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Kirsten Baird Gustafson |
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With three decades of experience in the performing arts, longtime Alaskan Kirsten Baird Gustafson brings a an extensive background in theater, music, and production to the stage. Working in the theater arts since 1976, Kirsten is an acclaimed performer with a wide variety of experience in acting, producing, and directing, as well as radio and television commercials. As a nationally-touring performer and songwriter, Kirsten sings and plays guitar, pennywhistle, and flute. Her 1990 release, Kirsten Baird and Greenstone-Live is an Alaskan favorite. As a founding member of the cult phenomenon The Derry Aires, she performs with that quartet around the state and is a featured artist on the groups 2000 release of Cheek to Cheek. This award winning group is essentially an acapella ensemble, but you just never know what these women will do on stage. They have become a popular highlight of many Anchorage productions, a back-up vocal ensemble favored by many local musicians and a hit on the touring circuit. |
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| Land o' the Leal (see lyrics below)
Artist: Kirsten Baird Gustafson |
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| Kirsten is also a featured writer and performer on the recently released Seasons of the Witch on Arctic Siren Records and Llewellyn Publications which won the COVR award (Coalition of Visionary Retailers) for best multimedia product of the year at the International New Age Trade Show convention in Denver. The awards are voted on by international booksellers and are called "the Oscars of the New Age". Seasons of the Witch is an evocative, earthy delight honoring the Goddess through the movement of the seasons. It features haunting, powerful music set to the poetry of Goddess movement pioneer Patricia Monaghan. Other artists featured on this release include James Robbins, Sally Coombs, Peggy Monaghan, and Claudia Blythe. This is a rich, heady brew that recalls starlit nights and voices from long ago. Seasons of the Witch is a result of connections between sisters and friends, and the inherent power of words and music. Kirsten has just finished her solo release Land o' the Leal on Arctic Siren Records. Leaning on and reveling in her Celtic roots, this collection of traditional and contemporary songs weaves a magical fabric made up of the stories of lives lived and lost. Produced by Peggy Monaghan, Land o the Leal features an array of musicians who prove fearless and deft on their instruments. The progress of a life, from birth to death is explored with the loving touch of a true storyteller. For Booking Information call 907-245-7311 |
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| Lyrics for Land o' the Leal AILEIN DUINN (Dark Alan) TRADITIONAL SEAGULL, SEAGULL FROM THE OCEAN COME TO ME AND TELL ME PLAINLY Ò HÌ SHIÙBHLAINN LEAT HÌ RI BHÒ HÒ RU BHÌ HÌ RI BHÒ HÒ RIONN O HO, AILEIN DUINN, Ò HÌ SHIÙBHLAINN LEAT WHERE YOU LEFT MY OWN, THOSE FAIR ONES LEFT ALONE WITH SEA SURROUNDING BROTHERS THREE AND MY OWN FATHER GONE MY CHILD GROWN TO MANHOOD AS IF THIS WASN’T ALL MY BURDEN DARK HAIRED ALAN MY DEAREST JEWEL WHAT IS IT THAT SO TORMENTS ME? THAT YOUR BED SHOULD BE THE SEAWEED NONE BUT SEALS TO BE YOUR MOURNERS THE MURMURING SEA YOUR SONG OF PASSING NORAN WATER WORDS Helen Cruickshank; music Jim Reid; pub. Springthyme Music UP THE NORAN WATER AND IN BY INGLISS