Celtic Music.
Musical perspective from celtic roots in Argentina.

The most exciting celtic band from Argentina. Their original tunes and arrengements carry us onward to a new sensitive world rooted on ancient celtic traditions. Their first CD album "Awen" issued on 1998 is the first digital recording of gaelic harp ever done on local studios, performed by one of the leaders of the Celtic Revival in Argentina, and presently, the only local gaelic harpist. Experiencie "Bran" and discover the celtic spirit alive on you.

From our editorial staff.

In the early '90's, the popular Buenos Aires based 'Poitín' band, dissolved to give birth to new bands. One of these was 'Lenda Gwyn' which after a short period gave birth to 'Duir' during the autumn Celtic New Year celebration of Samhain in 1993, proceeding to introduce new repertoire over four years of concert appearances. One of it's leading members (Eliseo Mauas Pinto) left ´Duir´on Samhain '97 to begin work on a solo project, and soon after 'Duir' dissolved. That project grew in scope to become a new band: 'Bran'.

The members of 'Bran' were drawn together by a mutual love for a style they came to describe as ´musical perspective from Celtic roots'. The band began to weave together old Celtic tunes and new tune of their own, inspired by the feelings and views of the modern Celts, always trying to explore new directions in folk music and the shared Celtic cultural heritage that spans from the British Isles to South America.

The band was joined by several other musicians to enrich the whole project and make Bran´s first album called "Awen" a reality, with great acceptance and good reviews. Part of the concept was to record the first Argentine CD featuring the Gaelic harp as one of it´s lead instruments. Through their arrangements, the band tries to unveil and reflect both the marvel and tragedy of a still-vivid Celtic history. This is music born of Argentinian soil that tries to capture some of the symbollism of clan marches, airs, dances, and songs of the scattered Celtic peoples. The band´s sound combines the harmonic dimension of the Gaelic harp, the rythmic pulse of assorted percussions, the weaving counterpoint of fretted instruments, the lilting melodies of fiddle and flutes, plus the undeniable Celtic feel of the songs.

Flowing with the living currents of our migratory ancient forbears, we take part in a musical and symbolic voyage. The music of 'Bran' is like a 'round trip' carrying us to 'another dimension' of our lives and back again.

Presently, the band is recording their second album.

• Eliseo Mauas Pinto
  Gaelic harps, whistles, flute, percussions, harmonica, pipes, keyboards, vocals.
  
• Xandru Reguera
  Electric and acoustic guitars, fretted dulcimer, cittern, bass guitar, keyboards, vocals.

Quotations of Bran in celtic myth and lore.

The character of Bran retains the quality and significance of 'Strength'. There are three Brans mentioned in Celtic mythological and legendary matter: Bran, the famous hound of Finn Mc Cumhaill; Bran, Son of Febal, the Irish Hero allured by Mannanan, son of Lir, to visit the Isle of Women; and the britonic Bran'The Blessed', brother of Mannawyddan and the son of Llyr, of such a large size that no house could contain him, but he was beneficent and had magical treasures, chief among them was the Cauldron of Healing, his story is told in the welsh cycle of the Mabinogi.

In the alfabet pertaining to the trees and considered of druidical origin, the letter 'F', related to Bran keeps the fourth place, being the Alder tree referred to it. Sacred for the belief of its 'bleeding' when cut down, the wood of this tree was used by 'Bran the Blessed' for the piles of a bridge he constructed across the Irish Sea in order to rescue his sister Branwen. Because of its underwater durability it was used for such practical things as watermill wheels, canal lock-gates and milk pails.

In the calendary derived from this "oracular alfabet" the Alder is related to the month March 18th through April 14th, this fourth month comprises the period on which the sun of Spring dries the floods of Winter; we must note that some celtic houses were raised over alder piles to prevent their insides from the floods.

The Alder was also honoured because of the variety of dyes obtained from this tree: red from its bark; green from its flowers; and brown from its twigs. On Welsh Triads, those 'crimson stained heroes' used alder dyes since it was also refered to as 'ro-eim' which means 'that which redens the face'. Also mentioned in the ossianic 'Song of the Forest Trees' as the 'most fiery in battle',we may associate the alder as 'the tree of fire', due to the power of fire to free the earth from water, and the branch of alder was related to Bran in the welsh poem Cad Godew -The Battle of the Trees- included in the Book of Taliesin, as a signal of resurrection since their sprouts are of spiral form.

From our editorial staff.