The Lost Words: Spell Songs

by Robert Macfarlane, Jackie Morris, Karine Polwart

Hardback book and full length CD. In 2018 Folk by the Oak Festival commissioned Spell Songs, a musical companion piece to The Lost Words by author Robert Macfarlane and artist Jackie Morris; a celebrated `spell book' rich with poetic rhythms and imagined birdsong that naturally invited a musical response. Spell Songs gathered together eight remarkable musicians whose music engages deeply with landscape and nature, to respond to the creatures, art and language of The Lost Words. Spell Songs allowed these acclaimed and diverse musicians to weave together elements of British folk music, Senegalese folk traditions, and experimental and classical music to create an inspiring new body of work. In February 2019 Spell Songs enjoyed standing ovations at sell-out performances at major venues around the including QEH at the Southbank Centre; shows in 2019 include Hay Festival, and a prom at the Royal Albert Hall. Here are 14 songs which capture the essence of The Lost Words. Spoken voice, whispers, accents, dialects, native languages, proverbs, sayings, birdsong, river chatter and insect hum all increase the intimacy of the musical world conjured by the songs. Jackie Morris immersed herself in the musical residency where she generously created new iconesque artwork of each musician and their instruments portrayed in an unexpected and enchanting way. These new paintings, along with stunning photography by renowned photographer Elly Lucas, from the residential gathering, the recording of the album and the sell-out tour, fill this book with beauty. Writings by Robert, Jackie and Karine elaborate on the project itself and its eco-musicological message, further exploring the relationship between art and nature, music and conservation. “There are songs here that would live with me for the rest of my years, even if I'd had no part in their making.", Robert Macfarlane

Genres: Poetry, Nature, Nonfiction, Music, Art

112 pages, Hardcover

Published July 11, 2019

About the author

Robert Macfarlane is a British nature writer and literary critic.

Educated at Nottingham High School, Pembroke College, Cambridge and Magdalen College, Oxford, he is currently a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and teaches in the Faculty of English at Cambridge.

Robert Macfarlane is the author of prize-winning and bestselling books about landscape, nature, people and place, including Mountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination (2003), The Wild Places (2007), The Old Ways (2012), Holloway (2013, with Stanley Donwood and Dan Richards), Landmarks (2015), The Lost Words: A Spell Book (with the artist Jackie Morris, 2017) and Underland: A Deep Time Journey (2019). His work has been translated into many languages, won prizes around the world, and his books have been widely adapted for film, television, stage and radio. He has collaborated with artists, film-makers, actors, photographers and musicians, including Hauschka, Willem Dafoe, Karine Polwart and Stanley Donwood. In 2017 he was awarded the EM Forster Prize for Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) I followed up The Lost Words immediately with this companion book to the 14-track album a group of eight folk musicians made in response. We were already fans of Kris Drever (mostly via Lau), Karine Polwart and Beth Porter (via the Bookshop Band), and became familiar with a few more of the artists (Kerry Andrew, Julie Fowlis and Rachel Newton) earlier this year through the online Folk on Foot festivals. This volume includes six additional poems, four of which directly inspired songs on the album, plus brief bios and words on the project from each artist (each portrayed by Morris as a relevant bird, with the musician serving as the “spirit human” for the bird) the complete lyrics with notes from whoever took the lead on a particular song, and short essays by Macfarlane, Morris (also an interview) and Polwart.

It was interesting to compare the different approaches to the project: five songs directly set Macfarlane’s poetry to music, two of them primarily in spoken word form; five are based on Macfarlane “extras,” like the new spells and the “charm against harm” he wrote during anti-tree felling campaigns like the one in Sheffield; a few are essentially pop songs based around major lines from Dandelion, Goldfinch and Lark (these plus “Selkie-Boy,” based on Grey Seal, ended up being my favorites); one is a traditional song from Seckou Keita’s native Senegal that also incorporates the bilingual Fowlis’s Gaelic to mourn the words that are lost with the past; and one is a final blessing song that weaves in bits from multiple spells. The artists all bring their individual styles, but the collaborations are strong, too.

