BROBDINGNAGIAN BARDS: A Faire To Remember

Brobdingnagian Bards

A Faire To Remember

© 2001 Marc Gunn & Andrew McKee (806747000729)

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The Top 10 most-popular songs at Renaissance Festivals, plus The Bards personal favorites including some of funniest and most-engaging songs around.

notes

NOW YOU CAN ENJOY RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL MUSIC ALL YEAR LONG

The Brobdingnagian Bards are fast becoming one of the most popular acts at Renaissance Faires. This is due to their sometimes romantic... sometimes comical... and always enjoyable style of Celtic Renaissance music. This success has made them the #1 Celtic band on MP3.com with millions of downloads and a grow growing legion of ren faire music fans worldwide.

To celebrate their love of faires, they recorded, A Faire to Remember. It features seventeen great tracks of Renaissance faire favorites, including the hit song, "Do Virgins Taste Better Medley" and the song you'll hear on Dr Demento, "Donald, Where's Your Trousers? Medley". You'll also find their former #1 Celtic rendition of "Scarborough Faire". But the music gets even better with the Bards' pick of the Top 10 Renaissance Faire songs of all time.

To fill out the album, the the Brobdingnagian Bards feature their personal renn faire favorites including their Barenaked Ladies parody and hit song, "If I Had A Million Ducats" and Tom Lehrer's "Irish Ballad". The album finishes out with their unique interpretation of the Monty Python song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".

A Faire To Remember continues to garner praise and reviews from fans everywhere. It was even the #1 World/Folk album on MP3.com. And it is by far, the #1 album of Bard fans. If you're looking for the perfect introduction to the music of the Brobdingnagian Bards, look no further than A Faire To Remember.


ABOUT THE BROBDINGNAGIAN BARDS

The Brobdingnagian Bards (pronounced brAHb'ding-näg-EE-en) are The Original Celtic Renaissance music group from Austin, Texas offering free Celtic mp3 downloads. They perform a unique style of music combining Scottish and Irish folk songs with music inspired by the Lord of the Rings, performed on non-traditional instruments--autoharp, recorder, and mandolin.

In just five years, they've completed six studio albums and performed coast-to-coast. Ask their fans, and they'll tell you The Bards are just plain "fun!" Which makes sense since, after all, they just love the music.


FAVORITE FAIRE MEMORIES FROM 2001

The first time someone in the audience yelled "Freebird!", with a knowing wicked smile, we played it. They were quite surprised and told us it was the best version they'd ever heard!

Going to McDonald's—the breakfast of champions!—every morning before faire while dressed in garb.

Composing songs while we stroll the faire.

Driving to Castle Muskogee, while crossing the state line, Marc breaks into "O............klahoma!"

Flying to Kansas City for a faire, Marc busts into "Everything's up to date in Kansas City..."

Performing at the Fairy Picnic at TRF as the "Bobbling Goblins."

Meeting people at faire who can actually pronounce our name, and/or know its meaning and origin.

Performing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" at the Italian Gazebo at TRF 2000 as a storm flooded the faire. Then busting into "The Unicorn Song" as people huddled around us on the covered stage, an unofficial 'Andrew's Ark!'

Being the only men to crash the maypole at TRF and dance with the 'Maypole Maidens'... We are Korobushka fanatics!!!

Marc demolishing Andrew and others in the TRF Calf Contest, singing "None But A Harper." Andrew still thinks it was rigged.

Playing the Robin Hood Medley ["Robin Hood and Little John, running through the forest."] for The Sheriff of Nottingham and Maid Marion as Robin Hood came to save the day.

Playing "The King's Song" for the King of the Castle Muskogee and watching him try to keep from cracking up.

The Soup Kitchen at Stroud in 110 degree weather. Thank God for the cold Strawberry Soup.

Andrew playing dueling banjos—actually recorders—with a young fairy at Excalibur.

Jamming with the Bedlam Bards before Excalibur 2001. Cedric the Fiddler is the all-around coolest bard of the year!

