Y Mabinogi – The Second Branch – Deadlines and Tears

Y Mabinogi – The Second Branch – Deadlines and Tears

So another quick update on the progress of the next album for you!

The news is that I am one song away from finishing writing the songs for the album. All of the spoken word has been recorded and edited, so once the final song is written the next stage will be to record, mix and master those songs. And once that’s done they will be dropped into place within the story, and the final bits of juggling will take place until I have the finished tale ready.

So my plan to release it this Autumn is looking good, very good indeed.

In the next week or two I’ll be posting a little video trailer for the Second Branch, much as I did for the First Branch, to tease you a little and give you an idea of what you have in store.

This is a VERY exciting time, and as the album comes together, and all of the parts fall into place, that’s when even more magic happens. Intros to songs lay just right under the introducing spoken word; places lay bare ready for the tale to continue. It’s amazing – as if the whole project is being guided by hands other than my own. Sometimes I just step entirely out of the way and let those hands work their magic.

Before I go I’d like to share something with you that happened just last week. There is a moment in the tale, when the seven survivors of the war return to the Island of the Mighty and land on the Isle of Anglesey. Branwen looks out toward Ireland, and then to her homeland. She says, “Woe is it that I was ever born, two islands have been laid waste because of me”. Her heart breaks and she dies. It’s an incredibly sad moment of the tale, and in the retelling, a song goes here. It will be sung by a guest female singer (in the same way S J Tucker took the role of Rhiannon in the Mother and the Mabon song in the First Branch) and there is some spoken word in the song too. When I finished writing it I played it all the way through, complete with the spoken word. As I struck the final chord a wave of grief hit me so hard that I had to put down the guitar and just weep for Branwen, and the survivors too. It was as if I could feel Branwen with me, her hand on my shoulder, as we shared those tears.

So my friends things are progressing well. I hope to get you the trailer in the next week or so. How exciting!!!

11 responses to “Y Mabinogi – The Second Branch – Deadlines and Tears”

  1. I enjoyed the 1st Branch, listening to it many times, so I’m all of a quiver awaiting the 2nd.Branch. It is such an evocative story, I don’t wonder you cried, I probably will too when I listen to it, & I’m not usually a person who gets emotional!
    Blessings
    Anne

  2. Sooooo looking forward to your the next branch! Can’t hardly wait. You ARE such a grand storyteller! I am sure we will all shed a tear for dear Branwen. Blessings throughout.

  3. Fantastic can’t wait. You must have worked really hard to get this done but when the Awen is with you magic really does happen. I’m not surprised you were in tears Damh the three tales that always pull at my heart strings are Branwen’s tale of The second Branch, The Children of Lir of the Three Sorrows and The Call of the Fianna by the magnificent Fiona Davidson’s The Language of Birds. I cry every time. Thank you Damh for bringing the magic of the old tales back into our lives xx/I\xx

  4. Just can’t wait for the next Branch. I know I will play the First Branch, and then listen to the Second, so that the story runs one into the other. Apple brandy, candles, and tissues at the ready. A treat as the days shorten, and the darker nights lend their magic to the telling of tales.

    Brandon tells her story through you, and we will all weep and feel the power of that story.

  5. ust can’t wait for the next Branch. I know I will play the First Branch, and then listen to the Second, so that the story runs one into the other. Apple brandy, candles, and tissues at the ready. A treat as the days shorten, and the darker nights lend their magic to the telling of tales.

    Branwen tells her story through you, and we will all weep and feel the power of that story.

  6. I am trying to send this again. I loved part 1 so much I am wearing the disc thin, I just like to play it over and over, I am sooo looking forward to the second part.

    I to felt the deep sadness of Branwens death from a broken heart, not surprising really it is a very emotional part of the story.

    Thank you so much for the hard work, love and care that you have put into this momentous story.

    Ann

  7. We await the next branch with baited breath, you made us cry with the first one…now MORE tears. Oh great bard do you not have any tales of happiness within you. Haha

  8. wow, that is a pretty profound reaction! glad the album is coming along well and i am very much looking forward to having it in my clutches to listen to!! peace and blessings!

  9. Cried already at the first album, but enjoyed it so much! You have a rare talent and are gifted by the gods to tell their stories! Can’t wait for the second branch!

  10. I love the first branch and listen whilst I’m studying my Gwersi. I cannot wait for the second branch but then owing my path to yourself and David Spofforth and owning all your albums I’m hardly surprised.

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