A fantasy folk album, between mystical songwriting and bardic ballads
"Ballate Mitomagiche" is the new musical album connected to the new novel by Arthuan Rebis: Helughèa. The Winged Guardian. The book is the sequel to Helughéa. The Tale of a Leaf Star, but it still presents itself as a stand-alone work that dives vertiginously into worlds on the brink of the Apocalypse.
THE MUSIC ALBUM
Credits
All music and lyrics are by Alessandro Cucurnia (Arthuan Rebis)
except: "Angelo del Mare" (music by Cucurnia, lyrics by Angelo Tonelli), "Namarie" (music by Cucurnia, lyrics by J.R.R.Tolkien), "Merseburger Zaubersprüche" (9th century lyrics, music by Frank Wulff), "In Dreams" (music and lyrics by Roy Orbison).
Alice Petrin: vocals, violin, nyckelharpa, musette, tambourine.
Guests
Daniele Dubbini: bansuri on “Stella Fatua” and “Angelo del Mare”.
Fabio Ussi: violin on “Angelo del Mare”.
Beppe Brotto: esraj on “Angelo del Mare”.
Mr Jumbo: programming on “The Calling”.
Watercolor illustrations by Nicola Caleo.
Photos by Maddalena Andreoli.
Illustration of “Il Guardiano Alato” by Critiano Marchesi.
Graphics by Arthuan Rebis
Mythomagical Ballads, the songs
Melancholia
A very important theme in Arthuan's novels, as well as in the history of art and alchemical tradition, think of Durer's work (cited in the video clip).
Metamorphic
Alchemical serenade that in the novel «The Winged Guardian» is written by Carlo for his beloved Tìndril, but that can be extended to any being and to every aspect of the soul. The «making soul» is a tribute to James Hillman.
Ethereon
A song in the Heludin language, in the book «The Winged Guardian» it seals the coronation of a heroine at the gates of the Dark Age.
Stella fatua
A Leaf Star/Wisp that announces omens and transports a conscience. Incipit of the novel.
Dark Era
A more lively piece, where bagpipes reign and the awareness that every collective change arises from a process of transformation of one's mind.
Canticle of the Goddess
A piece written in a state of temporary deafness. It is a poetic hymn to the nature of phenomena, as it is understood in the Buddhist tradition. Phenomena are empty of self-existence and therefore luminous and pure beyond appearances. The refrain recites the Mantra of Wisdom. The rest of the text is full of apparently opposite poetic quotes and figures that harmonize in their natural transcendence.
Chanson des Bardes
A piece dreamed by Arthuan. In the dream it was played and sung by a druid.
In the book, this song is rediscovered by one of the characters, who in a previous life was a disciple of that very bard. There are many enigmas enclosed in the text. Some are solved in the novel.
The Wizard and the Towers
Alchemical ballad that personifies the essence of an enlightened alchemist and his vision of the world. It could also refer to a character in the book: Doctor Yon.
Song of the Woodworm
A grotesque poem written in the novel by one of the characters (Bardolph the Gravedigger), full of onomatopoeia.
The Fool and his Scepter
A new version of a song composed by Arthuan in 2016 and which is featured on an album by In Vino Veritas. In the book it takes on new nuances, but was originally inspired by the essay “The Fool and his Scepter”, as well as by experiences of weeks spent as a carnival musician serving Prague’s high society and nightclubs in the city’s slums.
Mainades
A song in ancient Greek, “Dionysus and the Maenads dance in the sacred grove”. Full of vocal nuances and harmonic songs.
Angelo del Mare
A mystical poem by my friend, the Greek scholar and philosopher Angelo Tonelli, set to music by Arthuan many years ago, but never published until now.
Meth aion
A piece in the Heludin language, sung by the rulers of Helu, who became the Sun and Moon of the Immense Tree. It is a hymn to Cosmic Love.
Namarie
From a poem by Tolkien, with text in Elvish Quenya: “Ah! Like gold the leaves fall in the wind, Long years countless as the wings of trees! The long years have passed like quick sips of sweet mead In high halls beyond the West, Under the blue vaults of Varda where the stars tremble.”
Merseburger Zaubersprüche
Ougenweide cover with an arrangement that ends up in a reworking.
The text is part of the Merseburger Spells. This is a blessing for the release of prisoners, and is the oldest prayer in Old German. It comes from a 9th century source.
In Dreams
Roy Orbison cover and tribute to David Lynch, to add a further alienating touch to the album. The sounds of the original song marry the historical context of much of the events in the book “The Winged Guardian”. Events that range from the second post-war period to the seventies, resulting in rather distant dystopian futures.