- Discover more great music in our Proper Music store, and read about the very best of Proper Music's latest and forthcoming releases in Properganda Issue 19 (online flash version).
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Product Description
CD Description
First released in 1979 by Criminal Records in the UK, ‘A Glint At The Kindling’ was the final album by The Merry Band The Merry Band consisted of Robin Williamson, Sylvia Woods, Chris Caswell and Jerry McMillan. This album shows Robin’s muse reaching new heights, and contains many of his best compositions post-Incredible String Band. Largely biographical in content, the album revolves around Robin’s epic poem ‘Five Denials On Merlin’s Grave’. As a bonus, ‘Five Bardic Mysteries’ has been added. Originally released by Robin on his own label in 1985 as a cassette, these spoken-word pieces demonstrates Robin’s remarkable storytelling abilities. In fact, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant used ‘The Dialogue Of The Two Sages’ as part of their ‘No Quarter’ Show in the mid-nineties. These five tales act as a perfect accompaniment to ‘Five Denials On Merlin’s Grave’. Tracks: A Glint At The Kindling (Robin Williamson & His Merry Band): The Road The Gypsies Go / Me & The Mad Girl / Lough Foyle / The Woodcutter’s Song / By Weary Well / Boyhood Of Henry Morgan/The Pooka / Five Denials On Merlin’s Grave / The Poacher’s Song / Five Bardic Mysteries (Robin Williamson): The Spoils Of Annwn / The Battle Of The Trees / The Dialogue Of The Two Sages / The Voyage Of Bran, Son Of Febal / Three Celtic Nature Poems
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When I first encountered "Glint at the kindling" I was only familiar with Robin's work in the Incredible String Band. This was different stuff - but it soon captured me as much as the best the ISB produced. Later I bought more Williamson records (well, practically everything), but this one, along with "Songs of love & parting" (not considering his beautiful "Gems of Celtic Story" series) is the most captivating - amazingly well-crafted and filled with all one could wish for, both textual and musical. Earlier records like "American Stonehenge" sound like he was trying to find a new voice, but in "Glint" he definitely found one - all his later work bears many traces of this record.
On cd, the original "Glint" is teamed up with five bardic mysteries, which are all great (although you should check out the already mentioned "Gems of Celtic Story" for even better & more complete stories). These 5 bardic stories were presented on one cd with "Songs of love & parting" earlier.
On the original lp, Robin plays with the Merry Band - of which he has said he's never worked with better musicians - and it shows ! The songs I love best are "The road the gypsies go", "The woodcutter's song" with its great instrumental coda, "By weary well" and of course the epic "Five denials on Merlin's grave".
All the added stories are great, and if you're a Williamson fan I'm sure you'll love them. It should be noted that "The dialogue of the two sages" presented here is a less complete version than the one appearing on "Gems of Celtic Story 2".
I was very happy with the release of the album on cd - and very pleased with the additions, although, in some sense, it has somehow destroyed the intimacy and the sense of completeness of the original (and why did they ditch the original cover, sporting a picture of a still youthful Williamson?). Nevertheless, this ranks among Robin Williamson's best work (including the ISB records) and over the years it has remained my favourite Williamson solo lp.
On cd, the original "Glint" is teamed up with five bardic mysteries, which are all great (although you should check out the already mentioned "Gems of Celtic Story" for even better & more complete stories). These 5 bardic stories were presented on one cd with "Songs of love & parting" earlier.
On the original lp, Robin plays with the Merry Band - of which he has said he's never worked with better musicians - and it shows ! The songs I love best are "The road the gypsies go", "The woodcutter's song" with its great instrumental coda, "By weary well" and of course the epic "Five denials on Merlin's grave".
All the added stories are great, and if you're a Williamson fan I'm sure you'll love them. It should be noted that "The dialogue of the two sages" presented here is a less complete version than the one appearing on "Gems of Celtic Story 2".
I was very happy with the release of the album on cd - and very pleased with the additions, although, in some sense, it has somehow destroyed the intimacy and the sense of completeness of the original (and why did they ditch the original cover, sporting a picture of a still youthful Williamson?). Nevertheless, this ranks among Robin Williamson's best work (including the ISB records) and over the years it has remained my favourite Williamson solo lp.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Originally released in 1979, this album features some of Robin's finest post-String Band compositions. In fact, the magical, magisterial, utterly gorgeous 'By Weary Well' is my favourite song ever by anyone. The Merry Band add their considerable musical talents to the mix to great effect, especially on instrumental passages of crystalline brilliance. These are four exceptional musicians at the top of their game. The songs are uniformly strong, often autobiographical, and topped off by the remarkable 'Five Denials on Merlin's Grave' that takes us on a bardic journey across about five millennia of British history. The addition of the 'Five Bardic Mysteries' that Robin released on cassettes in the mid-80s follow on well from the 'Five Denials' and demonstrate yet again that Robin is the finest traditional bard working in Britain today. As he has done since the earliest days of the String Band, he displays a wide knowledge and love of traditional music and tales, yet is never constrained by them. Instead, he weaves a lifetime of influences into his work, from Flamenco to panto, via India and Morocco, rendering each song a unique treasure. This broad palate and the way Robin works with it has influenced fellow performers from Billy Connelly to Led Zeppelin. The man's a legend and this CD shows him at his fabulous best.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
A fine thing
6 Dec 2010
Format:Audio CD
There is no finer maker of celtic/folk/narrative music than the great Robin Williamson. Prolific, well versed on many instruments, and posessor of a worn and rich voice like an old uncle who's been away on a lifetime of adventures. He is a wandering bard and mischief maker in the truest sense, and this is yet another of his masterpieces, with a sampling of both short songs and historical celtic myths. Buy at LEAST one of Mr. Williamson's CD's for yourself and your closest friends.
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
![traditional folk music [1980-89]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IrAVa8sML._AA60_.jpg)
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
