Ancient FM

01/03/2025

Ensemble Dragma is recording something interesting in Switzerland…

Edward Breen visits the Swiss countryside to witness a recording session of Polish medieval music from the Krasiński Codex, and hears from those who have helped facilitate the project

12/31/2024

We are quite short of our GoFundMe goal this year, which is unusual. Anyone like to donate? Link is in the comments.

12/27/2024

12/26/2024

I love this.
A pre-Reformation Scottish music score has been found in the Aberdeen Breviary of 1510. The discovery was made as researchers examined handwritten annotations in the book’s margins. The presence of the music was a puzzle for the team. It was not part of the original printed book, yet it was written on a page bound into the structure of the book, not slipped in at a later date, which suggests that the writer wanted to keep the music and the book together. Researchers say that the find is rare, and that it’s the only piece which survives from the northeast of Scotland from this period. (Source of info and picture: University of Edinburgh writing for Phys)
More: https://academic.oup.com/ml/article-abstract/105/4/437/7896101?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false

If you enjoy early music, check out ancient.com!

12/24/2024

Looking for music during the holidays? Ancient FM plays uninterrupted medieval and Renaissance music. Enjoy! www.ancientfm.com

Photo: Musicians, c. 1360, Exeter Cathedral by Sean Breadin

12/22/2024

Glastonbury Tor is a terraced hill, much like Thorsault in my book Beneath the Roots. The tower sitting on top of it is all that remains of a 14th century Church dedicated to St Michael. The Tor used to be called Ynys yr Afalon (meaning "The Isle of Avalon") by the Britons and is believed by some, including the 12th and 13th century writer Gerald of Wales, to be the Avalon of Arthurian legend. According to a theory put forward by Geoffrey Russell, the terraces are not entirely natural, but are the principal remains of a maze: not in the sense of a puzzle, but in the sense of a long, twisting, devious approach to a centre—a labyrinth.

Check out this interesting website: https://www.glastonburytor.org.uk/tor-maze.html

If you enjoy the Middle Ages, you might like my medieval fantasy series. More: https://wkgreyling.com/beneath-the-roots.php

Photo is by Mike Jefferies Photography

12/15/2024

“As usual you are almost too warm in medieval clothes. I wear two cottes, a wide surcote, and a cape over that. The surcote has extra long arms that keep the hands warm so I don't really need gloves. The leather hood keeps the wind out well.” —from Johan Käll, historical archeologist and medieval reenactor.
This photo put me in mind of Rives taking his young daughter, Mer, out into the forest to hunt. If you’re interested in fantasy and the Middle Ages, you might enjoy my Aure fantasy series. Links are in the comments.

Photo credit: from “The Medieval Hunt,” a blog run by archeologists and medieval reenactors about the medieval hunt around late 14th century.

12/13/2024

The ruins of Ballycarbery Castle sit on a high grass hill facing the sea in Co Kerry, Ireland. Interestingly, there is a staircase within the castle wall. This might remind readers of my Aure fantasy series of the “servants” stairs and passages within Thorsault Castle.
Ballycarbery was built in the 16th century and ruined by Parliamentary Forces in the 17th during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Photo is by Rory Francis on Flickr
More about the Aure series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RSFHVZM

12/10/2024

An oldie but a goodie.

12/10/2024

I sometimes tag followers when I find medieval news stories of interest or posts from our music curator. If you don’t like that, then please change your settings or unfollow this page.

12/05/2024

Ancient FM thanks Marco Cannavo and Steve Tyler for donating songs from their album, Vexilla Regis. Get this fantastic album here: https://marcocannavo.bandcamp.com/album/vexilla-regis

11/29/2024

An ancient shapeshifter dwells in the North Mountains. In White Bird, Sir Avry, Regent to a poisoned king, must decide how to tackle the danger on the kingdom's doorstep. How he chooses to approach the shifter will decide the fate not only of his kingdom but of the world.
"The continued world building was delicious and the writing style was spectacular. Lots of talent here." —best-selling author D. Fischer in a review of White Bird: Book 2 of Aure

Beneath the Roots and White Bird are available in all formats at online bookstores. More: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RSFHVZM

Photo was taken by Liz Doyle in Ashford, Ireland

11/21/2024

Bryn Eryr was a small Iron Age farmstead near Llansadwrn in the eastern corner of Anglesey, Wales. Archaeological excavations revealed three large roundhouses. The earliest and largest was built during the Iron Age and enclosed by a timber stockade. The second, probably built shortly before the Roman invasion, was placed right next to the first while the stockade was upgraded to a more permanent rectangular-shaped bank and ditch. During the first millennium AD, as the banks were eroding and the ditch silting, a third house was built on stone footings.
The Bryn Eryr roundhouses at St Fagans National Museum of History are reconstructions based on the archaeology of the original houses. The structures might remind readers of my Aure series (particularly book 2) of the round huts in the fae village.

Information source: https://museum.wales/stfagans/buildings/bryneryr/

More about Aure: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RSFHVZM

Photo: caroline3642 on Flickr

11/20/2024

Early Music Now's guest performers Anne Azéma and Shira Kammen revivify Medieval, Saxon-flavored words and music.

11/11/2024

Dear listeners,
Could you DONATE a small amount to alleviate the expense of running Ancient FM? We assure you that it would be put to good use. To make a donation, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ancient-fm-2024
You can also donate via PayPal to [email protected]
Thanks for your kind support!

11/07/2024

Songs from several albums by Graindelavoix Ensemble have been added to the playlist!
If you are unable to listen to Ancient FM from popular streaming apps, it may be because your country restricts the station. Please be assured that Ancient FM has been up and running for over 15 years and we hope to continue streaming ancient music. Donations this year have sadly been down. If you are able to donate a few dollars, head over to our GoFundMe page. https://www.gofundme.com/f/ancient-fm-2024

10/24/2024

A new exhibition at the British Library explores the public, private and spiritual lives of such figures as Joan of Arc, Christine de Pizan and Hildegard of Bingen