Marc Gunn's "Celtic MP3 Music Magazine"
http://www.celticmp3s.com/


Changing the way you hear Celtic Music
A weekly ezine of legal free Celtic MP3 downloads
December 3, 2004 5000+ subscribers


HIGHLIGHTS....
- Celtic Music News
- Feature: Bow Triplets
- CD Feature: Cantiga
- Feature: Brigid's Cross
- New Links
- Manage your subscription

Don't just download.
Support artists you like & Buy.
Then, forward this newsletter to a friend.

Latest News
http://www.celticmp3s.com/magazine/



=========================
1. Celtic Music News
=========================

Greetings friends,

Yeah, as my personal gig schedule gets busier more and more months
fly by. On the bright side, July 1st is my scheduled day to start
doing music full-time. I'm hoping that'll free up more time to
focus on this ezine as well as some of my other online projects.
Until then, I'll keep posting great Celtic music as I find it.

Meantime, I'm getting ready to head off to Europe for a vacation
and some gigging. Up through The Netherlands, to Switzerland,
and then on to visit my mom in Italy.

I'll be performing all along the way, mostly impromptu performances.
If you're in the area, look for me at the Archeon Fantasy Faire in
The Netherlands, I'm trying to setup a gig outside of Rome.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions, I'd love to try secure
a couple more shows. Meantime, enjoy this packed newsletter!

---

ANNOUNCING THE iTUNES OF CELTIC MUSIC
If you check out the website at all, you will have heard of one
of the coolest new services online, TradTunes. It's the iTunes
of Celtic music. The new site started up in October and is now
running full steam ahead.

I decided to try out the new service recently. I found a great
album of waulking songs by Bannal. Beautiful work. The site
is working with most of the big names in the Celtic music scene.
There is no independent music as of it, but I'm hoping that'll
change once their well off and running.

Meantime, if you're looking for Celtic MP3s, this is the first
place you should consider looking. Check out TradTunes now!
http://www.celticmp3s.com/cgi-bin/celtic_music/jump.cgi?ID=838

---

DOWNLOAD AND SHARE "LILY THE PINK" MP3
Andrew told me he grew up listening to an Irish Rovers
recording of "Lily the Pink." We added this song to our repetoire
last year, and it's become one of our catchiest new songs. It's
about as popular as Mrs. Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound
was at the beginning of the 20th century.

This is the perfect song to introduce you to some of what's to
come. So go download it! It's our gift to you.

Oh! Did I mention that you can even share the Free MP3 with your
friends when you download it? So go ahead. Tell your friends
about it. I guarantee they'll love it.

Lily the Pink - Gift MP3
http://mp3postcards.com/listen?507

More about Lily the Pink
http://www.mum.org/MrsPink1.htm

Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales - DragonCon Limited Edition EP
http://www.celticmusic.org/Brobdingnag_Fairy_Tales.shtml

---

2004 Just Plain Folks Music Awards Winners
http://www.celticmp3s.com/magazine/2004/11/2004-just-plain-folks-music-awards.sh\
tml

Warm Guinness & Blazing Hot Irish Music with Lunasa
http://www.celticmp3s.com/magazine/2004/10/warm-guinness-blazing-hot-irish-music\
.shtml

---

If ye like what you read and hear,
please forward this newsletter to your friends.



_____________________________________SPONSOR__________

GIVE THE GIFT of CELTIC MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS

Buy Coventina's Well for just $6.97
http://cdbaby.com/cd/celticmp3mag/from/celtic/

Stop throwing time and money down the drain. Listen to the best
independent Celtic music groups online with Coventina's Well.

Cheaper than a meal at McDonalds! And it benefits a great
non-profit Celtic organization, the Austin Celtic Association.
Order three copies for just FIVE DOLLARS each!
_____________________________________________________



=========================
CELTIC BAND FEATURE #1
=========================

"Big John McNeal" by Bow Triplets

In a couple weeks, I get to meet this incredible band when I
stop off in Switzerland on my way to Italy. That's the perfect
opportunity to introduce them.

Here's very Celtic music played by a dedicated Band. Traditional
songs and tunes plus original compositions combining their own
multinational backgrounds whith the Celtic styles to which this
band is deeply comitted. They can be heard live in various
countries in Europe.

"Bow Triplets" or bowed triplets is the expression for one of
the most frequent ornamentations used by Irish fiddlers to add
that special and traditional groove and excitement that we know
and love with Celtic music. Three very short and fast bow
strokes are played instead of one note.

I first found them on MP3.com. It was the song "Never Too Early"
that made me fall in love with the band. That was only the
beginning to a plethora of brilliant songs and tunes, like
"Big John McNeal" from their last album "One Spot on Earth."

This traditional fiddle piece adapts itself wonderfully to
the bluegrass style. The original fiddle tune composed by
Peter Milnes was titled "John McNeal." Jay Ungar learned if
from the Canadian fiddler Bud Snow who said the tune was
widely known in Canada as "Big John McNeal".

