The Beginnings Of A Pagan Music
Chas Clifton reports that a two-CD reissue of the work of Pagan singer/songwriter Gwydion Pendderwen is now available from Serpentine Music. Why is this important, and why would anyone not into the folk-stylings of Pendderwen want to check out this reissue? Simply put, Pendderwen saw the beginnings of truly modern Pagan music.
Gwydion Pendderwen
To be frank, speaking as a DJ and music critic, most of what constituted “Pagan” music from the early days was wince-inducing to anyone not into the scenes they emerged from. It certainly wasn’t something that might also appeal to the curious onlooker. This was music for true believers only. In that it resembled much of the early Christian (failed) attempts at modern musical relevance (now fulfilled by artists like Sufjan Stevens). Pendderwen was one of the first Pagan artists who could actually write a decent song and knew how to sing the decent songs he wrote. He helped provide a soundtrack to the growth of modern Paganism in America. Nowadays we have a whole host of Pagan musical artists to pick and choose from, but in America at least, our shared culture owes a small debt to this bard.
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