Heart of the Dragon July CD launch announced
Heart of the Dragon CD to be launched at Newcastle Emlyn Castle
Wednesday July 16th 2008 6 to 8pm
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The story so far…
Last year saw two and a half thousand people descend upon the small market town of Newcastle Emlyn, on the Carmarthenshire / Ceredigion border.
This place - where local legend tells the Last Dragon of Wales was killed - was destined to bring history and legend alive and right up to date!
The Heart of the Dragon Festival was held at the castle next to the beautiful River Teifi, with its cascading whitewater leat and riverside path.
The two day event, funded by Heritage Lottery, wove together a Medieval Market Fayre, Storytelling, Drama, Music and Dance pieces created by the local community, along with a Dragon Procession through town, of schools, youth groups, elderly and middle aged! Guarding the castle, a Copper Dragon from Rhyader and a Giant Metal Dragon - made locally by people with special needs - joined a Portuguese Water Dragon in celebration.
A dramatic Giant Dragon Fire Sculpture ensured the spirit of the Last Dragon was well honoured in the dark of the evening…and marked the place where a new history was to be born…
Hero Prince of Wales, Owain Glyndwr, historical revolution leader, fought a battle at the castle in 1403. His Red Dragon Flag flew to reclaim it from the occupiers…
The legend tells of the tragedy of this short lived resistance.
Appearane of the Dragon’s Egg…
However, mythology and history came full circle, when a Giant Dragons Egg mysteriously and magically appeared in a coracle on the river behind the castle on Midsummer Eve 2006.
Thanks to the children of the town guarding and protecting it in a nest in a shop window, it had grown to a giant size over the year and had been taken to people of Poland and Ireland for their good wishes.
This Giant Egg took pride of place at the Heart of the Dragon Festival and it was with great relief and satisfaction that a new Baby Dragon, the first new Dragon of Wales, was born at 2pm on Sunday July 8th 2007!
Beautiful, green and gold and very sleepy, as we all sang a lullaby for its welcome.
The first appearance in 2008…
So now, after being carefully guarded over winter, Baby Dragon is making its first appearance at the castle at a summer evening picnic on Wednesday July 16th 2008 from 6pm to 8pm.
You are all very warmly invited to come along and catch a glimpse of Baby in its magical Dragon Mobile Nursery.
We will share our food and drink, and listen with Baby Dragon to the wonderful music, songs and stories from the festival, recorded on heart of the dragons first bi-lingual CD called ‘Yn y Dechreuad / in the beginning’.
The CD blends mythology with place and history, and music ranging in styles from a light summer fayre dance to an epic Dragon World creation piece, a gentle lullaby and a stirring Dragon Anthem called ‘Red and Green’.
Artists and musicians, (including international jazz singer Maggie Nicols who is musical composer and director, and storytellers Pamela Gaunt and Haydn Jones) are all local talent, some professional and some volunteers from within the community.
They will be available to sign copies of CDs should you want to buy a copy to take the experience home and hear many times over…who knows, maybe Baby Dragon will give a claw print autograph…
Rumour has it even Owain Glyndwr may make an appearance…
Please come, listen to the stories, relax, dance and sing…
And don’t forget your picnic!
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