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Keywords:
English (24), traditional (65), dirge (5), spiritual journey (1), death (130), afterlife (6), purgatory (2), prickly spiky stuff (1), redemption (9)
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Description:
This is an example of what might have happened if electric guitars had been around in medieval times. The musical setting here is entirely the work of Dick Langford, to whom many many thanks.
The Lyke Wake Dirge is a very old song about the soul's journey through purgatory. The words are in an archaic dialect from the north of England. "Lyke wake" means "corpse watch", and it was meant to be sung by those who kept vigil over a body before burial. It's a passing-over song for the newly departed to guide them through the first stages of the afterlife, but also a warning to the living about the importance of being a nice person while you're still here.
It's a very English vision of purgatory - where the soul has to walk across moorland covered in gorse bushes, with or without socks.
I knew Dick had a great talent and creative imagination for this sort of thing but I was still blown away by what he came up with.
Thanks Dick, you're a star.
Rebsie: voices
Dick: guitars, bass, percussion, effects, everything else
© 2007 Rebsie Fairholm/Dick Langford
Lyrics:
This ae nighte, this ae nighte
Any nighte and alle
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte
And Christe receive thy saule
When thou from hence away art past
Any nighte and alle
To Whinny-muir thou com'st at last
And Christe receive thy saule
If ever thou gavest hosen or shoon
Any nighte and alle
Then sit thee down and put them on
And Christe receive thy saule
But if hosen or shoon thou ne'er gav'st nane
Any nighte and alle
The whinnes will prick thee to thy bare bane
And Christe receive thy saule
When thou from hence away art past
Any nighte and alle
To Brig o' Dread thou com'st at last
And Christe receive thy saule
If ever thou gavest meat or drink
Any nighte and alle
The fires will never make thee shrink
And Christe receive thy saule
But if meat or drink thou ne'er gav'st nane
Any nighte and alle
The fires will burn thee to thy bare bane
And Christe receive thy saule
This ae nighte, this ae nighte
Any nighte and alle
Fire and fleet and candle-lighte
And Christe receive thy saule
this ae nighte = this one night
fleet = floor or hearth
Whinny-muir = moorland covered with nasty prickly spiky stuff
hosen and shoon = socks and shoes (useful for crossing prickly spiky moorland)
whinnes = gorse spikes
bane = bone
Brig = bridge
Hardware:
Yellow plectrum
Software:
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Lyke Wake Dirge &mdash 11/04/07 - 12:53:29 PM
Impressive tastey style .actualy if there s a real
thirst for a kind of new music to be explore is
exactly what you and Dick have done here .these
precious songs must be sung again with the sence of
this time .Dick you are a SUPER star .Rebsie this is
absolutly one of your specilay songs ever (after Geordie):~)
and The Oak and The Ash :-P
just a revisit of the steeleyed span ..!
thank you for sharing such gem here !!! [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Feter &mdash 11/04/07 - 04:42:46 PM
I always thought this song would suit my voice, but I could never have come up with an arrangement like this. The song is essentially a prayer and Dick has preserved the sanctity and solemness of it while turning it into something really unusual.
I really appreciate your kind and constant support, Feter. [ Reply to This ]
Very rich and full sound... &mdash 11/04/07 - 12:53:37 PM
...Great dynamics throughout, especially amongst the instruments and vocals. The picture painted utilizes a lush and full pallette of aural colours. I love the vocal harmonies. Rebsie, you have come a long way as a vocalist. Mr. Langford's abilities with instrumentation and arrangement certainly shine through.
