SHIBBOLETH (Clive Powell & Sedayne): HYEM - Words & Images
Note: Clive & Sedayne (aka Sean Breadin) were born within six weeks of one another at Preston Hospital, North Shields during the summer of 1961 although they didn't actually meet for another fifteen years by which time they'd formed the respective appreciations of their native Northumbrian culture, history, landscape & heritage that lies at the heart of what they do individually & collaboratively. Over the years they've worked in various contexts for experimental, creative & traditional musics and their collaborative work might be seen as an effective synthesis of the three although they themselves don't make such distinctions. HYEM comprises of material drawn from three very different recorded works - Waters of Tyne (1997) Northern Star (1999) & Winter Matrix (2000) - sequenced by way of a continuity & juxtaposed accordingly. This page has been assembled to be viewed in conjunction with the CDR, featuring as it does all the lyrics and poetry as well as various images both culturally, aesthetically & subjectively pertinent to the music.
For those stumbling across this who don't have the CDR then they might order one by emailing hyem@sedayne.co.uk
1) WINTER MATRIX - PART ONE (14.28)
Clive - bodhran // Sedayne - diverse toys, bowls, bells, Pokemon, sound-tube, ney, reed pipe, toy reed organ, crwth drones, C Clarinet, bird whistles, ankle bells etc.
Recorded live in Durham City 27th November 2000 // themes: celebration & ceremony in the dark days before Advent - affirmation / anticipation / howking & howling gleeful with little or no prior discussion as to duration or direction / audience response, participation & appreciation - negligible.
2) WATERS OF TYNE SUITE - A Sequence of Traditional Tyneside Folk Songs (13.28)
i) The Waters of Tyne
I canna get to my love if I would dee
for the waters of Tyne run between her and me
and here I must stand with a tear in my e'e
Oh sighing and sobbing my sweetheart to see
Oh where is the boatman? Come bring him to me
Oh where is the boatman I'll give any money
To ferry me over the Tyne to my hinney
I aye will remember the boatman an' ye
Oh where is the boatman? Come bring him to me
Oh where is the boatman my canny hinney?
To ferry me over the Tyne to my hinney
Oh skull her across that broad river to me
(Clive - singing // Sean - harmonium // audible bird song recorded with the music)
ii) Here's The Tender Coming
Here's the tender coming full of men of war
Here's the tender coming off at Shield's bar
They would press ye far and send ye off to sea
Here's the tender coming full of red marines
Hide me bonny Geordie hide yersel' away
Wait until the tender leaves for Druridge Bay
They would press you far and send you off to sea
Here's the tender coming full of red marines
They always come at night they never come at day
They always come at night to steal your lad away
Here's the tender coming full of red marines
Here's the tender coming ye knaa what it means
Hey my bonny lass let's go unto the law
See the tender lying off at Shield's bar
With her colours flying anchor at the bough
Pressed your bonny lad the best of all the crew
Here's the tender coming off at Shield's bar
Here's the tender coming full of men of war
They would press ye far and send ye off to sea
Here's the tender coming full of red marines
(Clive - singing // Sedayne - crwth, melodica & drum)
iii) My Bonny Lad
Have you seen ought of my bonny lad?
And was he fair and weel-oh?
He's gone over land with a stick in his hand
He's gone to row the keel-o
Yes I have seen your bonny lad
'Twas on the sea I spied him
His grave it is green but not with grass
And ye'll never lie beside him
(Clive - singing // Sedayne - crwth drones & melodica)
iv) Captain Bover
Oh where hast thou been my canny hinney?
Oh where hast thou been my winsome man?
I've been tae the norrard, cruising back and forward
I've been to the north cruising sair and lang
Oh where hast thou been my canny hinney?
Oh where hast thou been my winsome man?
I've been tae the norrard, cruising back and forward
But darena come ashore for Bover and his gang
Oh where hast thou been my canny hinney?
Oh where hast thou been my winsome man?
I've been to the southard by the fog banks smothered
I've been to the south where the seabirds sang
Oh where hast thou been my canny hinney?
Oh where hast thou been my winsome man?
I've been to the southerd, where the seals are mothered
But darena come ashore for Bover and his gang
Oh where hast thou been my canny hinney?
Oh where hast thou been my winsome man?
I've been on the ocean, where I have no notion
I've been nigh to Greenland where the icebergs hang
Oh where hast thou been my canny hinney?
Oh where hast thou been my winsome man?