Women. Bodices. What more need be said?

Andrew doing a perfect swan dive into the bulging cleavage of a tuner-stealing wench in order to retrieve said tuner...with his teeth.

Soothing daily morning hand massages from the Magic Garden masseuse, Penny. Ahhh! Heaven for weary musicians!

Marc breaking three strings in one song and abruptly walking off stage...Andrew's first—of many—spontaneous solo opportunities.

Seeing the smiles of vendors every morning as we played for them.

Playing for the TRF cast at the end of every day after the crowds had gone home.

Playing "Pachelbel's Canon" for The Rogues while they slept at the back of our stage.

Finding our first patron—Dragon of Chaos—the best hawker we've ever had, who might have been 'in his cups' a wee bit often, but who has a heart the size of a dragon.

The incredible support we've had from every Ren Faire act, including: Noble Cause, Jack Scratch, Bedlam Bards, The Rogues, Tudor Tarts, Seymoure, and many others.

Playing "Happily Ever After"—a song about a strong, independent heroine—at WTRF, we invited a young lady from the audience to be part of the performance. It wasn't until *after* the faire, we discovered she was blind. Perfect symmetry between Life and Art!

Andrew performing the "I Have A Dream" speech at the end of a show with a standing-room-only audience, including people falling from the trees!

And the ultimate proof of 'Nagian Group Solidarity and Mutual Trust: Walking in TRF's Silver Masque parade, Andrew wearring a mask that didn't fit him, so Marc guided him through the parade around the horse droppings, and Andrew could not see anything but Marc's feet.

reviews

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  • Excellent !!!
    author: Zohar Peled

    Fantastic music.Wonderful performance.

  • author: karen martin

    I listen to the CD over and over. It always puts me back in the ren mood.

  • A Faire to Remember
    author: Kristina

    Wonderful CD! This CD is one of the best! I recommend it to everyone, whether you like celtic musis or not. Just listening to the music puts me in such a good mood.

  • A Faire To Remember
    author: Roger

    Great, great and great.

  • A Faire To Remember
    author: chris thompson

    Very good CD. Love their music

  • It's Faire all year round
    author: Raevyn

    I love it! Faire songs as only Marc & Andrew can do them! Lovers of Faire songs definitely should have this one in their collection.

  • A CD to remember
    author: Keltickitten

    I love the CD. Frankly I just stumbled on their website a couple of months ago, looking for something new as a celtic music lover. Since then I guess I sort of collected all their CD's still available. And I admit: I am not dissapointed. I can advice them to everybody that loves traditional music, but is sort of tired of hearing it copied all the time in the same way. These guys give it a nice, unique twist of it's own. Cheers you up immedialty!

  • Excellent Faire CD
    author: Matt

    This is an excellent disc that all Rennies must own. The version of Health to the Company is great, as is the Donald Where's Your Troosers/What do you do with a Drunken Sailor Medley.

  • Excellent music!
    author: Karen Marie Vinje

    Bought this CD because of The Mermaid Song, and really like most of the others! Wonderful with the high and sensitive moods and the various ways to play. They really lighten up ones life! I sing, play the guitar and fluite together with them and get a lot of inspiration. Thank you – also to CD baby that draw my attention to the bards and sent the cd all the way to Norway! Really hope to see theese musicians perform live one day!

  • A must play at any gathering of friends !!
    author: Karan Burton

    This CD was funny the first time I played it and it gets more entertaining every time. My friends and family all enjoy it and now we sing along with it when we can stop laughing. Great fun indeed!

  • NEVER NEVER DRIVE WHILST LISTENING TO THIS CD
    author: Pam Vander Heyden

    Enjoyed every song, every comment, delightfully, marvelously funny. Next time I shall play it at home first, darn near had an accident, I was laughing so hard.

  • Replay value is priceless
    author: Keith

    A great compilation of songs, from the humorous to the heart-touching. A "feel good" album if ever there was one.

