Mar 4, 2008

Around The World (21)

Hello, Around The World stays on the medievil theme for now. Faun is a german pagan folk / medieval band using mainly old medieval instruments . They' ve released 4 great albums in relative quick succesion (5years). So i would think, after you tasted their third, you will add them to your watch list. For those that want some more depth to their pagan / medieval collection there's another sampler Mystica Antiqua Vol. 1..and yes expect Vol 2 next week.

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Faun - Renaissance (05 ^ 302mb )

FAUN combines ancient instruments with modern influences to create an enchanting and powerful atmosphere.
The band's performances incorporates with up to three voices chant and employs many different instruments. Faun was founded in 1998 by Oliver Sa Tyr, Lisa Pawelke, Fiona Rüggeberg and Birgit Muggenthaler. Two years later, Rüdiger Maul got into the band as percussionist. At the same time, Birgit left the band, to continue her musical life with the folk-rock band Schandmaul. In 2002, they released their first album Zaubersprüche. Niel Mitra was a guest musician on this album, and he later became a full-time member of the band, the only one playing only electronic instruments.(Oliver Sa Tyr – Vocals, Bouzouki, Nyckelharpa, Celtic harp, Jews harp, Lisa Pawelke – Vocals, Hurdy Gurdy, Fiona Rüggeberg – Vocals, Recorders, Whistles, Bag pipe, Seljefloit, Rüdiger Maul – Tar, Riq, Davul, Panriqello, Darabukka, Timba, Gaxixi and many other percussion-instruments and Niel Mitra electronics ) . They have released 4 albums these last years; Zaubersprüche 2002, Licht 2003, Renaissance 2005 and Totem 2007.

Faun has performed at more than 350 occasions in festivals, markets, concert halls and churches throughout Europe. For example: The Mèra Luna Festival, Elf Fantasy Fair (Holland), Wave Gotik Treffen 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2005 & 2007, Fiesta Celtica Biella (Italy), Zillo Open Air, Folkwoods Folkfestival (Netherlands), Arena van Vletingen (Belgium), Savari Karneval 2005 (Hungary) and many more...



Faun kindly explains what this album is all about

01 - Satyros (3:36)
With lyrics from the Carmina Burana Faun has created a new song. This song (and thus the album) starts of with the sweet voices of Lisa and Fiona. Then the drums set in. Little laughs and flutes give the song a light element. It is as if you hear the dryads and fauns have a party in the woods.

02 - Da Que Deus (3:53).
The virgin mary performs a miracle and is thus praised for this. A cheerful song with a thriving melody but also some slower and softer, more sacred moments. Not only the vocals tell a story, so does the flute.

03 - Tagelied (5:01)
A song about leaving each other and returning, a song about love. On the rhythm of a waltz you are lead through the song. The lyrics are easy to understand, and remember. It is a sweet melody with at times just a little extra emphasis on the low tunes giving the song an extra tension.

04 - Rhiannon 3:28 min.
Rhiannon contains no vocals. A song about Rhiannon from the Welsh mythology, and hter messengers, the songbirds form the Celtic Otherworld. The song is carried on ongoing beats which obviously come from the laptop of Niel. Besides that there are ongoing drums and a higher melody which I think is produced by the hurdy-gurdy of Lisa. It is a song which gets you moving.

05 - Sirena 5:11 min.
This lyrics of this song come from a Sephardic wedding song, Faun has written music to these lyrics. The song has an eastern sound to it, because of the instruments which are used and the rhythm. After the ocean sounds which open the song, drums set in and then you’ll hear the sirens (Lisa and Fiona) which are part of this story. They sing the song in its original language which is a bit like Italian.

06 - Königin 6:25 min.
A sad and slow song about a king trapped in his own castle and the young girl in the valley who makes him realise how silly his earthly worries are. You hear the girl (Lisa) sing her song, guided by a light snare instrument and when the vocals seize there is the sound of a flute. Through these light instruments you can hear the hope which is embedded in this song.

07 - Iyansa 4:51 min.
A song to evoke the Afro-Brazilian Goddes of the wind. Faun uses the traditional text and the music is part traditional, part Faun. A flute calls out to the wind and then the vocals set in. The lyrics, even though you can’t understand them are easy to remember and like the rhythm they could get you in a trance if you’d repeat the over and over again. The drums have a steady rhythm which builds up to an outburst at the end of the song.

08 - Loibere Risen 3:33 min.
This is a ‘minnelied’ by Wizlaw von Rügen, dung by Lisa. About how love would make a difference between the horrible winter and wonderful times. The song has a slow rhythm and is guided by (I think) the Celtic Harp. It could easily guide you into wonderful dream.

09 - Rosmarin 6:44 min.
“A song about a beloved who seems to have become the slave of a far-away aim, her paths are lined with rosemary”. The song is sung by the lover who stays behind (Oliver). In the melody of the song you can hear the steps of the lover and her winding paths. At one point in the song there is a silence and then slowly the beat is built up again to what it was and then one line of a chorus is repeated on and on, by the other lover, then fading to silence again.

10 - Das Tor 8:12 min.
This song is written by a friend of Faun, a friend they have now lost. It is about the gate, the gate to the other side. Even though the melody is sad and the rhythm is slow there is a reassuring peace in it. The lyrics are beautiful.


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VA - Mystica Antiqua Vol. 1 (99, 70min ^ 433mb)



01 - Lesieґm - Fundamentum (4:47)
02 - Blackmoreґs Night - Play Ministrel Play (3:59)
03 - Vox - Mirage (4:52)
04 - Ophelias Dream - Saltarello (1:58)
05 - Galahad - The Leaving of Inishmore (3:04)
06 - Elysia - Genesis (4:49)
07 - Lydia - St. Claires Mountain (3:41)
08 - Margie Butler - Lea Rig - Kind Robin (2:58)
09 - Engelsstaub - A Dream Within A Dream (6:39)
10 - Poeta Magica - Madre Deus (4:39)
11 - Van Langen - Eyn morgenl. Tдnzeleyn (3:38)
12 - Mothwing - Uzma's Springtime Dance (3:28)
13 - Dave Miller - Holy Days Of Glory (6:26)
14 - Mystic Elements - The Ring of The Giant (2:38)
15 - Mystic Millenium - Swell to Doubt (7:43)
16 - Stella Maris - Cantara (4:32)

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All downloads are in * ogg-7 (224k) or ^ ogg-9(320k), artwork is included , if in need get the nifty ogg encoder/decoder here !

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Re-up of Faun would be appreciated