Gleowien

Gleowien is a middle English word meaning to make music and merry. This album is dedicated to that, containing English traditional and Swedish pipe tunes and songs from Child Ballad to self penned, accompanied by a multiplicity of instruments both English and Swedish.

English traditional and Swedish pipe tunes, a song based on a child Ballad and some self penned songs. There are vocals from both Vicki and Jonny.

Vicki plays Scottish Small pipes, Swedish nyckelharpa and wooden flute.

Jonny plays guitar, accordion and Swedish cittra.

Gleowien
Rosey Jones : Pine Dance : Gleowien (Dyer)
Gleowien is a middle English word meaning to make music and merry. This tune set is dedicated to that very pastime. Best served with a pint.

William
Lyrics and Melody – Dyer
This is our synthesis of the Child Ballad #3 ‘The Smart Schoolboy’. Following the pattern of the New Brunswick version (False False Fly), this song is further changed in two ways; The lyrics highlights the boy’s vulnerability as an orphan and ‘the baddie’ is a man dressed in gold – representing greed and corruption.

Åsavägen
Skön Åsa : Norrahammarsvägen (Swan)
Skön Åsa means lovely Åsa. Spelt differently, but pronounced almost the same, Sjön Åsa would mean Lake Åsa so be careful how you say it. Norrahammarsvägen is the name of a road in Sweden, many happy times spent at both.

The ‘Dood’ Night Kiss
The Little Pard (Swan)
Lyrics – Robert M. Swan, Melody – V. Swan, arr V. Swan
A poem written by Vicki’s Great, Great Grandfather about his grandson – Vicki’s Grandfather (confusing isn’t it?), set to music by Vicki.

Whist
The Revelstoke Wedding : Whist with a Twist (Swan)
We couldn’t get to the Revelstoke Wedding in Canada, but the game of whist really did happen.

Follow Me Home
Lyrics and Melody – Dyer
A chorus song calling the family home from the fields. Obviously not traditional – everyone is way too content.

Time Out
Time Out : Clattering About : Sticky Ticket (Dyer)
A set of rhythmic tunes pulling the smallpipes away from their Highland heritage. Clattering about was written to the gentle but repetitive noise of the Channel Tunnel Train – this probably explains the rhythms.

Fikavalsen
Fikavalsen : Iste Vista (Swan : Dyer)
Fika is the Swedish act of drinking coffee and eating cinnamon buns a lot. Yum! Iste Vista is the view from Iste. What else would it be?

The Roses Three
Lyrics – Trad, translated V. Swan, Melody – Trad, arr Dyer
A traditional Swedish song of love, horse riding, painting and happy endings.

Puget
Vintage Puget : Bare Bones : Turn the Wheel (Swan : Dyer : Dyer)
‘Vintage Puget’ was the name of a home-made red wine whilst Turn the Wheel could be an e-ceilidh Tune.

Lord Ullin’s Daughter
Lyrics – Thomas Campbell, Melody – Dyer, arr J. Dyer
Boy and girl run away. Grumpy dad comes chasing after. Weather poor. Gale warnings. No-one lives happily ever after.

Trad II
Rory McLeods : Highland Pibroch : Banks of the Allen (Trad)
What is says on the tin, our second set of traditional pipe tunes.