Song Saturday: Henry Cowell's The Banshee

How's it going lurkers? Was the last Song Saturday NOT  creepy enough for you? Chances are great that you will say, "Yes." The last blog wasn't intended to be creepy. However, you are in luck today!

Before listening to today's song by the Classical Music composer, pianist, and theorist, Henry Cowell, learning about the banshee is a MUST. Growing up, I have always heard people loosely mention the banshee in discussions but never really knew much about it.

According to Irelandseye.com, the banshee is widely known in Irish Mythology as a female spirit, that is appointed to warn those from certain Old Irish families about their times of death.

Wikipedia additionally mentions that the banshee is also known as "the woman of the fairy mound" or "fairy woman." The spirit warns 5 Irish families with her shrieking and "keening." 

Keening is supposedly a traditional form of vocal wailing in grief of a dead person. This is something customarily done at Irish and Scottish funerals by women.

Who are these 5 Old Irish families?

The O'Niells, O'Briens, O'Connors, O'Gradys, and the Kavanaghs are the 5 Irish families in need of warning. Notice that most of these Old Irish family names have last names starting with "O'."

While the banshee's shrieks and keens forewarn the 5 families at night about death, she can appear in 1 of her 3 guises. She can appear as a young and beautiful woman, a stately matron, or a frightful, old hag. The banshee is most commonly known as a frightful, old hag.

The preceding 3 guises of the banshee represent the triple aspects of the Celtic Goddess of War and Death, which happen to be Badhbh, Macha and Mor-Rioghain.

Even though those 3 guises are the banshee's most popular guises, she can also appear in a few other guises in the form of animals associated with witchcraft in Ireland. 

The banshee can appear as a hooded crow, stoat, hare, or a weasel.

After stumbling upon Henry Cowell's song, "The Banshee," listening to it automatically gave me the chills. Listening to this bone chilling song is like listening to a Horror film score. The way he played this piece on his piano exudes horror.

Imagine listening to "The Banshee," while reading a Horror novel, short story, listening to an audiobook, or simply watching something on your TV or computer screen with a really creepy vibe. 

Actually, I have a better idea. After reading today's blog about the banshee, re-read it as Cowell's "The Banshee" plays in the background. It should enhance your fear about this creepy spirit from Ireland.

Early yesterday morning, I was in the middle of reading an online article, as Henry Cowell's "The Banshee" played in the background. I began to dose off and suddenly awoke by the sound of the strings on his piano. "The Banshee" scared me awake. 

The sound of the piano strings was more effective than waking up to an alarm clock.

The creepy sounds of "The Banshee" automatically causes me to imagine heavy gusts of wind and gray fog, ice cold rain, and falling temperatures from a thunderstorm. 

Someone wakes up from howling and shrieking noises, while everyone sleeps on a dark and dreary night. 

The sounds linger and a man emerges battling insomnia. As badly as he tries falling back asleep, the howling and shrieking noises continue.

The man leaves his bed to roam around the dark hallways, in search of where those loud noises are coming from and from who. After getting closer to those noises, he opens a door and witnesses a frightful-looking old hag, crouching over someone's corpse, in a large puddle of blood!

How morbid is the imagination of yours truly before Saint Patrick's Day?

When listening to Henry Cowell's "The Banshee," what imagery comes to mind? Is it just as dark and creepy as what I imagined? If so, let me know in the comments section below.

Before I forget, make SURE to turn your clocks 1 hour AHEAD tonight for Daylight Savings. We will be "springing forward."

Anyway, re-read today's Song Saturday blog, while listening to Henry Cowell's "The Banshee."

Henry Cowell "The Banshee" The Piano Music Of Henry Cowell (1925)