MADDY ANNIE’S GOT A BAIRNIE THAT HAS NAY GOT A DADDY WHO THE BAIRNIE’S DADDY IS THE LASSIE WILL NA SAYS AND NOBODY EXPECTED IT WITH ANNIE’S QUIET WAYS UP THE NORAN WATER THE BONNIE LITTLE MANNIE IS DANDLED AND CUDDLED CLOSE BY INGLISS MADDIE’ ANNIE WHO THE BAIRNIE’S FATHER IS THE LASSIE NEVER SAYS SOME THINK IT TAMMAS’S AND OTHERS THINK IT’S CHAE’S Who the bairnie's faither is, UP THE NORAN WATER THE COUNTRY FOLK ARE KIND AND WHO THE BAIRNIE’S DADDY IS THEY DINNA MUCKLE MIND BUT OH THE BAIRN AT ANNIES BREAST, THE LOVE IN ANNIES EYE WOULD MAKE ME WISH WITH ALL MY HEART THE LUCKY LADD WAS ME THE BERGEN BY JEZ LOWE SLEEP WHILE YOU WAKE ME WITH THESE DREAMS YOU BRING DREAMS CAME TO ME WHERE I LAY AND SWEET THE MELODY THE WILD WAVES BRING AND MY LOVE IS FAR, FAR AWAY OH, AND PITY THE HEART THE WILD WAVES PART MY LOVE SAILS THE BONNY BARK, THE BERGEN THEY HEAP THEIR NETS UPON THE DECKS BY MOONLIGHT DREAMS CAME TO ME WHERE I LAY THEN CREEP OUT GENTLE AT THE DEAD OF NIGHT AND MY LOVE IS FAR, FAR AWAY CHORUS THEY REAP THE HARVEST OF A COLD NIGHT SEA DREAMS CAME TO ME WHERE I LAY IT LEAPS WITH HERRING ‘NEATH ITS DECK FOR ME AND MY LOVE IS FAR, FAR AWAY CHORUS STEEP WAVES RISE ABOVE ITS COLD BARE HEAD DREAMS CAME TO ME WHERE I LAY OH, KEEPING SAFE ‘TIL I LIE IN MY BED AND MY LOVE IS FAR, FAR AWAY CHORUS (BREAK) IT WEEPS WITH RAIN TONIGHT WHERE MY LOVE LIES DREAMS CAME TO ME WHERE I LAY OH, SWEEP THE FOREIGN SANDS FROM OUT HIS EYES AND MY LOVE IS FAR, FAR AWAY CHORUS (2) THE LAND O’ THE LEAL I’M WEARIN’ AWA, JOHN, LIKE SNAW-WREATHS IN THAW, JOHN I’M WEARIN’ AWA TAE THE LAND O’ THE LEAL THERE’S NO SORROW THERE, JOHN, THERE’S NEITHER CAULD NOR CARE, JOHN THE DAY IS AYE FAIR IN THE LAND O’ THE LEAL YE AYE WERE LEAL AND TRUE, JOHN, YOUR TASK IS ENDED NOO, JOHN AND I’LL WELCOME YOU TAE THE LAND O’ THE LEAL OUR BONNIE BAIRN’S THERE, JOHN, SHE WAS BAITH GUID AND FAIR, JOHN AND, OH, WE GRUDGED HER SAIR, TAE THE LAND O’ THE LEAL SO DRY THAT TEARFUL EE, JOHN, MY SOUL LANGS TAE BE FREE, JOHN AND ANGELS WAIT ON ME TAE THE LAND O’ THE LEAL SO FARE-THEE-WEEL MY AIN JOHN, THIS WORLD’S CARE IS VAIN, JOHN WE’LL MEET AND AYE BE FAIN, IN THE LAND O’ THE LEAL WITCH OF THE WESTMERELAND BY ARCHIE FISHER PALE WAS THE WOUNDED KNIGHT THAT BORE THE ROWAN SHIELD LOUD AND CRUEL WERE THE RAVENS' CRIES THAT FEASTED ON THE FIELD, SAYIN': "BECK WATER COLD AND CLEAR WILL NEVER CLEAN YOUR WOUND THERE'S NONE BUT THE MAID OF THE WINDING MERE CAN MAKE THEE HALE AND SOUND." "SO, COURSE WELL, MY BRINDLED HOUND, AND FETCH ME THE MOUNTAIN HARE WHOSE COAT IS AS GREY AS THE WASTWATER OR WHITE AS THE LILY FAIR." WHO SAID: "GREEN MOSS AND HEATHER BANDS WILL NEVER STAUNCH THE FLOOD; THERE'S NONE BUT THE WITCH OF THE WESTMERELANDS CAN SAVE THY DEAR LIFE'S BLOOD. "SO, TURN, TURN YOUR STALLION'S HEAD 'TIL ITS RED MANE FLIES IN THE WIND AND THE RIDER OF THE MOON GOES BY AND THE BRIGHT STAR FALLS BEHIND." AND CLEAR WAS THE PALEY MOON WHEN ITS SHADOW PASSED HIM BY BELOW THE HILL WERE THE BRIGHTEST STARS WHEN HE HEARD THE OWLET CRY, SAYING: "WHY DO YOU RIDE THIS WAY, AND WHEREFORE CAME YE HERE?" "I SEEK THE WITCH OF THE WESTMERELAND WHO DWELLS BY THE WINDING MERE." "THEN FLY FREE YOUR GOOD GREY HAWK TO GATHER THE GOLDENROD, AND FACE YOUR HORSE INTO THE CLOUDS ABOVE YON GAY GREEN WOOD." IT'S WEARY BY THE ULLSWATER AND THE MISTY BRAKE FERN WAY 'TIL THROUGH THE CLEFT OF THE KIRKSTONE PASS THE WINDING WATER LAY. HE SAID, "LIE DOWN, MY BRINDLED HOUND, AND REST YE MY GOOD GREY HAWK, AND THEE, MY STEED, MAY GRAZE THY FILL FOR