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All Soul's Night"
This piece was inspired by the imagery of a Japanesetradition which celebrate the souls of thedeparted by sending candle-lit lanterns out onwaterways leading to the ocean, sometimes inlittle boats; along with imagery of the Celtic
All Souls Night celebrations, at which time hugebonfires were lit not only to mark the new year,but to warm the souls of the departed. - L.M."
Bonny Portmore"
The destruction of old growth forests has become animportant conservation issue in recent years, but itis not a new phenomenon. Over the centuries manyof Ireland's old oak forests were leveled for militaryand shipbuilding purposes. Only recently has therebeen an effort to reestablish these great hardwoods.
The Great Oak of Portmore stood on the propertyof Portmore Castle on the shore of Lough Beg. - L.M."
Greensleeves"I always wondered how Tom Waits wouldsing Greensleeves. When preparing myprevious recording Parallel Dreams,while waiting to do something else, weaccidentally and spontaneously recordedthis track in one take without ever intendingto release it. However, here is, Tom. - L.M."
Tango to Evora"
This piece was originally conceived and recorded for the National Film
Board of Canada's The Burning Times, directed by Donna Reid. - L.M."
Courtyard Lullaby"
The photographs which appear in this booklet weretaken at a 16th century hunting lodge in Portugal,where Elisabeth Feryn and I stayed for a week. Withinthe lodge was a courtyard, marked at each corner byorange trees. The feel of the place reminded me ofthe Unicorn tapestries which hang in The Cloistersin New York City. The tapestries and the lodge areboth rich with earthy, pre-
Christian iconography -depicting the mysterious life and death cycle of theseasons. It was in this courtyard that this piece wasconceived. - L.M."
The Old Ways"I spent a most haunting New Year's Eve in Doolin,
County Clare, Ireland some years ago, and was movedby the antiquity of the some of the celebrations. Yet
I was met by deep reminders that they may be theremnants of the old world meeting the "new". - L.M."
Cymbeline"
Here are William Shakespeare's thoughtson this earthly visit. this song occurstowards the end of his romance play
Cymbeline, which was written near theend of the author's life. The play is setin ancient Britain when the Romans wereinvading the last remaining outpost ofthe old Celtic order. - L.M.
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