  • Brilliant
    author: Maggie

    Great Album - Do Virgins Taste Better is HILARIOUS. Great CD for making you feel happy. My two-month old daughter likes to listen to it in the car :) Definitely worth checking out!

  • Excellent Music!
    author: Lords N Ladys House of Pierce

    We think its great music at a great price! Takes you back to the homeland. More people aught to listen to it!

  • Perfect for a party.
    author: Susan Glessner

    Printed out the words to some of the songs and had a sing-a-long. Very entertaining

  • Wonderful!
    author: Nikole

    Love this CD! It really helps to put me in a good mood in the mornings on my way to work. Thank you!

  • Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful
    author: Jennifer Dean

    This is a wonderful CD -- though I've yet to hear the whole of it! I made the mistake of playing track 3, the Jedi Drinking Song, when my two sons -- ages 5 and 2 -- were around to hear. They were soooo enamoured of the song that they insisted that we play it over and over and over. I think they may have memorized the thing! I also sent my mother the link for the Bards' home page and SHE has fallen in love with their music. Seems that this may become a family tradition!

  • Great for Laughs and Parties
    author: Richard Niles

    I'd like to start off by saying I love the bards. This CD especially is one of my favorites. It combines some beautiful music with some of the funniest songs I've ever heard. And...it's PG.

  • spreads appointee extends vipers?essence commandeer Lucian ascender Khmer

  • Break out the Meade and Get Ready to Dance
    author: Glenn

    If your idea of a good time is wandring about speaking with a bad English Accent, performing chivelerous acts for Rose Girls and Ale Wenches while avoiding The Sheriff then this CD is for you! An awesome collection of Faire music that will brighten any day that you're stuck in the real world and can't actually be at a Faire.

  • Incredibly Fun!!
    author: Thom

    Easy and fun to listen to - the Bards clearly enjoy what they are doing, and they are good at it.

  • The best music while drinking my whiskey
    author: Arnold Stokkel

    The music brings me to Ireland, it gives my flashes of pubs filled with Irish men enjoying their live. I listen to my cd mostly in the evening while enjoying the original whiskey.............

  • I love this CD!
    author: Susan DeVan

    This CD has some of my favorite fair music and I have thoroughly enjoyed singing along with the songs. Highly recommend for any RenFair enthusiast. Wonderful! Hope to see the bards perform live one day!

  • Great fun, enjoyable and easy to sing
    author: Brigitta

    For me it was important to present Irish folk songs to my students. I played "Whiskey in the Jar" and " Wild Rover". These song were absolute hits for them. My students liked Irish folk immediately with this CD.

  • Even kids love it
    author: Teresa

    Bought this CD in search of a particular song. I have been delighted with the whole CD. Even my children 9 and 12 years of age are loving it.

  • Perfect Wedding CD
    author: Kim

    I ordered this cd for music for my medievel wedding in July. The cd is exactly what I wanted. The only trouble is picking which song to walk down the aisle to?!!

  • I love the cd and the music.
    author: Trisha

    I really do love the cd and the songs that were on it. Very nice compliation of songs and the time it was sent to me was timely. Thank you for the wonderful music.

  • Straight from the Ren Faire!
    author: Evan McKenzie

    We get to the Faire once a year, and this CD is perfect for getting back into the mood during the winter. This is one of my favorite CDs.

  • A wonderful CD, recommended to all!
    author: Jen

    I loved this CD, it was hilarious the whole way through...the little side remarks make the CD almost like listening to the guys themselves. My only complaint was that Scarborough Faire seemed to run a bit long, but the rest was phenomenal! I'd give it four and a half stars, or four and three quarters, but unfortunately that's not an option. This is a great CD for a faire-lover like me!

