Remember seeing two guys from West Cornwall on BBC Breakfast TV in October 2006 performing a Beatles’ song in Cornish? Well Dave Miller and Matthew Clarke of Skwardya recorded four songs by Lennon/McCartney in Kernewek, only to be told they were not allowed to reproduce them for sale on a CD. That publicity has spurred the duo on to completing a CD of pop and rock songs 100% in the Cornish language.
The Cornish Language Fellowship (Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek) is launching the CD called ‘An Eledhva’ (The Domain of Angels) to give a new vision of Cornish. Previously, most people associate Kernewek with folk music. However, this compilation of original songs covers a range of genres in the modern music medium:
anything from rock to rave.
The hope is that as more schools take up teaching the language by the end of 2007, this CD will provide inspiration to young people, showing them the language is not solely the domain of folk music.
Skwardya started as a full band in 1999, but has since transformed into the duo consisting of Matt and Dave. Matt also has another Cornish language band called Krena. This four piece almost verges on punk at times, and won the PanCeltic song contest in 2005. Krena is also representing Cornwall in 2007.
Matthew Clarke said:
“It was a shame we weren’t allowed to take our Beatles in Cornish to the world properly, but this is the next best thing we can do. I hope this will excite and inspire a younger Cornish generation to learn their Celtic tongue.”
The CD costs £10 (p&p is free to UK members of the Cornish Language Fellowship). It can be bought by emailing enquiries@cornish-language.orgor calling 07722 430371. It will also be available through Just Cornish in Penzance and St Just, Gwynn ha Du in The Arcade in Liskeard, through ‘Buy it Now’ on Ebay, Kesson.com, and cornishmusic.com.
Music of Cornwall
|
