Clive Nolan: Based on the saga of Beowulf and with a grand and epic sound…..

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The album Songs Of The wildland is based on the saga of Beowulf and spanning the genres of rock, folk, symphonic rock and classical music. The maestro behind the mentioned album is Clive Nolan know from band`s as Shadowland, Arena, Pendragon, Caamora and more do the orchestration, keyboards, and programming.

Clive Nolan is a British musician, composer, and producer who has played a prominent role in the recent development of progressive and symphonic rock. He has been a regular keyboard player in bands such as Pendragon, Arena, Shadowland, Strangers on a Train, and Caamora. He is the lyricist and composer of numerous rock albums and musicals, including the Arena catalog, a monumental rock opera She and two Victorian-inspired Steampunk musicals, Alchemy and King’s Ransom.

Song of the Wildlands is an album with a grand and epic sound.

The final recording was made with the contribution of a vast number of musicians, including 4 soloists: Ryan Morgan (baritone), Christina Booth (Alto), Natalie Barnett (alto) and Gemma Ashley (soprano); rock musicians playing guitars, bass, keyboard, drums; traditional instrumentalists on violin, horn, oboe, keyharp, psalmodikon, lyre and many others.

Finally, a 200-voice choir singing in Anglo-Saxon (Old English), recorded all over the world during the lockdown in spring 2020. The initial idea was to see if such an experiment was even possible, but it soon turned into a huge international project and resulted in a powerful choral sound forming the backbone of the whole album.

The lyrics sung by the choir were translated into Old English by a historical consultant specializing in the culture of medieval England, Christopher Monk.

The album was released by the Norwegian label Crime Records with the collaboration of We Låve Rock Music.

Tracklist:

1. The Story Begins (3:05)

2. There’s A Threat (4:53)

3. Crossing The Ocean (4:28)

4. Beowulf’s Promise (3:23)

5. Grendel Attacks (4:21)

6. Celebration (2:14)

7. The Hag’s Revenge (2:49)

8. Journey (3:17)

9. Underwater Cavern (3:50)

10. Rewards (6:07)

11. Beowulf, The King (4:00)

12. Dragon Fire (4:58)

13. The Warrior Dies (2:42)

14. Funeral Pyre (5:15)

15. The Story Ends (1:38)

Total Time 57:00

Line-up:

Clive Nolan (Shadowland, Arena, Pendragon, Caamora) – Orchestration, keyboards, and programming

Vicki Swan – Nyckelharpa

Mark Westwood (Shadowland, Caamora) – Electric Guitar

Stig Andre Clason – Acoustic Guitar

Arnfinn Isaksen – Bass Guitar

Scott Higham (Pendragon) – Drums

Geir Johansen – Extra Percussion

Birgitte Njå – Lur

Morten Clason – Flute

Ross Andrews – Narrator

Ryan Morgan – Vocals (Beowulf)

Christina Booth (Magenta) – Vocals (Tyra)

Gemma Ashley – Vocals (Solveig)

Natalie Barnett – Vocals (Freja)

Ensemble Anonym – Plainchant

The Wildland Warriors Choir – Choir

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