[Suze Geuke · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh het boek waar deze cd/boek op gebaseerd is werd vandaag in college genoemd en dat bracht me terug naar een kalme namiddag met mijn moeder op de bank, dit lezende en dus ook luisterende en wat is er allemaal goed over nagedacht zonder dingen te forceren!
jongens de natuur is echt heul mooi en we zouden er iets bekender mee mogen zijn! het is de moeite waard! elzen en springwilgen en paddestoelen en kingfishers! hartstikke boeien!!!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book with cd that is good for the soul. Artist and musician combine to articulate powerfully with text, brush, instrument, and voice the beauty of the wild. Revealing it's diversity and vulnerability, and reminding us of our umbilical connection to the landscape that spawned us, its dependant life forms, and perhaps, of our obligations towards both.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite spell poem is The Goldfinch and my favorite songs were Heartwood and The Words Blessing. Lovely artwork, lovely poetry and a nice background on how the music came to be.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides insights into the creative process as a book extolling the virtues of the natural world, and the need to protect and conserve animals and their habitats before they disappear completely, and the environment is transformed into music.

The book is filled with gorgeous artwork. However, it can be difficult to read as much of the print is in a light grey color that does not stand out from the page. It is for that reason that the book rates 3.5 stars.

[Kathryn Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And part of the joy of crafting collaboratively in the moment is a sort of dancing into spaces where you can offer something that someone else can't. Equally if takes a willingness to step aside when someone already occupied that space. To offer less than you could requires generosity, confidence, and a commitment to something greater than your own self." -Karine Polwart

I used to sometimes worry that I listened to spell songs too much, that I would one day tire from having played them so regularly and not want to listen anymore. But everytime I return to them they have something new to give, re-emerging every so often and becoming a sort of grounding soundtrack over the years. This book is no exception and I continue to be grateful for such a beautiful project.

[Caroline Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of songs that is a companion to The Lost Words. I would recommend immersing yourself in The Lost Words before listening to these songs. It will give you a greater sense of the overall project and the feeling that the artists wanted to convey.

I absolutely loved The Snow Hare, Charm On Goldfinch, and The Lost Words Blessing. Snow Hare was positively haunting. The images were so clear, the music the perfect beat and rhythm to make your heart rate beat faster, just as the hare would experience. The blessing felt so peaceful and like something that will stick with me throughout the day.

I also enjoyed Conker, which felt more like spoken word than a song. It felt serious and grounding in amongst all the lyrical rhythms.

Overall, a great companion to The Lost Words.

[Erika LG · Rating 5 out of 5]

All over the country, there are words disappearing from children's lives. These are the words of the natural world; Dandelion, Otter, Bramble and Acorn, all gone. A wild landscape of imagination and play is rapidly fading from our children's minds.

The Lost Words stands against the disappearance of wild childhood. It is a joyful celebration - in art and word - of nearby nature and its wonders. With acrostic spell-poems by award-winning writer Robert Macfarlane and illustrations by Jackie Morris, this enchanting book evokes the irreplaceable magic of language and nature for all ages.

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the hard tangible version and stories behind a collection of songs that kept us going over the spring and summer of lockdown2020. A collection of interviews, lyrics and reflections and of course the wonderful melding of notes and words that make up Spellsongs themselves. A brilliant weaving of art and music, drawing us into a closer appreciation of the natural world and inspiring us to do better with what we have around us.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spell Songs is the music companion to the beautiful Lost Words. This book is the story of how the music came together and includes some beautiful new art work by Jackie Morris.

If haven’t come across Lost Words do look it up, there are apparently copies in most primary schools, all hospices and many care homes all over the UK. It is a powerful book and there are stories in Spell Songs of how it has deeply affected people.

[Moira McPartlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading and loving The Lost Words I had to buy the Spell Songs - CD of songs inspired by nature and The Lost Words book and the accompanying book of song lyrics, artists' statements and beautiful illustrations. Some of my favourite music artists are involved in this projects. It is a must for all nature lovers, music lovers and lovers of words.

[Derrick McCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of poems of 20 words, now lost to children, to hopefully bring them back into the lexicon. Will say, works far better as a book than an audiobook, but the audiobook is just as beautiful in its own way.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful accompaniment to the original book. More spells, more stunning images, more words, from everyone involved.

A true delight

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL
Filled with so much passion, emotion and detail.
I use this to " zone out" when things get a little tough!

[Suzanne Ashworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This accompanies the music writtne to go with Jackie Morris' book of spell songs/ poems and the lLost Words children's book.

[Alison Kirkham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every day should start with this album. The words and music have seeped into my heart and made a huge difference to my life. I’m so grateful for this.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning book to read and re read, gift and gift again. There is no one who will not find something to love about this incredible book.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What is there to do in the face of loss but to fight for what is beautiful..." Robert MacFarlane

[Doreen Chancellor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Merrilee Frankish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving book of lost words spells, illustrations and songs. Poetry and artistry at its finest