Alimar
PS - didn't they have electric guitars back then? [ Reply to This ]
Cheers boss &mdash 11/04/07 - 05:24:17 PM
"a lush and full pallette of aural colours" ... I like that. And you used the British spelling too. :)
They did have electric guitars in medieval times but they had to power them by getting trained chickens to run round in a big wooden wheel. It wasn't possible to play a proper lead break before the chickens got dizzy and fell over. A missed opportunity. [ Reply to This ]
yes &mdash 11/04/07 - 01:35:16 PM
The old ways are always there ... &mdash 11/05/07 - 02:58:08 AM
Moving &mdash 11/04/07 - 01:46:05 PM
&mdash 11/05/07 - 03:01:06 AM
I'm not quite sure what to say... &mdash 11/04/07 - 03:20:00 PM
Except that I like it very much. Well done to the both of you. A fantastic collaboration! :) [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 11/05/07 - 03:04:17 AM
I was pretty speechless when I heard it, I must admit. Your support is greatly appreciated, Eppy. [ Reply to This ]
Great mix- &mdash 11/04/07 - 03:20:48 PM
of the old and new. And a great message that is timeless. I love the mix. It's kind of new territory you moved on to, and I like it a lot. [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 11/05/07 - 03:08:21 AM
I'm really pleased you like it Kristyjo. It is new territory, but it's a direction I always wanted to go in but didn't have the wherewithal until now. I'm so happy it's getting a positive response. :) [ Reply to This ]
Used to have a 60's version of this... &mdash 11/04/07 - 03:44:02 PM
...that I think might have been the Watersons...I'll have to look it up... Fantastic low bass voice on it...
This one really comes together for me at the point that it cuts back to mostly bass and hand drum and high hat...Great vocal sound riding over it all at that point...The nice slow cadence of the vocal over the funk in the rhythm section is infectious...
Cool moments of psychedelic freak-out, too...
Ed [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Ed &mdash 11/05/07 - 03:25:25 AM
I'm not sure whether the Watersons have done this one or not but I'd be surprised if they hadn't - it's right up their street. Pentangle also did a really good version in the late 60s.
Dick does have his own special talent for psychedelic freakouts. And yes the contrast between that twiddly bass and the stately vocal is inspired. I love what he did with this and I feel very privileged to be working with him. [ Reply to This ]
wonderfully &mdash 11/04/07 - 04:32:11 PM
atmospheric and even with the modern instruments... authentic sounding. It's a great collaboration on this song and both of you have worked well on this song. Great vocal and instrumentation.... and as I said, a real sense of atmosphere, regards M [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 11/05/07 - 04:30:21 PM
I &mdash 11/04/07 - 04:34:18 PM
love this song - but have never heard it quite like this! A wonderful and fresh interpretation. Excellent vocals Rebsie and a very interesting arrangement. Lovely stuff. Thanks to you both for sharing.
Peter [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Peter &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:45:24 PM
I hope it was some consolation for the noise of your neighbour's angle grinder. [ Reply to This ]
Your voice .. &mdash 11/04/07 - 04:52:16 PM
.. is superb as always. Treated well in the mix too.. those characteristic 'ye olde' English folk harmonies shine ..
I'm really impressed by what Ed quite succinctly described as "psychedelic freak-out" .. it does give that "if electric guitars had been around in medieval times" touch...awesome.
Dick just has to make it to MJ 2008... or we'll hold it
at his place, without him knowing ..shh. ;o) [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Alan &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:57:33 PM
I should have given Dick a separate credit for the mix 'cause that's all his work too and he's done an incredible job with it. Those vocal tracks didn't sound that lush when I sent them to him. ;) The harmonies were pretty much improvised.
I couldn't wait till MJ 2008, I'm meeting up with him this weekend. :) [ Reply to This ]
hosen & shoon &mdash 11/04/07 - 06:58:27 PM
I knew that :- ) what a cool treat. The music was outstanding. creative, organic and extremely well produced. Reb's your vocal is like silk. Bravo [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 11/07/07 - 01:26:11 PM
Thank you John, I appreciate your comment and regular support. Glad you liked it! [ Reply to This ]
Across Time &mdash 11/04/07 - 07:11:56 PM
This is really great on every level and I love the blend of different times and genres, not just the medieval period with 60's/70's psychedelia, but the more contemporary dance beats and the world music influences too. I love the solo on the outro a LOT.
