Digital Xaos - Solar Eclipse (Extended)

Taken from the Novit Terminus EP, "Sacrifice." This song is a contemporary adaptation of the early 1300s folk song, "Bryd one Brere," sung in Middle English. The chorus is adapted from the Middle English poem, "When þe nyhtegale singes" ("When the Nightingale Sings").

Lyrics:

Bryd one brere, brid one brere,
Kynd is come of love, love to crave
Blythful biryd, on me thu rewe
Greyth, lef, thu me, thu me my grave

Hic am so blithe, so bryhit, brid one brere,
Quan I se that hende, hende in halle
Yhe is whit of lime, loveli, trewe
Yhe is fayr and flur, flur of alle

Nyht ant day my blod hit drynkes
Myn herte deth me tene

Mikte ic hire, ic hire at wille haven,
Stedefast of love, loveli, trewe,
Of mi sorwe yhe may, she may me saven 
Ioye and blisse were were, were me newe

Nyht ant day my blod hit drynkes
Myn herte deth me tene
Nyht ant day my blod hit drynkes
Myn herte deth me tene

Translation:
Bird on a briar, bird on a briar,
(Man)kind is come of love, love thus craves.
Blissful bird, have pity on me,
Great love, grant me my grave

I am so blithe, so bright, bird on briar,
When I see that handmaid in the hall:
She is white of limb, lovely, true,
She is fair and flower of all.

Night and day my blood it drains
My heart to death it aches

Might I her at my will have,
Steadfast of love, lovely, true,
From my sorrow she may me save
Joy and bliss would wear me new (i.e., me renew).

Night and day my blood it drains
My heart to death it aches
Night and day my blood it drains
My heart to death it aches.


Bryd one Brere (14th century)

Novit Terminus is the electro-folk/medieval music project of Jeremy C. Wells, Ph.D., whose journey has taken him to music, to academia, and back to music again, driven by a need to process and heal from trauma. 

Formerly a tenured professor and leading scholar in historic preservation, he left academia after experiencing abuse and mobbing. Through music, he explored the psychological dynamics of his abuse, gaining insight into his own experiences and the motivations of his aggressors. This artistic exploration has been a crucial part of his healing process. The project's name, Latin for "he has come to understand the limits," reflects this experience and the exploration of boundaries through ancient European musical traditions and a dark, driving, electronic sound.

In his twenties, he was involved in the electronic music scene in Portland, Oregon (USA), creating synthpop, techno, and trance as 68000 (Silent Records) and Violet Arcana (Zoth Ommog). Now, with Novit Terminus, he merges his past musical interests with his later experiences. 

Wells' style, which he calls "Euroatavism," blends ancient European folk and medieval traditions with electronic sounds. He's drawn to modal structures, unusual time signatures, and microtonality, creating music that is both evocative and rhythmically complex. Wells plays synthesizers (virtual and real, with a fondness for analog sounds), hand percussion instruments, and sings his own vocals. He emphasizes the human element, and uses no AI in any of his compositions. 

With Novit Terminus, Wells’ focus on traditional European music has helped connect him to his ancestral roots. He sees his music as a bridge between his past and future, a way of exploring his heritage while forging a new artistic path. It's a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative power of music.

Bryd one Brere (14th century)

Novit Terminus

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