I MUST DISMOUNT AND WALK. "BUT COME WHEN YOU HEAR MY HORN, AND ANSWER SWIFT MY CALL, FOR I FEAR ERE THE SUN WILL RISE THIS MORN YOU WILL SERVE ME BEST OF ALL." AND IT'S DOWN TO THE WATER'S BRIM HE'S BORNE THE ROWAN SHIELD AND THE GOLDENROD HE HAS CAST IN TO SEE WHAT THE LAKE MIGHT YIELD. AND WET ROSE SHE FROM THE LAKE AND FAST AND FLEET WENT SHE, ONE HALF THE FORM OF A MAIDEN FAIR WITH A JET BLACK MARE'S BODY. AND LOUD, LONG, AND SHRILL HE BLEW, 'TIL HIS STEED WAS BY HIS SIDE; HIGH OVERHEAD THE GREY HAWK FLEW AND SWIFTLY HE DID RIDE, SAYING: "COURSE WELL, MY BRINDLED HOUND, FETCH ME THE JET BLACK MARE STOOP AND STRIKE, MY GOOD GREY HAWK AND BRING ME THE MAIDEN FAIR." SHE SAID: "PRAY SHEATHE THY SILV'RY SWORD, LAY DOWN THY ROWAN SHIELD, FOR I SEE BY THE BRINY BLOOD THAT FLOWS, YOU'VE BEEN WOUNDED IN THE FIELD." AND SHE STOOD IN A GOWN OF THE VELVET BLUE, BOUND 'ROUND WITH A SILVER CHAIN, AND SHE'S KISSED HIS PALE LIPS ONCE AND TWICE AND THREE TIMES 'ROUND AGAIN. AND SHE'S BOUND HIS WOUND WITH THE GOLDENROD; FULL FAST IN HER ARMS HE LAY, AND HE HAS RISEN HALE AND SOUND WITH THE SUN HIGH IN THE DAY. SHE SAID: "RIDE WITH YOUR BRINDLED HOUND AT HEEL AND YOUR GOOD GREY HAWK IN HAND; THERE'S NONE CAN HARM THE KNIGHT WHO'S LAIN WITH THE WITCH OF THE WESTMERELAND." ********************************************************* NOTES: Rowan: mountain ash, credited with protective qualities Beck: brook Winding Mere: old name for Lake Windermere Wastwater: a scree that covered Lakeland Fell Goldenrod: herb said to arrest bleeding Brake fern: bracken SPEAKING WITH THE ANGELS BY RON SEXSMITH He don't know how to lie Or undermine you He don't know how to steal How to deal or deceive So leave him alone, set him free Cause he's speaking with the angel That only he can see You say he's so helpless Well what about you You don't pull the strings Don't you know anything Just leave him alone, let him be Cause he's speaking with the angel That only he can see Would you teach him about heaven Would you show him how to love the earth Would you poison him with prejudice From the moment of his birth He in the name of love He in the blood of the lamb He that never lays blame He don't even know his name Just leave him alone, let him be Cause he's speaking with the angel Speaking with the angel The very one that spoke to you and me Oh do you remember? SOVAY Sovay, Sovay, all on a day She dressed herself up in man's array With a sword and pistol all by her side To meet her true love To meet her true love away did ride As she was riding over the plain She met her true love and bid him stand "Stand and deliver, kind sir" she said "For if you do not For if you do not, I'll shoot you dead" He delivered up his golden store But still she craved for one thing more "That diamond ring that I see you wear O hand it over O hand it over and your life I'll spare" "From a diamond ring I would not part" "For it's a token from my sweetheart" "Shoot and be done, you rogue" said he "And you'll be hanged then And you'll be hanged then for murdering me" Next morning in the garden green Young Sovay and her true love were seen He spied his watch hanging from her clothes Which made him blush, lads, Which made him blush, lads, like any rose Why do you blush, you silly young thing I thought to have your diamond ring T'was I who robbed you all on the plain So here's your gold, love So here's your gold, love, your watch and chain I only did it for to know If you would be a true love or no If you'd have given me that