About this item

What a great way to start this, or any year. This collection of songs traces a year through its seasons, some of the ceremonies, some of the traditions and some of the attendant rituals. They are largely pre-industrial and in some cases, their roots lie in pre-Christian rituals. Essentially they are songs and customs that have been carried on by ordinary people who are attuned to the year's cycle and the need for a good crop. Many of the 'gusing' rituals are concerned with death and resurrection but in connection to the old year and new one rather than in a biblical sense. All are warmly and sensitively performed and echo to the history of our musical tradition.