Brobdingnagian Bards
Encyclopedia
History
Marc Gunn, formerly of Austin Texas' alternative rock bands Skander and Breastfed, released a solo album (Geography) featuring himself on autoharp and Andrew McKee on recorder in 1998. This initial collaboration lead to the official formation of the Brobdingnagian Bards in 1999.The group's name is derived from the kingdom of coarse giants described in Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
's satirical novel Gulliver's Travels
Gulliver's Travels
Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships, better known simply as Gulliver's Travels , is a novel by Anglo-Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan Swift that is both a satire on human nature and a parody of...
. The band was made up of its original two members, Marc Gunn
Marc Gunn
Marc Gunn is a musician and podcaster. As the autoharp-playing half of the Brobdingnagian Bards, Gunn and partner Andrew McKee developed a following with weekly performances on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. This led to gigs at renaissance faires, science fiction conventions, and...
(autoharp
Autoharp
The autoharp is a musical string instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers, which, when depressed, mute all of the strings other than those that form the desired chord. Despite its name, the autoharp is not a harp at all, but a chorded zither. -History:There is debate over the...
, vocals), and Andrew McKee (recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
, mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, vocals).
The Brobdingnagian Bards musical style is best described as a mixture of Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, with their original compositions often falling into the filk genre. Although the pair did perform a good deal of purely traditional songs, it is the band's own works that set them apart, with their humorous pop-culture and sci-fi parodies. Despite performing in what is considered a "niche" genre, this duo was ranked as one of the top 20 bands on the original MP3.com
MP3.com
MP3.com is a web site operated by CNET Networks providing information about digital music and artists, songs, services, community, and technologies. It is probably better known for its original incarnation, as a legal, free music-sharing service, popular with independent musicians for promoting...
. Over time, the Bards also honed their act into live entertainment by adding comedy, with McKee being the "straight-man" to Gunn's antics. As a result, they also became a familiar and popular act on both the renaissance faire and geek-show circuits.
The Bards had the honor of being headliners at the Oscar party for the The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a 2003 epic fantasy-drama film directed by Peter Jackson that is based on the second and third volumes of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings...
. As Austin natives, they make regular appearances in the Austin Chronicle
Austin Chronicle
The Austin Chronicle is an alternative weekly, tabloid-style newspaper published every Thursday in Austin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demographic...
's annual Austin Music Awards poll, taking home the #1 prize for "Best Novelty Band" in 2004, "Best None of the Above" performing band in 2006 (the first Celtic band to ever win such accolades), and "Best Folk Act" in 2007. The band also makes regular top-ten finishes in the folk band and world music categories. In 2002, the Bards were also given a critic's pick award for "Best Renaissance Men" in the 2002 Best of Austin awards. In addition to the many conventions, faires and music festivals the group performed at around the Austin area, they also have toured coast to coast, and developed a following of devoted listeners, referred to as "Nagians." In 2007 and 2008, the Bards with several of their fans took a vacation tour of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
On September 15, 2008, the Brobdingnagian Bards band broke up amicably in order to pursue solo careers. They played their last public performance at The Browncoat Ball, organized by the Austin Browncoats.
Discography
- Marked by Great SizeMarked by Great SizeMarked by Great Size is the Brobdingnagian Bards' first album. It features songs performed by the band at Excalibur Fantasy Faire in Austin, Texas.- Track listing :# "None But A Harper "# "Satisfied"# "Lady Faery"...
(1999) - Gullible's TravelsGullible's Travels (album)Gullible's Travels is the Bards' second album, and was only released on MP3.com.- Track listing :# "Maiden's Dance"# "THE KING'S SONG "# "Wild Mountain Thyme"# "Wild Rover"# "The Bridge"# "Shepherd's Serenade"...
(2000) - Songs of the MuseSongs of the MuseSongs of the Muse is an instrumental album of Celtic/Renaissance melodies. The tune "Tolkien ," which got over a million downloads on MP3.com and brought the band its first taste of fame, saw its first release on this album....
(2001) - A Faire to RememberA Faire to RememberA Faire to Remember is a mix of Renaissance Fair favorites, classic Celtic tunes, as well as some original comedic works from the Bards."If I Had a Million Ducats" is a parody of the Barenaked Ladies' hit song "If I Had $1000000". "Irish Ballad" is a cover of the song by satirist Tom Lehrer...
(2001) - Songs of IrelandSongs of IrelandSongs of Ireland is an album by the Brobdingnagian Bards released on Saint Patrick's Day in 2002. Unlike the band's previous albums which featured songs of various Celtic origins, this album is a compilation of almost entirely Irish songs....
(2002) - Memories of Middle EarthMemories of Middle EarthMemories of Middle Earth was created by the Brobdingnagian Bards as a tribute to J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. It is composed of mainly instrumental, and entirely original Celtic/folk style music. The album was released two years after the band saw much success with its song "Tolkien "...
(2003) - A Celtic Renaissance WeddingA Celtic Renaissance WeddingA Celtic Renaissance Wedding is a compilation of some of the Brobdingnagian Bards' most romantic songs, and their most requested songs for wedding ceremonies and receptions.- Track listing :# "Shepherd's Serenade"# "Bridal Chorus"# "Lady Faery"...
(2004) - Brobdingnagian Fairy TalesBrobdingnagian Fairy TalesBrobdingnagian Fairy Tales is a compilation of Irish pub songs, various pop culture inspired songs and parodies, and live versions of songs from the Bards' previous albums. A romantic Italian folk song, "Santa Lucia," is also included...
(2005) - Christmas in Brobdingnag, Vol 1Christmas in Brobdingnag, Vol 1Christmas in Brobdingnag, Vol 1 is a short set of Christmas songs infused with the Bards' unique style. The band kept to their standard autoharp/recorder lineup, creating a "Little Drummer Boy" without drums, and a "Carol of the Bells" without bells...
(2005) - The Holy Grail of Irish Drinking SongsThe Holy Grail of Irish Drinking SongsThe Holy Grail of Irish Drinking Songs is a compilation of Irish drinking songs. Most of the songs are newly remastered from the Brobdingnagian Bards' previous albums A Faire to Remember, Songs of Ireland, Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales, and Marked by Great Size, although several are new recordings.-...
(2006) - LIVE: Nex Monoceroti, Per Risibus (2007)
- Real Men Wear Kilts (2008)
See Marc Gunn
Marc Gunn
Marc Gunn is a musician and podcaster. As the autoharp-playing half of the Brobdingnagian Bards, Gunn and partner Andrew McKee developed a following with weekly performances on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. This led to gigs at renaissance faires, science fiction conventions, and...
for additional CDs.
External links
- Brobdingnagian Bards
- Feature on Celtic MP3s Music Magazine
- "The 'N' Word: What the Filk is this Music?" in The Austin Chronicle
- "Seeking Stardom? Check the Internet" in The Daily TexanThe Daily TexanThe Daily Texan is the student newspaper of the University of Texas at Austin. It is entirely student-run and independent from the university. It is one of the largest college newspapers in the United States with a daily circulation of roughly 30,000 during the fall and spring semesters and bills...
- Interview with Marc Gunn on Slice of SciFiSlice of SciFiSlice of SciFi is a podcast and website and part of the FarPoint Media Network that looks into the world of science fiction, fantasy and horror...
- Electronic Press Kit
- Bards on Myspace
- Bards on SoundClick
- A Brobdingnagian Minute Podcast
- Adventures of the Brobdingnagian Bards Comic