• Song for Saint Faolán

  • with William McElwee

  • Performance Work
  • Lilburn Awards
  • Wellington
  • June 2021

  • Image: SOUNZ

Video: SOUNZ

An interpretation of the anonymous medieval poem Erthe toc of erthe for solo baritone

Saint Faolán was an eighth century Scottish Christian saint reportedly born with a stone in his mouth. Still in use today, in the village of Killan, are river stones believed to have been blessed and given healing powers by Saint Faolán. 

Text (anonymous, c. early 14th century, United Kingdom):

Erthe toc of erthe erthe wyth woh,

erthe other erthe to the erthe droh,

erthe leyde erthe in erthene throh,

tho hevede erthe of erthe erthe ynoh.