Incidentally, you can hear their latest song, "The Last Shirt"
at SoundClick. It's another beautiful ballad written by Stef
Sigfalk and portends another splendid album!

Hometown: Basadingen, Switzerland
Similar Artists: Altan, Chieftains, Christy Moore, Dubliners,
Bothy Band, Boys of The Lough

Homepage: http://www.bowtriplets.com/
Download: http://www.soundclick.com/pro/default.cfm?BandID=45728
Buy CD: http://www.bowtriplets.com/kaufcd.htm



=========================
CELTIC CD FEATURE
=========================

"Martha's Dragon" by Cantiga

A few months ago, I received some CDs from Cantiga, the premiere
Renaissance Festival jam band. I started listening, and I tell ye
what, they've become one of my favorite bands out there. They also
have a brand new CD called "Martha's Dragon."

Cantiga has played World, Celtic and Renaissance music at festivals
since the 70s. The name Cantiga means 'song' in the language of
Alfonso X, the 13th century Spanish king whose royal court was a
haven for Christian, Muslim, and Jewish musicians. Their music is
filled with the spirit of improvisation which has flourished
among musicians in such cross cultural crossroads throughout
history.

This is album isn't much of a "Celtic" album per se. Rather, it's
filled with beautiful blend of tunes from throughout Europe from
Spain to Bulgaria, France and Germany to the British Isles.

I think that word that best comes to mind with his album is
'joyous.' That's the spirit that they share with their music.
It's light-hearted, upbeat, and a lot of fun. I could so see this
band performing a five hundred years ago or in a modern music hall.
In both case, they will captivate their audiences like they do at
the entrance of the Texas Renaissance Festival this year and at
faires throughout the nation.

Buy "Martha's Dragon"
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cantiga4/from/celtic/

Find out more about Cantiga at
http://www.cantigamusic.com/



_____________________________________SPONSOR__________

DVD Movie Downloads

Download millions of movies, mp3s, games.
"the holy grail of movie download software" Tech Press

http://hop.clickbank.net/?bellobard/airon
______________________________________________________



=========================
CELTIC BAND FEATURE #2
=========================

"Crazy Train Reel" by Brigid's Cross

Brigid's Cross is a high energy band that plays traditional,
contemporary and original compositions. Paul Baker is a wizard
on the fiddle and mandolin and also provides lead and back up vocals.
Peggy Goonan-Baker has a one of a kind voice and excells on the
Bodhran and keyboards. This trio is completed by guitarist Richie
Reece who also has been a world class Irish step dancer. Brigid's
Cross has toured all over the USA and Ireland.

Their website is a bit difficult to get around, but when I saw the
"Crazy Train Reel" I just didn't care. Yes, Ozzy Osborne is reborn
Celtic style in this high speed live performance by the band that
goes from a metal song to big band swing with "In the Mood."
Awesome performance by this band. Sadly, the tune is not available
on CD, but they do have a few other albums available. Check out
the clips on CDBaby and you'll hear something that you will want
to add to your album collection.

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Similar Artists: Christy Moore, Great Big Sea, Tommy Sands
Similiar: Great Big Sea, Dougie Maclean, The Fables, Nickle Creek

Homepage: http://www.brigidscross.com
Download: http://www.bcfiles.org
Buy: http://www.brigidscross.com/albums.htm
& http://cdbaby.com/cd/brigidscross/from/celtic/



=========================
NEW TO CELTIC MP3S MUSIC MAGAZINE
=========================

RATHKELTAR (rath-KELT-ur) (added: 17-Nov-2004)
http://www.rathkeltair.com
RATHKELTAR (rath-KELT-ur): n. 1. acoustic trad mixed with
spine-tingling Euro-pop as performed by jaded ex-rockstars;
2. Celtic world fusion;
3. the new ROAR in 2004!

Boghill Centre (added: 19-Nov-2004)
http://www.boghill.com
Boghill Centre; a residential music and healing centre in
County Clare, Ireland

Clan Cunningham USA - New England Region (added: 19-Nov-2004)
http://home.comcast.net/~clancunninghamusa-ne/
Find out what Clan Cunningham and Scottish activities are
happening in New England. Links to Games and Festivals,
Scottish shopping in New England and elsewhere

Traditions Magazine (added: 23-Nov-2004)
http://www.traditionsmagazine.com/
An independent magazine focusing on folklore, cultural
traditions, and the occult.

Love to Sing! (added: 30-Nov-2004)
http://www.lovetosing.info/index.htm
This site has many informative articles, links, and
resources available just for singers.



=========================
6. ABOUT THE CELTIC MP3s MUSIC MAGAZINE
http://www.CelticMP3s.com/
=========================

"Celtic MP3s Music Magazine" is a weekly publication by
Bard Marc Gunn of the Brobdingnagian Bards, The Original
Celtic Renaissance. Help spread the word about great
Celtic Music Online!

Learn more about
http://www.marcgunn.com <-- Bard Marc Gunn
http://www.thebards.net <-- Brobdingnagian Bards

Promote your music with Celtic MP3s
http://www.celticmp3s.com/promote/