GLOSSARY
Wire-strung: As opposed to gut or nylon strung, which is the modern way. These are unwound brass strings. The tradition of brass wires has existed since at least 1185; when Gerald Cambrensis commented on the use of brass, instead of the more common horse hair, to string the harps in Ireland. In fact the only good things he had to say about the Irish were concerning their skill with the harp. But then he was Welsh and in the employ of Henry II.
Clarsach: The traditional Irish or Scottish harp. Debate rages over who invented this - the Celts or the Picts. The most famous representation of this harp is to be found on the Guinness bottle. Famous real-life harps are the Trinity College Harp, Dublin (known as the Brian Boru Harp) and the Queen Mary Harp, Edinburgh.
Bardic: Actually there is little historic evidence that Bards were harpers and storytellers. More likely each discipline was performed by a different person. However it feels right to describe the act of simultaneous harping and storytelling as Bardic. The performer as such is a Bard.
The Matter of Britain: (or 'What's the Matter with Britain') Matter as in substance, form and identity. So the things that make the British, that constitute our cultural heritage and typify the 'Spirit of England'. Usually associated with the Arthurian legends.
Analeptic: Robert Graves wrote about Analeptic memory in his book 'The White goddess'. Others (C.J.Jung for instance) have called it Race or Genetic Memory or the Collective Unconscious. The idea is that we all have a store of knowledge, or memories, that exist courtesy of our ancestors. These images can be 'unlocked' by a catalyst. For Graves it was poetry, for some it might be artwork. For me it's music and storytelling. It's a feeling that the story/painting/poem is created by oneself but originates from, or is inspired by, something far older.
Green Men: On one hand these are the men that spy on us from their hiding places in church roofs; on the other they are the same men that spy on us from their hiding places in the forest. If you ever catch a quick glimpse of a face looking at you from out of the leaves; who vanishes if you face him directly, then you have just met with the Green Man. Also known as Jack-in-the-Green, Green-Jack, King of the May and maybe even Robin Hood.
Wild Men: On one hand these are the fur/leaf covered men that appear on medieval woodcuts; on the other they are the same men that leave normal society to go and live in the forest. In this case they are often described as mad (Gelt in Irish - although that might also imply that they are inspired). Also known as Wood Wose or wode wose; famous wild men include Suibhne Gelt, Lailoken, Sir Orfeo, Merlin and maybe even Robin Hood.
Faerie Folk: I don't mean the nice, gauzy winged things that live at the bottom of the garden and get photographed by pre-pubescent girls. Oh no! These are the Sidhe - Unhuman rather than inhuman, amoral rather than immoral. Tall, elegant and dangerously beautiful! I almost daren't name them (but as a bard I should be immune to retribution). So - King of the Faerie, Queen of the Faerie, Puck, Willie Greenskin, Robin Goodfellow and maybe even Robin Hood.
Forest Folk: Not green, not wild, not fae. Anybody else who lives in the forests. Also known as Our Ancestors; famous forest folk include Tam Lin, King Herla, Herne the Hunter and, of course, Robin Hood.
Tutelary Spirits: A guardian or protector tied to a country, place or person. The tutelary spirits of England include King Arthur and St.George. The tutelary spirits of certain places include Sabrina (the River Severn), Herne (Windsor Park) and Robin Hood (Sherwood Forest). Individuals might also have tutelary spirits; in which case we might call them Angels, Fairy Godmothers, Spirit Guides, Totem Animals or Banshees.
Archetypes: According to Jung (and others since him) the Collective Unconscious contains images that have remained significant, even from our most primal times. These images are so much part of our 'coding' that we all respond to them, even though we might not recognise the image or it's effect upon us. This is proven by the recurrence of these images in forms of artwork (as mentioned above - Analeptic Memory). Storytelling in particular can awaken these archetypes with profound effects on our psyches.