A Busy Monday

Monday was a very full day. Things start quite early these days. There were other things to do in the morning as well and then at 1 pm we had the next Evangelical Library lunch time lecture from Nick Needham on Robert L Dabney. An excellent piece of work. I will give a full report soon. I am sorry not more were able to hear it. After that we had a committee meeting and that was worthwhile. Finance continues to be an issue. Things are healthy enough at the moment but on current trends, it won't be long before we are in trouble. Current trends are making it difficult. Then after that I met up with a pastor friends of mine from West London and we visited a home in Golders Green where a couple are troubled about recent phenomena in the home. It turned out that Ihad met the lady before in another connection. We talked and then we prayed |(me in English, my friend in the family tongue). They kindly gave us gifts even though we were there only a short time/ I hope this will lead to further contact and a spiritual blessing on the famiily. It was nice too to have a coffee and catch up with my friend who I first met years ago through EMF

As I walked home through the park, there was a glorious sunset. My mother used to tell me that God was too good to me (she feared I would take it for granted). God certainly is very good. Then after tea I had a Bible study on salvation with two Iranian kurd refugees who come to the church. One of them has recently been transferred to Luton nd had caught the train to Cricklewood. I am encouraging hiom to attend a church in Luton but he like us, he says. anyone I was able to pass on part of the gift I'd just received to hm to cover his significant costs. The Bible study was okay bit all in translation. Their English is not great and my Farsi non-existent.

I then relaxed watching University Challenge (Cardiff beat St Andrews - not a Celt in either team!). We also watched a bit of TV - DI Ray and the ITV News.

My DNA

Probably need to click to see this

Retro Album 29 - Renaissance of the Celtic Harp

Renaissance of the Celtic Harp was recorded in 1972 and I discovered it a few years later through a Welsh speaking friend in Aberystwyth University. I ha it first on cassette tape then vinyl. An instrumental album, it is the work of the Breton Celtic harp master Alan Stivell. I suppose the idea of marrying traditional folk music with modern rock music, classical music and (in this case) world music was in the air at the time and this album works very well in that progressive idiom.

 The Celtic harp itself was pretty obscure instrument to me until I heard this album (The Chieftains had one. Their album The Celtic Harp came out over 20 years later in 1993). The mixture of instruments (cello, harp, electric guitars, modern drums, traditional snares and table, etc) and "its evocation of a utopian atmosphere" made it a benchmark for Celtic music revival that was apparently going on in the seventies. Music critic Bruce Elder was full of hyperbole when he wrote of the album at the time "People who hear this record are never the same again." Certainly it is one of the most beautiful and haunting records ever made.

Part of its genius is that it draws on music from practically all the Celtic nations (so increasing sales potential and saying something political at the same time). The opening work, Ys, is inspired by the legend of the 5th century capital of the kingdom of Cornwall. Other pieces are from Brittany, Wales, Scotland Ireland and even the Isle of Man.