Witcher.

This is a rough(in both voice and hot-off-the-press newness) recording for FAWM; I hope to do a better one at a later date as I'm really enjoying this song.

Tune and words by me, completed 1st February 2020

Invocation To St. Bridget / Clean Suggane / Arrane y ven−thie

Chantelle Smith

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