Rebsie, you were made to sing this stuff, but you know how to sing it in just the right way that it goes well with more contemporary music and that's a wonderful skill.
I'm listening to this again and my mouth's hanging open a bit, actually. It's pretty stunningly great. [ Reply to This ]
Thank you &mdash 11/07/07 - 03:13:21 PM
That's a pretty stunningly great comment too which I appreciate very much. I'm sure Dick will appreciate it too ... he's currently offline with internet problems so he's been missing his moment of glory here. :o
You hit the nail on the head with what you say about fitting together the traditional and contemporary. I have a kind of primitive ancestral spiritual urge to keep singing these old songs but at the same time I grew up listening to rock, punk, prog and psychedelic music and my tastes veer well away from straight-down-the-line traditional folk. I'd always imagined wanting to do this kind of hybrid stuff, but I haven't always had enough musical skills to pull it off.
Thanks again for a lovely comment which put a big smile on my face. [ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 11/04/07 - 07:35:02 PM
Rebsie and Dick Langford,
Quite a song here, music is awesome as well as vocals.
I don't like to compare to other bands but I get
a feel (a good one) like Cocteau Twins or Velvet Indiana
(One of Robin Guthrie's bands post CC)
All in all a ten!
Can not wait for more and excellent production!
dwwave [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 11/07/07 - 03:32:19 PM
Thanks David, I appreciate your comment. And thanks for all the guitar info you sent. Hopefully I won't have to buy any more guitars for a while! [ Reply to This ]
BRAVO DICK!!!!!!!!! &mdash 11/04/07 - 08:27:51 PM
Oh yes yes yes!
Bassier bit inro'd a bit heavy for me but I could see how some would love it very very much! Ohhh some almost tabla sounding thingies as well!! Classy Dick very classy!
You know how I love crossing genres and world grooves Rebsie.. this is far out!! Super good and yummy... Id pay to see it live or even mostly live ;)
Really really well done both of you!
Awesome..just awesome.
[ Reply to This ]
&mdash 11/15/07 - 04:04:09 AM
Thank you MR. I always think that if our ancestors had had Apple Macs and midi keyboards they would have used them, so mixing up all the different grooves and beats on an ancient song seems like a perfectly natural thing to do. It helps when you have someone as talented and inspired as Dick to do it for you though. ;) [ Reply to This ]
Fun fusion &mdash 11/04/07 - 09:28:25 PM
of styles across time (including the 60s :o) ) Vocals are haunting and bring forth a connection with the ancient, but mixed with the engagingly innovative arrangement this piece takes on an energy that's very new and compelling. Very effective contrast mid way between the near solo vocal followed by the psychedelic effects, fast forwarding ancient to modern. Wonderful collab folks! Thanks for posting!
Doug [ Reply to This ]
blown away &mdash 11/05/07 - 08:54:53 AM
Rebsie, your vocals with their solemn harmonies really stand out so well and flavor this with authenticity.
Dick, your arrangement and guitar work will help all of our souls pass through,(rock on) to our final destinations.
What a great work. [ Reply to This ]
Definitely gets... &mdash 11/05/07 - 10:06:43 AM
...intense in there. Great beat to work off of...instrumentation is very, very cool. Your voice works wonderfully with the tune... [ Reply to This ]
fresh &mdash 11/05/07 - 12:08:15 PM
Very imaginative, fresh sound you two achieve on this track!
I like the variety of sound-textures; sometimes thick, sometimes more transparent.
There's a lot going on here but the mix hangs together coherently.
The ending seemed just a bit quick for me -- it might have been nice to do a longer fade-out, to match the "momentous", almost grand feeling of the previous material.
I hope that you both explore and develop this interesting new style further -- an entire album of this music would be very good.
