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A few years ago, I tried to organize a storytelling workshop/class for Pagans, to explore how we could incorporate storytelling into our rituals and traditions (I believe, for reasons I won't go into here, that the craft of constructing a narrative began as a form of magick, to enhance the strength and cooperative skill of the community). Considering the importance of the storytelling tradition in Ireland, I had decided to use several Irish legends as centerpieces in various discussions. But that meant actually speaking aloud several Irish place names, and I could not make heads or tails of Gaelic phonetics. So I scoured the 'Net for resources to help me figure it out. One such site was this: Seanfhocal Archive.
The workshop fell flat after about 2 meetings, and I never got around to telling those Irish stories ... But I learned some great proverbs along the way. I liked one in particular so much (A friend's eye is a good mirror), that I based a song on it.
A couple of days ago, I got the songwriting itch again, and this one: Whoever will bring a story to you, will take two stories from you. raised its hand and called out: "Do one for me! Do one for me!" (perhaps it woke up after I went to see the movie Big Fish).
Now, in the explaination section that goes with that proverb, the website's editors claim that saying is more protocol than proverb -- that in Irish society, it is considered polite to give more than you get. Far be it from me to "correct" a lifelong Irish native on such a matter, but ... as someone who is burdened with a storyteller's brain, I do see a typical proverb's warning there.
I understand the "two stories" as being not simply "two stories told for the price of one," but as: The story you deliberately tell the storyteller + The one the storyteller will tell about you, down the road. In other words, it's a warning to be on your best behavior when you invite the storyteller into your home (Remember that you could be either the hero or the villian of the next story he tells-- your choice). And that idea is also hinted at in these other Irish proverbs:
Fame is more enduring than life, and: A word is more enduring than worldly wealth". And then, there's this proverb, which, taken in context with the others, reminds us that all strangers at our door are storytellers, whether or not they carry the official title of File or Seanchaí: Travellers have tales to tell. So we'd better be generous to every guest. This last one reminds me especially of "Big Fish," which I will not go into for fear of spoilering the movie for those who wish to see it but haven't yet. It's not really a spoiler, however, to point out that the central character in the movie is named Leo Bloom -- after the hero in James Joyce's Ulysses, so yes, the whole movie does have the wierd feel of a good, magical Irish Yarn.
So, anyway, I'd like to put these ideas into a song, somehow.... just not sure how to do it.
Maybe I'll do a whole series of songs inspired by proverbs... Who knows which one will raise its hand next?
The workshop fell flat after about 2 meetings, and I never got around to telling those Irish stories ... But I learned some great proverbs along the way. I liked one in particular so much (A friend's eye is a good mirror), that I based a song on it.
A couple of days ago, I got the songwriting itch again, and this one: Whoever will bring a story to you, will take two stories from you. raised its hand and called out: "Do one for me! Do one for me!" (perhaps it woke up after I went to see the movie Big Fish).
Now, in the explaination section that goes with that proverb, the website's editors claim that saying is more protocol than proverb -- that in Irish society, it is considered polite to give more than you get. Far be it from me to "correct" a lifelong Irish native on such a matter, but ... as someone who is burdened with a storyteller's brain, I do see a typical proverb's warning there.
I understand the "two stories" as being not simply "two stories told for the price of one," but as: The story you deliberately tell the storyteller + The one the storyteller will tell about you, down the road. In other words, it's a warning to be on your best behavior when you invite the storyteller into your home (Remember that you could be either the hero or the villian of the next story he tells-- your choice). And that idea is also hinted at in these other Irish proverbs:
Fame is more enduring than life, and: A word is more enduring than worldly wealth". And then, there's this proverb, which, taken in context with the others, reminds us that all strangers at our door are storytellers, whether or not they carry the official title of File or Seanchaí: Travellers have tales to tell. So we'd better be generous to every guest. This last one reminds me especially of "Big Fish," which I will not go into for fear of spoilering the movie for those who wish to see it but haven't yet. It's not really a spoiler, however, to point out that the central character in the movie is named Leo Bloom -- after the hero in James Joyce's Ulysses, so yes, the whole movie does have the wierd feel of a good, magical Irish Yarn.
So, anyway, I'd like to put these ideas into a song, somehow.... just not sure how to do it.
Maybe I'll do a whole series of songs inspired by proverbs... Who knows which one will raise its hand next?