  • This is the most awesome thing ever!!!
    author: Heather

    This cd is completely awesome. I literally cannot stop listening to it. I listen to it, in its entirety, at least once every 2 days. The Bards are incredible, and they definitely have outdone themselves on this album. I love how there are traditional more serious, sentimental songs, such as "Wild Mountain Thyme" and "Health to the Company" and at the same time, more light-hearted songs filled with humor, such as "If I Had a Million Ducats" and "Donald, Where's Your Trousers?". It's an absolutely ingenius blend of traditional Celtic folk music, with Renaissance faire fun. Absolutely incredible. 5 stars all the way!!! :-D

  • Great Fun!!
    author: Strausbaugh Family

    We enjoyed your web site so much that we had to buy the CD. Actually, my 16 year old daughter bought it, but we are all enjoying it. It is feeding our post summer renaissance fair withdrawl.

  • A great, funny CD for any Faire fan!
    author: Jason T

    A great collection of faire classics! 'A Faire to Remember' is my first Bards CD, but definitely not my last!

  • never heard of the before - excellent glad i bought it!!
    author: redangelll

    CD was great - fun for everyone!! all the songs are great! btw I purchased through cd baby and it was a fantastic experience would buy from again

  • Wonderful Songs, Wonderful Tunes
    author: BruceG

    A great collection of singable songs from a wonderful group. I had several of these already from their free downloads, but getting even one new one is worth several times the price of the CD. If you haven't experienced these folks yet - you've missed a blast - listen to a few clips & enjoy.

  • Great fun, especially if you can sing along.
    author: Keith Breedlove

    I bought this for one song (my wife -- the wild roveress -- really lit up and joined in when I played it for her), and really like most of the others. In fact, kinda reminds me why I like the subject of the 2d song.

  • Faire Weather Bards Sing Sunny Renaissance Songs
    author: Page Turner

    A Faire to Remember is the first recording by the Brobdingnagian Bards to spin in my CD player and it won't be the last. Their upbeat renaissance tunes are sunshine for a rainy day. Rich, resonant 'hail and come all ye' vocals backed by throbbing autoharp and jingling mandolin-- two instruments which seemingly shouldn't go together, but they do, and famously! Favorite tracks include Health to the Company, Johnny Jump Up, and Lusty Young Smith. Just a moment ago, a passing student poked his head into my office to inquire if those were the Bards on my CD player; hmmm, their fame precedes them!

  • Funny, Bawdy, Wonderfully entertaining
    author: Theresa Pittman

    This is just wonderfully entertaining. I've shared it with friends and family "You've got to hear this one".

  • Wow
    author: erinrai

    Great songs, great music period. Can't wait until I can see them in person this weekend at Sedalia.

  • delightful!
    author: Nancy

    Wonderful! A delightful and humorous CD. I especially love their soulful version of "Wild Mountain Thyme." Actually, I love all the songs on this CD and keep it in the car with me.

  • Very enjoyable
    author: Loretta

    I and my husband enjoyed the CD very much. I look forward to seeing the Bards in Sedalia in June.

  • Way Too Cool
    author: Sabes

    This CD is way too cool. I loved every minute of it.

  • Great stuff!
    author: Diann

    I've enjoyed both the old songs and the new ones. I play them on my computer while I'm trying to catch up on e-mails and, believe me, it's a great help. Keep up the great songs.

  • I love this CD!
    author: Jenny

    This CD is wonderful. I have been looking for some good Celtic music for my wedding reception; I will be using this CD there. :)

  • great songs. i absolutely loved them
    author: ken dowdle

    this cd is great. i have heard several versions of some of the songs on this album and these guys do them perfectly. the songs i had never heard before either had me in stiches or replaying them again so i could sing along at the top of my lungs and scare my neighbors.

  • A musical masterpiece...
    author: Gabriel

    I'll be singing these songs for days! This is truly a great musical masterpiece. You won't be able to get enough of the bards!

  • Oh my!
    author: Tabitha

    Some songs from my childhood and some that my children will hear...this is the best set of CDs I've bought in a long time! Fab-u-lous!

  • delightfully funny
    author: dyna

    This cd is delightful. The songs are witty and very well done. I can heartily recommend it to anyone who likes humorous music or celtic music.

  • Perfect entertainment
    author: Georgina Gibson

    This CD is really great, we are very glad we bought it.

