We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Child Owlet

by Joshua Kirch

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

about

This was recorded for Old Tunes Fresh Takes podcast episode 9, a recording of en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Owlet .

For this I tried to use as many historical instruments (lute, recorder, hand drums, frame drums) as I could, but tried to make the actual composition more modern than historical. I had the cellos play a throbbing simple line of just the chords’ roots so that at first it sounds almost like singing over a drone, like you'd hear with a hurdygurdy or a lot of renaissance music.

I put a few measures instrumental in between each pair of verses to allow the listener some time to digest the story, since it’s a lot to take all at once. I tried to vary up the instrumentation from verse to verse to keep the listener interested and for it not to start to feel formulaic, which I think is a danger on longer compositions that are strophic/verse based.

lyrics

Lady Erskine sits intae her bower, a-sowing a silken seam,
A bonny shirt for Child Owlet as he goes out and in
His face was fair, long was his hair, she's called him to come near
“Oh, you must cuckold Lord Ronald for all his lands and gear.”

“Oh, lady, hold your tongue for shame for such should ne'er be done.
How can I cuckold Lord Ronald and me his sister's son?”
Then she's ta'en out a small penknife that lay beside her head
She's pricked herself below her breast which made her body bleed.

Lord Ronald's come into her bower where she did make her moan.
“Oh, what is all this blood,” he said, “That shines on your breast bone?”
“Young Child Owlet, your sister's son, is new gone from my bower.
If I'd not been a good woman I'd have been Child Owlet's whore.”

Then he has taken Child Owlet, thrown him in prison strong
And all his men a council held to judge Child Owlet's wrong
Some said, Child Owlet he should hang, some said that he should burn,
Some said they would he Child Owlet between wild horses torn.

“Ten horses in my stable stand, can run right speedily.
It's you must to my stable go and take out four for me.”
They tied a horse unto each foot and one unto each hand.
They've sent them out o'er Elkin Moor as fast as they could run.

There was no stone on Elkin Moor, no broom nor bonny whin
But's dripping with Child Owlet's blood and pieces of his skin.
There was no grass on Elkin Moor, no broom nor bonny rush
But's dripping with Child Owlet's blood and pieces of his flesh.

credits

released July 8, 2021

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Joshua Kirch image

Joshua Kirch Massachusetts

Joshua Kirch is a musician and composer who started with guitar, and soon moved to classical guitar and performing in a guitar trio; really enjoying the range of repertoire (especially the Renaissance pieces) available. This led him to learn the lute and cello.
His compositions mix electronic elements with classical and early music instruments and themes, as well as more standard rock and folk. ... more

contact / help

Contact Joshua Kirch

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

Joshua Kirch recommends:

If you like Joshua Kirch, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now