ring she said I'd have pulled the trigger I'd have pulled the trigger and shot you dead. JOCK O' HAZELDEAN Why weep ye by the tide, lady Why weep ye by the tide? I'll wed ye to my youngest son And ye shall be his bride And ye shall be his bride, lady Sae comely to be seen But aye she let the tears doon fa' For Jock o' Hazeldean. Now let this willfu' grief be done And dry that cheek sae pale Young Frank is chief of Errington And laird o' Langley-dale His step is first in peaceful ha' His sword in battle keen But aye she let the tears doon fa' For Jock o' Hazeldean. A chain of gold ye shall not lack Nor braid to bind your hair Nor mettled hound, nor managed hawk Nor palfrey fresh and fair. And you, the foremost o' them a' Shall ride our forrest queen But aye she let the tears doon fa' For Jock o' Hazeldean. The kirk was deck'd at morningtide The tapers glimmer'd fair The priest and bridegroom wait the bride And dame and knight were there They sought her baith by bower and ha' The lady was na' seen She's o'er the border and awa' Wi' Jock o' Hazeldean. Caer’s Song Who sings to you? The sea ends, the sky begins, Swans flew towards me in a dream. Where is yesterday? Ancient gold from the sea, Songs of the past in the wind. Why this opening? The harvest is complete, Stars wheel over the stones. When will I come to you? The sun sets, the moon rises, Dim fire blazes into light. Who sings to you, The sea ends, the sky begins, Swans flew towards me in a dream. Wild Sound Yours are the hands of a magician Of wildernesses Like iris transmuted into wild blue flags What you touch escapes from cultivation instantly Like roses collapsing into fruitfulness You touch me and suddenly Lawns grow rampant with bedstraw A fieldstone path dissolves into a canyon Cedars crush an ornamental hedge. An ancient order reasserts itself And this from your one charm You know no garden long withstands The sorcery of freedom Some things change quickly Farther north the slow responses glaciers stir Migrations swell like canticles And the locked sea opens to the sleeping whale Its savage revelations. And the locked sea opens to the sleeping whale Its savage revelations. Finola’s Song The gorse is blooming again And wild rhododendron Roses bud in the rain Always and never the same Above, the wild geese skein. Once I kept count of the years The sky would cloud and clear The sun rise, shine forth, disappear While I the daughter of Lir Counted each hour, each tear. The gorse is blooming again And wild rhododendron Roses bud in the rain Always and never the same Above, the wild geese skein. A century passed and another I believed that I should number Each moment since my brothers and I Lost ourselves and our father Both in the wave of a feather. The gorse is blooming again And wild rhododendron Roses bud in the rain Always and never the same Above, the wild geese skein. I thought it my task to remember But one spring as I stared at a flower In its frail momentary power I forgot to make note of the hour And fell into timeless wonder. The gorse is blooming again And wild rhododendron Roses bud in the rain Always and never the same Above, the wild geese skein. Love is not fooled by a mask We float on oceans bright as glass We endure the storm’s blast, its blast And the days pass, the days pass Unnumbered, uncounted at last. The gorse is blooming again And wild rhododendron Roses bud in the rain Always and never the same Above, the wild geese skein. |
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