  • A lively and humorous cd.
    author: Cathy Mosley

    A very lively and humorous group of songs, which gives a wonderful idea of the groups live shows. I enjoyed the music and the asides.

  • I LOVE THIS SIGHT! WONDERFUL SERVICE
    author: Beccers

    The CD was wonderful. It arived promptly after ordered and I've been listning to it constantly since I got it. I know most of the words to the songs by now. Can't wait to get another from CD baby!

  • GREAT!
    author: falonMOON

    cd came right in time for our ren-faire party! everyone loved it! they even sang along to some of the songs!!!!!!! it was just perfect for our party! thanks so much for taking the time to make it!

  • Fabulous!!
    author: Laura

    This is an absolutely fabulous cd, I love it! Some very hilarious songs, and all around great music.

  • Excellent faire tunes!
    author: Debby Patten

    A great cd to put you in the mood for faire or to keep you going until you get to the next one!

  • 1,000,000 laughs!
    author: Ellen Getz

    Fantastic! I had customers in my shop when I played it, and we could'nt stop laughing. And the music is awesome too! Can't wait to see them live. I hope they live 200 years and keep playing.

  • Great songs and music!!!
    author: Star In NC

    My family love the scottsmen song as well as the does virgins taste better then those who are not. Great vocals, Music, and you can tell the people doing the cd are having a blast. I think it is wonderful. I look forward to own more of their music in the future.

  • Not great, not terrible.
    author: Tigersighs

    This group's work is a testimony to excellent marketing. I only wish the music were as good--but then we all have different tastes.

  • Fantastic set of traditional and original songs
    author: Gwydion

    I thouroughly enjoyed this CD. The traditional songs were excellent, and I truly enjoyed the humour and the presentation of the original songs. Do Virgins Taste Better. . . witty and entertaining, a must buy for Faire attendees and their friends (at the very least).

  • Indubitably Great... HUZZAH!!!
    author: Scott Harrison

    This cd I belive shows the child within us all and how we just want to get up and dance and be happy.

  • A(n) (a)Faire to Remember - sometimes traditional, sometimes naughty, sometimes
    author: Zoot

    OK, it simple. If you enjoy the old English, Irish, Scottish (Celtic sound), you'll be pleased to have added this CD to your collection. From the first track, the popular 'The Mermaid Song' and then other familiar tunes such as 'Scarborough Faire', 'Wild Rover', 'Wild Mountain Thyme' you'll enjoy the Bards' renditions. Then, of course, what's to say about 'Do Virgins Taste Better?/The Dragon's Retort' except to say it seems to define the Bards. Just plain fun. But that's a mere taste of what's to come as heard in 'The Scotsman', and 'Lusty Young Smith' and a very politically incorrect 'Fairie Story'. It's foot tappin', it's happy, it's fun, it's a great collection rendered with obvious spirit and care. Do yourself a favor and read the lyrics to those tunes unfamiliar to you - you'll be amazed (maybe appalled) at what these boys are singing about. They must be fun in person!

  • Love the Bards!
    author: Christine G

    A Faire to Remember is the best CD to get to be introduced to the dynamic duo of celtic music. It has most of their funniest songs on one CD, and is a great buy for anyone with a good sense of fun!

  • A Faire to Remember - FUN!!
    author: Season

    This is the perfect CD for a person seeking rousing songs from the times of the seadogs and pirates. What a fantastic rendition of really fun songs!! Thank you. Perfect for any reinactment music involving those historical times.

  • This CD was the greatest - what fun.
    author: Elzibeth

    I bought this CD to learn one song and instead add many of them to my repertoire. My bardic group is in for a suprize. I really like the bantering.