[ Reply to This ]
&mdash 11/12/07 - 06:56:28 AM
Thanks Cameron, I always appreciate your thoughtful and eloquent comments, and it's good to know that you like what we're doing.
An entire album of this? Well I'm up for it if he is. :) [ Reply to This ]
The yellow plectrum &mdash 11/05/07 - 12:55:41 PM
I really like those vocals, Rebsie. Dick's music is superb and go great with your vox. I love this kind of nuanced and intricate mix. This is great stuff. [ Reply to This ]
Yeah! &mdash 11/05/07 - 01:59:49 PM
Cool cool piece! I love hearing what might not have been, but there's no reason why not... - Maybe there was a reason then, but there's not reason now - Always a treat to hear your vocals, Rebsie! Beautiful work, Mr Langford! This one gorgeous piece of music!
Thanks! Dion [ Reply to This ]
strangely fitting &mdash 11/05/07 - 02:24:46 PM
The weird electric howling and Black Sabbath treatment really seems to fit... love the marriage of your chanting voice and Dick's aural pyrotechnics... some really nice harmonization and ideas for embellishment, great work!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Striking! &mdash 11/05/07 - 04:26:28 PM
Wow - wo - wow &mdash 11/06/07 - 05:02:04 PM
You just replaced Pentangle as my favorite Medieval/Psych band. Mind blowing production and stunning vocals.
THIS IS SO GOOD! Cheers collabers! I'm in awe. [ Reply to This ]
Cheers Bud &mdash 11/15/07 - 03:51:59 AM
I'm very grateful for your lovely comment, and for the private message. Given that you're such a long-standing Pentangle fan it's a huge compliment. I love the Pentangle version of Lyke Wake so it was a challenge for me to come up with a different way of singing it ... I wanted this to be as un-Pentangle as possible while still capturing the same vibe.
I was beaming all over my face after reading your kind words, thanks! [ Reply to This ]
- A journey &mdash 11/08/07 - 05:18:02 PM
I actually ended up listening to this on myspace on a 4th can of carlsberg - having a great night listening to everything across various sites.It really carried me away and I love the way youve glued this together.All kinds of styles in there,but the nice thing is walking around the room conducting various experiments while listening on a really loud pair of headphones with some incense burning etc is that this track ended too soon - when dick does his thing there on guitar towards the end (nice contrast between the verses) was that it sounded like it was about to go onto another chapter - like a prog rock folk double sided vinyl album.Really enjoyed it - I was drifting somwhere down to brighton (or hove) and along some of the canal paths I know up to the North and back again.Real treat.Cheers
RG [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Richard &mdash 11/12/07 - 06:46:31 AM
I hear what you're saying about it ending too soon ... that lead break at the end is pretty stunning I reckon. Maybe I can persuade him to do an extended mix some time. :) Thanks very much for a lovely comment.
I've just been drifting somewhere down to Brighton myself. Nice place (and strangely enough I have more friends in Brighton than I do in Cheltenham).
I used the public toilets in Preston Park and thought of you. ;) [ Reply to This ]
By the way &mdash 11/12/07 - 03:08:40 PM
Had a beer,a dance and a fight with your husband today.
Yeah me too - used to be in this band:- http://www.myspace.com/kinkyjourno
Theyve just set that page up - and are on about a reunion or something next year (doubt it).As you can see from the number of fans - we are very well remembered.
Preston park - slept under a tree there once with a frying pan. [ Reply to This ]
Shaved your head lately? &mdash 11/09/07 - 01:31:58 AM
Shades of Sinead! Nicely done, good bit of melding of styles. Great collab - that yellow pick sure makes a difference :)
Neil [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 11/15/07 - 03:41:22 AM
Nah, I think waist-length hair is more my thing but I appreciate the compliment. Thanks Neil. [ Reply to This ]
Great ! &mdash 11/09/07 - 02:04:51 PM
such a real impressive, strange and beautiful work here, i don't think that everyone can do such a sounds like these. Amazing vocals (as usual) and for sir Dick : I must check his stuff. Impressed by the work here ! Wonderful Collab
Take Care
==============
Yeman Auf Al-Rawi [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 11/15/07 - 03:37:54 AM
"Strange and beautiful" ... that's a big compliment to me! Thanks Yeman. [ Reply to This ]
Many thanks to one and all &mdash 11/10/07 - 08:14:16 AM
and many thanks to Rebsie for her truly inspriting vocals.