I've seen land a-looming where the may is blooming
but darena come ashore for Bover and his gang
(Clive - singing // Sedayne - crwth, melodica, birds, singing)
(Note: Captain Bover was notorious for his press gang activities. His memorial can be seen to this day in Newcastle Cathedral)
v) Here's The Tender Coming (Instrumental Reprise)
(Clive - bodhran // Sedayne - crwth, melodica, low whistle solo - Sequence recorded at Old Pit, Durham, 1997)
3) NORTHERN STAR // Psalm 32. Verse 3 (13.23)
(Ambient prelude: Brancepeth Castle courtyard, Summer 1999)
By the tide I lost my footing
Falling, - into night
Star's settling light at end of day
Drifting loose I reach my lost home
Dreaming, Northern Star my anchor steady in the bay
Seaward bound depth sounding, trawling
Casting nets in waves the bright prow greets with 'Hope of Day'
Boat planks nailed in holding
Floating, keeping fishes hawled the silver shines in hands of day
Deep in woods the track
For tripping, tracing
In by trees the grazing spears in side of day
Out to fields plough wounding churning
Gaping, deep dark earth wide open to the seed of day
Harvest ground your breathing in by
Bailing, combine lights see gleaning through till break of day
Folding dough the bread the flesh
Unfolding rising life new foundling straying back with day
Clearing mists the birds sing filling
Hearing all the mornings that return anew with day
Wind stroked wires the pylons hockling
Howling, cuckoo spit clings glistening sparking with the day
Home my home your bricks
Your rooms bright painted
Sunlight walls that whiten in the dawn of day
Waking light the sea roars wide between us
Homing heart plunge deep in glory of the day.
poem by Clive (singing & bodhran) // music (Psalm 32 verse 3) by Sedayne (crwth, rabbit & crow calls, bird flutes, ankle bells) // recorded live at Brancepeth Castle, autumn 1999
4) BONNY AT MORN (11.55)
The sheep's in the meadow and the kye's in the corn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
The sheep's in the meadow and the kye's in the corn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
Canny at neet, bonny at morn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
Canny at neet, bonny at morn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
The birdie's in the bush and the trout's in the burn
Thou hinders thy mother at many's the turn
The birdie's in the bush and the trout's in the burn
Thou hinders thy mother at many's the turn
Canny at neet, bonny at morn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
Canny at neet, bonny at morn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
Was all layed idle with the keeping of the bairn
The lad will not work and the lass will not learn
Was all layed idle with the keeping of the bairn
The lad will not work and the lass will not learn
Canny at neet, bonny at morn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
Canny at neet, bonny at morn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
The sheep's in the meadow and the kye's in the corn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
The sheep's in the meadow and the kye's in the corn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
Canny at neet, bonny at morn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
Canny at neet, bonny at morn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
Canny at neet, bonny at morn
Thou's ower lang in thy bed bonny at morn
(Clive - singing & bodhran / Sedayne - portable harmonium & Antique German system C Clarinet - both rescued from Northumbrian ditch circa 1961 // recorded at Old Pit, Durham, 1997)
5) ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL (10.15)
Angels falling Seals are calling
Angels falling Curlews calling
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
Wind blows to you 'Cross the fellside
Sleep blows o'er you Close your eyes
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
Stars they hail you , Lighting darkness
Down comes snow cold, Cold as star's fire
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep your sleeping in my keeping
Deep your sleeping in my keeping
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep below us mining silence
Hewing stillness, Lead veins cold
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
Sleepy heads have gone to ground
Sleep in rows deep and sound
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
Marked with angels, lambs and banners
Dreaming stilled, Carved in stone
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
Chapel band with trumpets sounding
Voice of angels, Metal founding
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
Wee winkles sleep in marble
Sound asleep their sea the stone
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
Felspar glistens stone of sunlight
New in dewfall, Crowning daylight,
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
Early warning, break of dawning
Radar ringing, bells for singing
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
Below the sun's rays Jet fuel sprays
Engines sound o'er ancient ground
Deep Deep Deep below
Deep Deep Deep below
St John's bell rings your morning
Wake with yawning, Clear the day.
Clive - composition, singing & bowl // Sedayne - arrangement, harmonium / birds / bowls / alto & Clarinets - Recorded at Brancepeth Castle, Summer 1999
6) WINTER MATRIX - PART TWO (13.28)
Clive - bodhran // Sedayne - harmonium / bells / C clarinet / McDonald's Mister Men toys / Indo-European harmonic pipe // recorded live in Durham City, November 27th 2000 // As in Winter Matrix Part One no multi tracking was used in the creation of this music - all instrumental combinations played simultaneously by way of the one-man band.
Note Also...
Bonny at Morn (23.12)
Documentary Supplement CDR recorded live at BALTIC, the Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, UK, Monday July 15th 2002
featuring... (left to right)
.jpg)
Sedayne - Crwth, Clarinet, Ankle & Gatter Bells, Crow, Bird and Proximal Processing
Rachel McCarron - Organ & Singing
Clive Powell - Singing & Bodhran
Live performance is forever perilous / the immediacy of circumstance determining (or else undermining) the essence of both occasion & expectation; rehearsal familiarises us with likely territories & structures - outlines within which anything, within very definite reason, might happen. Musical variables aside, there's also the audience to consider & the sound-engineer to deal with, but at the end of the day there's no going back & changing it; it's either a success or it isn't. This piece was considered by all three of us to be a success - hence the availability of this CDR; both a document of a particular performance & a different perspective on something familiar.
If you're interested in acquiring a copy please contact hyem@sedayne.co.uk
Link to Eleanor's Visceral Tomb main page.