  • "Faire to Remember" definately memorable!
    author: Edward Burke, a Caltic music fan and College D from VT

    This CD is packed with all the stuff that makes a CD of an independent Celtic band truly great, such as: 1. Sparse, simple and acoustic instrumentation. (Gotta love Andrew's recorder), #2. plenty of brilliant original material in addtion to the classic Irish and Scottish folk songs (defiantely check out the Bard's version of "If I had a Million Dollars", "Whiskey in the Jar", "Greensleeves", and many others...) #3. A repour witth the audience is established-the Bards so kindly take you through a pronunciation of their name and a little explanation of what they do), and number 4: a little something I like to call "Dej vu": you seem to have the memory of hearing this CD once before becuase you have indeed put the album on reapeat in your player if you own the album, or play it many timeas as I do on my radio show. "A Faire to Remember" will keep you coming back for more, it's that simple.

  • This CD is packed with outstanding music and lyrics.
    author: Emilee

    A Faire to Remember is one of my favorite CD's. There are so many songs on this CD that I could listen to it over and over with out getting tired of it. It also contains a wide variety of increadible tunes that make it a truely remarkable piece of work.

  • Best of the best
    author: Hagar Hahn

    Can't make it to the Faire?Listen to AFTR,and you'll be there.It offers a great selection of Ren-Faire songs that will make you laugh,cry,and get up and dance.I raise my glass high in toast to this cd,and you will,too.It's highly recommended that you get this cd,so you may also enjoy the beauty of the Faire.You won't be disappointed....

  • Captures the spirit of their live show.
    author: Rimbo

    The live show. An audience in garb laughs and claps and sings along. Marc dances around as Andrew tries to maintain sanity. Sometimes. It's the best thing about the Bards. The Bards have recorded a tremendous library of old Ren Faire favorites, original songs, folk music, and the occasional Tom Lehrer tribute piece, and dominated the World Music charts on the old MP3.com. A Faire to Remember captures the spirit of their live Ren Faire show; they recorded the songs the way they're performed, and even threw in "A Short Interlude" to keep the banter going. As I listened, I felt like they were with me in my living room, talking to me, while I laughed and clapped and sang along. If you like the Bards' music and haven't heard them live, the free-form approach of A Faire to Remember is as close to being there as you can get. You owe it to your "elf" to get this CD.

  • Love Renaissance Faires? You'll love this CD...
    author: Ghislaine de Rouen - Asst. ED - Louisiana Renaissance Festival

    Beloved faire songs, including The Mermaid, make this compilation a must-have for any faire goer...recommended, too, for faire newcomers who want a quick sampling of the music they will likely hear at any renaissance faire...and, as always, delivered by the Brob Bards with skill, wit and panache!

  • All you need is garb and grog...
    author: Merideth

    Missing the Faire? Longing for your bread bowl soup and turkey legs? Put this CD in and close your eyes. The scents and sounds of the Faire will come rushing at you, and the Lords and Ladies of the Court will dance circles with you. Excellent selections old and new will tantilize and tickle!

  • An excellent collection of their best show songs
    author: Andrew Lambdin-Abraham

    This CD is a collection of some of the best known songs at Ren Faires and Celtic Fun Music, plus a couple of the Bard's crowd favorites. Their incredibly clever "Do Virgins Taste Better Medley" is what got me interested in the Bards when they were a pair of funny guys playing outside my classroom at the University of Texas. Then they have traditional classic songs like "Whiskey in the Jar" and "Wild Rover". "If I had a Million Ducats" is a really funny cover, and "A Fairy Story" is just great, definately not what you expected to happen. All in all, an excellent collection of the songs you want the Bards to sing.

  • An Awesome Sampling
    author: Amanda Scott

    This C.D. has a bit of everything. Whether your looking for a toast-worthy tune or something to have you on the floor laughing, AFTR has something for everyone. It's impossible to pick a favorite song when all of them put a smile on my face.

  • Beautiful and fun celtic music
    author: Joan Drushel

    A great find! Beautifully played medieval/celtic music with a sense of humor. Provides some new twists on old standards.

  • Warm, funny, and entirely perfect for Renaissance Lovers!
    author: Heather L. St.Peter

    A delightful grouping of fireside songs to be shared by friends. Taken with a good pint of ale and a hearty spirit, the songs of a Renaissance Faire find their way into your mind and stick there!

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