Some background info.
The middle section is a real mess of all sorts of stuff. I had this idea that the souls would be milling around not knowing whether they'd be going up or down.
The final section is either a celebration that they're going to Heaven or a soddin great party before they're shipped off to Hell.
There have been some wonderful comments and I really appreciate everyone taking the time to listen and post their thoughts.
I really enjoyed working on this and II can say this won't be the last collab you'll hear from us :-)
Thanks again
Dick [ Reply to This ]
That should be "INSPIRING" vocals !!! &mdash 11/10/07 - 09:56:35 AM
Inspriting &mdash 11/11/07 - 01:55:12 PM
- &mdash 11/15/07 - 12:54:16 PM
prouf reed - not only a new word but a great name for a new artist.I might sign up as a new member with that name just for a rainy day when my songs become so obscene they ban my account (if they could be that inhumane - I dont think so,but maybe thats a new challenge that I wont pursue just now) and delete all my songs leaving me mp3less and I'd have to buy them all back for a thousand pounds each of course.(luckily I bartered with the local manager of a rock pubs PC (phuuugh!) which he said is burnt out and erased and installed his hard drive which was 120GB - yay - I might be able to store all a shipload of songs now!).If you see a PC - rape it of its credentials - cd burners/rewriters all work with OS X MAC! - format the hell out of it and plug it into your mac.Sorry - my memory half-exists on a hard drive.I offered them a beer or money - but he just grinned like I was an idiot and said - take it,mate.
Prouf Reed and the Lerners
anyway I always thought it was called skimming.As in - on the thin ice of a new day.
Mad Max RG - upon finishing teaching music for the week.Man those kids attitudes to music leave me so high I cant...get...down..to earth again!
(been jammin with attention defesit disorder kids and aspergess syndrome kids - I say they are the new wave of sober rock n roll! - sod the labels.Leave me on a million miles an hour tho)
Anyway - returning to reality....
[ Reply to This ]
Medieval madness &mdash 11/10/07 - 11:56:26 AM
Cool collab. The song is beautifully sung by yourself and Dick has done a brilliant composition. The two mix so well, almost two styles (yours traditional and Dick's not so traditional) combine nicely to create a colourful and imaginative soundscape (there, that did sound too prentious). Cool track. :-) [ Reply to This ]
&mdash 11/15/07 - 03:33:46 AM
Thanks Diviner. Me and Dick have a lot of musical common ground but we're coming to it from different directions, so there's a wide range of influences being pulled into it. [ Reply to This ]
Lyke Wake dirge &mdash 11/25/07 - 07:53:15 AM
Lyke Wake Dirge &mdash 07/15/08 - 05:57:18 PM
Beautiful Music
And of course gorgous lovely singing and lyrics.
Great Production. Well done.
However, I can only go on how it sounds to my two ears, because I am still only learning and am no way an expert.
But nice sounding music is nice music. And this indeed fits the bill.
Cheers Rebsi you have a great singing voice. Music sounded brilliant..
Great collab as usual.
Peace Dee.
Peace Dee. [ Reply to This ]
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thirst for a kind of new music to be explore is
exactly what you and Dick have done here .these
precious songs must be sung again with the sence of
this time .Dick you are a SUPER star .Rebsie this is
absolutly one of your specilay songs ever (after Geordie):~)
and The Oak and The Ash :-P
just a revisit of the steeleyed span ..!
thank you for sharing such gem here !!!
[ Reply to This ]