Celtic Story: "1924" by Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer

Celtic Story: "1924" by Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer

Author: Irish & Celtic Music Podcast April 25, 2023 Duration: 9:30

Jonny Dyer emailed me a couple weeks ago with a new song and story. Here's what he wrote: A setting of a  poem written by a Mr M Edgerley wh

Jonny Dyer emailed me a couple weeks ago with a new song and story. Here's what he wrote:

A setting of a  poem written by a Mr M Edgerley which he submitted to The Observer (Queensland, Australia) in 1924.

The poem is titled “A Returned Soldier’s Lament”

I’ve renamed the song 1924 partly because I have made small changes to the text  -  and have added a verse,  but also the date is really significant to the meaning of the words.  The poem references WW1 from that date: being 6 years after the war ended, 9 years after the majority of the ANZAC troops joined the war and 8 years after their greatest involvement and losses both at Gallipoli and all along the Western front.

Oh  -  and it’s going to be on our next duo album that will be out sometime this year.  Caveat warning, however; -   we’re so busy doing a load of other things  -  including the beginnings of a new Purcells Polyphonic Party album as well as festivals and folk clubs and recording for TV and games…. that any plan for launching is going to have to be quite  vague.

Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer "1924"


Behind every great tune, there's a story waiting to be told. Irish & Celtic Music Interviews pulls up a chair for those conversations, offering a direct line to the musicians and tradition-bearers who bring this vibrant sound to life. This isn't a showcase of tracks, but a deep dive into the craft, the history, and the personal journeys that fuel the music. You'll hear from fiddlers about the old tunes passed down through generations, from singers about the ballads that tell forgotten tales, and from composers about the spark that leads to a new reel or air. Each episode feels like a casual, insightful chat, peeling back the layers of what it means to create and sustain Celtic music today. For anyone who's ever tapped a foot to a jig or been moved by a slow air, this podcast provides the rich context that makes the experience even deeper. It’s for the curious listener who wants to know not just what they're hearing, but why it matters and where it came from. Tune in to find the human heartbeat behind the melodies.
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