Welcome to Amarynthia- Witchcraft Music
Songs written and performed by a hereditary witch
Tales of old souls and folklore from the Scottish Highlands
Two New Single Releases from Amarynthia
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Cutting Corn- The Matthew Hopkins Chronicles
Cutting Corn- The Matthew Hopkins Chronicles
It's late summer in 1645 and the fields of Suffolk are golden with the ripening corn.
Groups of villagers are busy harvesting the precious crop almost unaware of the presence of the unfamiliar figures of Matthew Hopkins and his witchcraft inquisitors approaching the village.
How little they could have known about how their lives were abo
It's late summer in 1645 and the fields of Suffolk are golden with the ripening corn.
Groups of villagers are busy harvesting the precious crop almost unaware of the presence of the unfamiliar figures of Matthew Hopkins and his witchcraft inquisitors approaching the village.
How little they could have known about how their lives were about to horrifically change and the cruel and sadistic practices that were to shortly be inflicted on their peaceful homestead, tearing families and communities apart.
In memory of all of those falsely accused of witchcraft, part of the Amarynthia Matthew Hopkins Chronicles.
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Loch Maree
Cutting Corn- The Matthew Hopkins Chronicles
Many legends surround this stunning loch, located near Kinlochewe in the North West Scottish Highlands.
Most notably a Viking prince Olaf lived with a local girl on one of the islands. Their intensely passionate relationship was plagued with jealousy and while he was away at war, she devised a plan to prove that he loved her, hopefully s
Many legends surround this stunning loch, located near Kinlochewe in the North West Scottish Highlands.
Most notably a Viking prince Olaf lived with a local girl on one of the islands. Their intensely passionate relationship was plagued with jealousy and while he was away at war, she devised a plan to prove that he loved her, hopefully stopping him from leaving her again.
Upon his return her attendants would trick him into thinking that she had died. The plan was then to be revealed, forcing him to acknowledge his deep love for her and hopefully he would never leave her side again.
The ruse unfortunately backfired and as his ship crossed the loch and he viewed her lifeless body, grief stricken he took his own life by plunging his dagger into his chest. Heartbroken at what she had done she grasped the knife and took her own life as well. The pair are buried together with their feet touching on one of the islands, a grave that can still be visited today.
The island has been a site of Pagan pilgrimage for centuries and until the c18th bull sacrifices were still made there. The island also features a sacred well, once believed to cure lunacy. Offerings, including coins, were then hammered into a sacred oak tree. Queen Victoria famously visited the Island in 1877. It's thought that removal of any stones from the island will lead to terrible misfortune, so they are best left well alone.
The nearby 'Witches Point' (Rudha Chailleach) is on the opposite side of the loch and it's a pretty walk from our cottage on a summer's afternoon. This was the site where locals were reportedly ducked when falsely accused of witchcraft, during the dark time in history of witchcraft fever which affected even this remote part of Scotland.
Parts of this tune can be heard as you spend time on the shores of this beautiful yet melancholy place, perhaps it's an ancient song remembered by the spirits and land there.
We hummed it for months until we decided to incorporate the melody into our song, asking the spirits first of course.
Where to find our new releases
Where to find our new releases
Both of these releases are currently available on Bandcamp, you can download the tracks for a small fee.
If you would prefer to wait and listen for free, they will be available on Spotify in the next few weeks!