Album Notes

Edward Schaffer b. 12 July 1953 in California, USA

Stonehenge, Complete Ballet, Opus 41

This takes place about 150 BC in and around the Stonehenge monument in Salisbury, Somerset, England

1. Dawn on the Salisbury Plain - The first glow of a winter dawn reveals Stonehenge – not the ruins we see today, but a pristine solid structure. It is the place of worship for the Druidic Celts of Southwestern England. We are one hundred years before the arrival of the Roman legions.
2. The Elders Gather - This music, English folk inspired, depicts holy men from miles around gathering at the site for an upcoming rite. The venerable Archdruid leads a Dagdic prayer for the continuance of the people.
3. Imbolc - The festival of Imbolc occurs at the first thaw signaling the coming Spring.
4. The Great Oak The Druids worshipped the Great oak trees and believed that their well being was tied to life itself.
5. Beltaine – Mayday - Time for planting crops, and breeding livestock
6. Pastorale Rituals – The chosen virgin, and the dance of fertility
7. Legend I - Danu – An Invocation to Danu the “Mother Goddess”
8. Legend II – Breoghan – Breoghan travels from Phonecia and comes to the British Isles, founding the Celtic communities there, and starting a long line of Kings, a line that leads to the current British monarchy.
9. The Prophecy – One of the holy men has a vision and sees the invading Romans 100 years in the future and is inconsolable.
10. Legend III - Eochaid Ollathir and Mor Rigan. Eochaid, the chief Celtic diety, the master of time, along with Mor Rigan, the Celtic goddess of death, are the dominant figures in the Celtic mythos. Mor Rigan first old woman surrounded by crows on a battlefield to claim the souls, but to the departed she appears as a tall beautiful woman with long flowing red hair when she leads the souls of those who died bravely in battle to the Celtic nirvana.
11. Courtship – The courtship of the daughter of the tribal chief and her chosen. In Celtic culture the male heirs were determined by female lineage.
12. Marriage Blessing – The Archdruid blesses the royal princess and her chosen.
13. Pas de Deux – The chosen couple celebrates the wedding
14. Procession – Procession of the Elders to Stonehenge – The Archdruid almost faints at one point, but assures all he is OK
15. The Elders Inside Stonehenge. – They await sunset
16. Summer Solstice Invocation – The Archdruid, visibly weak, but is able to perform the “Rites of Solstice” ; Ta muid anseo leis na Deithe a adhradh - (We are here to honor the Gods)
17. Samhain – The festival of the harvest – much celebrating
18. The Passing of the Archdruid
19. The Choosing of the new Archdruid
20. Yule – The climactic conclusion, celebrating the Winter Solstice by the hearth, and the bginning of the new year. Several of the elders including the new Archdruid appear at Stonehenge to give thanks to Eochaid Ollathir for another year
21. The Elders disperse The elders depart Stonehenge back into their homes
22. Midwinter Sunset