Lord of the Celts (radio)

“Lord of the Celts” is a radio program from the American radio anthology series Radio Tales. The anthology series adapted classic works of American and world literature for the radio. The series was a recipient of numerous awards, including four Gracie Allen Awards from the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (in 2004, [ [http://www.awrt.org/press-releases/2004/Press_Release_%20Announce_Winners.pdf "AWRT Press Release"] AWRT.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2003, [ [http://www.npr.org/about/press/030402.gracie.html "NPR Productions Win Gracie Allen Awards"] NPR.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2001, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20011126020253/www.awrt.org/awards/2000GracieWinners.html "2001 Gracie Allen Award Winners"] AWRT.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and 1998), a New York Festivals WorldMedal, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20050207122048/http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/res/pdf/2004RPwinners.pdf "2004 Winners, Radio Programming and Promotion, New York Festivals"] NewYorkFestivals.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and a Golden Reel Merit Award. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20010802161539/www.nfcb.org/2001reelsinfo.html "NFCB Announces 2001 Golden Reel Award Winners"] NFCB.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] The “Lord of the Celts" program from the Radio Tales series was a dramatic musical program that was loosely based on the “Fionn and Sadbh” story from the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. The script was written by Winifred Phillips.

Broadcast History

The Radio Tales production of “Lord of the Celts” was first broadcast via NPR on Dec. 1, 1998 [National Public Radio: "NPR NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1998". NPR Marketing, Oct. - Dec. 1998, Vol. IV, No. III] . The program encompassed two half-hour installments that were distributed to NPR member stations as part of the NPR Playhouse cultural series. Since November 28th, 2002, the entire Radio Tales series has aired in reruns on the Sonic Theater channel (163) of the XM Satellite Radio service [ [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/features/sonictheater.xmc "Sonic Theater"] XMRadio.com. Accessed May 22, 2008.] . The “Lord of the Celts” program debuted on XM Satellite Radio on March 22, 2003.

Production Information

The program was produced and script edited by series producer Winnie Waldron, who also served as the on-air host [ [http://www.winifredphillips.com/wp_bio.html "Winifred Phillips Official Site: Biography"] Winifredphillips.com. Accessed May 19, 2008.] . The series’ composer Winifred Phillips created over fifty-six minutes of music for the program, and also performed as the featured actress [ [http://www.mninter.net/~jstearns/nprPH.html#top "NPR Playhouse - January - March, 2001"] MNinter.net. Accessed March 21, 2008.] . “Lord of the Celts” was part of the third year of Radio Tales on NPR Playhouse [National Public Radio: "NPR NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1998". NPR Marketing, Oct. - Dec. 1998, Vol. IV, No. III] .

“Lord of the Celts” was part of a miniseries of musical programs in the Radio Tales series inspired by Celtic mythology. Another program in this series was Celtic Hero (based on the Tochmarc Emire, or the Wooing of Emer). The programs in this miniseries deviated in several ways from the rest of the series: differences included the use of a unique musical theme, and the inclusion of several songs in each program. The songs were written for the programs by the series producer Winnie Waldron and the series composer Winifred Phillips. Vocals are credited to the choral group ‘’Pure Celtica’’, and were performed in a traditional Celtic music style.

ongs

*Tales of the Celts (Main Theme)
*Mist of Time
*Mantle of Darkness
*Wilderland
*Sailing Dream
*Sorcerer of Night

Media

The Radio Tales production of “Lord of the Celts” has been available in numerous formats and venues, including burn-on-demand CDs manufactured and distributed by MP3.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20031129193548/artists.mp3s.com/artists/33/npr_radio_tales.html "MP3.com: Radio Tales"] MP3.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] and Ampcast.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060212003627/http://www.ampcast.com/music/25229/artist.php "Ampcast.com: Radio Tales"] Ampcast.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] . Beginning in 2005, programs from the series, including the “Lord of the Celts” program, have been available for download via the Audioville.co.uk web site [ [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 "audioVille | Stor>>Fiction | Radio Tales | Download Audio Books, Podcasts and more in MP3. Comedy, Fiction, sport, news, science, drama."] Audioville.co.uk. Accessed May 24, 2008.] .

Critical reception

“Lord of the Celts” from the Radio Tales series has received favorable reviews. In its review of the program, AudioFile Magazine described the music as "performed very mystically", adding that the sound effects "enhance the illusion of the mists of time... This dramatic radio theater production makes good family listening." [AudioFile Magazine: “Reviews". AudioFile, Oct/Nov 2001] .

Opening narration

Plot Summary

The story begins by referencing the Irish invasion myths -- including the “giants that were driven into the sea” (see Fomorians), and the Tuatha Dé Danann – before moving on to briefly summarize some of the tales in the narrative The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn, which describes the notable childhood accomplishments of the Irish hero Fionn mac Cumhaill. After having introduced the main character Fionn, the second character of Sadbh is introduced – a troubled maiden living on the shores of the River Boyne. In this version of the story, Fionn and Sadbh share a supernatural bond while sleeping, though retain no memory of it during the day. One night Sadbh sleepwalks to the Brú na Bóinne and is confronted by the druid Dorcha of the Tuatha Dé, who urges her to come with him to the Otherworld and be his wife. Though Fionn is far away and sleeping, their bond allows him to perceive what is happening to Sadbh, and she is able to hear him shout a warning to her. She refuses the druid, who turns her into a deer in anger and then begins hunting her.

On awakening, Fionn sets out with his two hounds and comes across Sadbh in the forest. Though she is a deer, nevertheless Fionn senses a deep familiarity, and he resolves to take the deer to his hill fortress, though the druid Dorcha and his phantom hounds pursues them the entire way. Unable to enter the fort, Dorcha returns to his tower stronghold in the Otherworld and employs his magic with the assistance of his three pet crows. Gifts from the Morrigan, these crows are able to sing beautifully, and this in combination with Dorcha’s chanted incantation makes for a powerful spell that puts Fionn and Sadbh to sleep in the mortal world and transports their spirits to the Otherworld, though when they arrive they are no longer together. Finding himself standing at the edge of a river, Fionn encounters a mysterious boatman in a tiny skiff, who asks him if he is on his Immram (a sea voyage to the Otherworld). Replying yes, the boatman surrenders his skiff to Fionn and dives into the water – at which point Fionn realizes that this was Manannan, the god of the sea.

Fionn boards the skiff, which steers itself down the river, coming to land when a black hilltop tower becomes visible. Here, Fionn sees his two hunting dogs, who have also been transported to the Otherworld and are now inhabiting the bodies of human beings (this is a reference to the story of Tuiren, Fionn’s aunt, who had been transformed into a hound shortly before giving birth to Fionn’s cousins in the form of Celtic Hounds). The three travel together to the black tower, which is covered in spikes and begins to magically spin as they draw near. Fionn times a careful leap through the iron doorway of the spinning tower, and confronts the druid Dorcha after climbing the spiral staircase to the top. Sadbh is also there, but she seems to be in a trance. Towards the end of a fierce battle (during which Dorcha never ceases his chant, and the crows continue to sing) the druid is nearly beaten by Fionn and uses Sadbh as a human shield. She rouses then, and taking the druid in her arms she kisses him. This halts his incantation and breaks the spell. Fionn and Sadbh are immediately returned to the real world.

References

External Links

* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view.php?Id=587&ProductCategoryId=59 Lord of the Celts page on Audioville.co.uk]
* [http://www.radiotales.com/ The Official Radio Tales® Web Site]
* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 Radio Tales® Full Catalog on AudioVille]
* [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=163 XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel]