Tarot @ Teatime Episode 23: The Druidcraft Tarot
Thursday, January 7th, and we’re pleased to release the latest episode of our popular original series on the Tarot: “Tarot @ Teatime”, on the air Thursdays and Sundays at noon and 4pm Pacific Time/SLT, 8pm and midnight in the UK.
In Episode 23, Honey and Willow discuss the Druidcraft Tarot.
Will Worthington created the images for the beautiful Druidcraft Tarot. He is often inspired by the work of the pre-Raphaelite artists, particularly their use of the natural imagery of the British Isles coupled with the Arthurian legends. He painted the images of the Druidcraft Tarot deck using an ancient medium called Egg-Tempera, which is a technique also used by the pre-Raphaelite painters.
Egg-Tempera is created using finely ground pigments mixed with the contents of an egg yolk. The outer skin or membrane of the yolk is punctured and the liquid yolk is drained into a cup, mixed with a few drops of an extending agent such as white vinegar, oil of myrrh, or even water. Then the ground pigment is added. The extending agent keeps the egg-tempura from drying too quickly — otherwise the egg yolk dries immediately upon contact with air. Egg tempera is not a flexible paint and requires stiff boards; painting on flexible media will cause cracks to form and chips of paint to fall off.
Worthington painted the Druidcraft Tarot images on carefully prepared wooden boards painted with layers of gesso, created from finely ground white chalk and animal glue, which were then sanded smooth. Egg-tempera dries quickly, and produces a smooth, rich matte finish when it is dry.
The Druidcraft Tarot, Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm (Authors), Will Worthington (Illustrator), St. Martin’s Press, Revised edition (March 2019), ISBN 10: 1250307422
Missed any episodes? Catch them on our MixCloud feed!
Jazz On The Keys
Today, Wednesday January 5th, we’re presenting a programme of Piano Jazz. Well, primarily. While many of the pieces we’re playing today feature or include the piano, there are also some recordings featuring other keyboard instruments, including some inspiring pieces on synthesiser — hence the broad title “Jazz On The Keys”. Keep an ear out for Alan Haven’s Image, a late-night Radio Caroline closing tune back in the day; Cambridge-based David Rees-Williams and his trio’s interpretations of classical works; two albums by Billy Barber, one (Shades of Grey) on piano and the other (Lighthouse) on electronic instruments; and some marvellous performances by Ian Lynn including his classic album Forgotten Summer.
Don’t miss “Engines of Our Ingenuity” every four hours from 4am Pacific.
“Where Have You Been?” is currently on hiatus: Season 2 will begin shortly.
“Shai Maestro” by Nathan Bullivant is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Four New Shows on Mixcloud
We’ve uploaded four more programmes to our “Listen Again” facility on Mixcloud:
The Anniversary Ball
Today, Sunday January 2nd, Virtual Community Radio is holding a Viennese-style Grand Anniversary Ball to celebrate a year of broadcasting. It’ll be held in the Plaza in front of the Virtual Community Radio Theatre on Chestnut Hills in Second Life, at 2:15pm. And before that, at 1pm in the Theatre itself, a special classic Old Time Radio performance by Seanchai Library Live. Plus — a last chance to hear the latest edition of Tarot @ Teatime! Here are the details…
Anniversary Weekend Continues…
Today, January 1st 2022, marks the second day of our 1st Anniversary celebrations.
Our FEATURED MUSIC today is Saturday At The Movies — On the air all day apart from times noted below.
Second Life residents, don’t miss our ICE-SKATING JAZZ PARTY with DJ Caledonia Skytower — at the Winter Hollow Skating Pond in Second Life, 2–4pm SLT. If you can’t be there in person, tune in to Virtual Community Radio and catch the music. On The Air and in Second Life.
And tune in for THE MOST EPISODE 3 - join your host Susannah for the third episode of The MOST — Music from the Original Sound Track - this month with music by composers including Ennio Morricone, Les Baxter and John Barry; from movies and TV series including tracks from Hell’s Belles, Sex And The Single Girl, East Side/West Side and more. Catch the show at 12:30pm & 4:30pm Pacific Time/SLT, 8:30pm and 12:30am in the UK. On The Air.
Our Anniversary Weekend Starts Here!
Friday, December 31st, marks the start of our First Anniversary Weekend — yes, Virtual Community Radio really has been broadcasting for an entire year! We kick off the weekend with two special programmes.
SWINGIN’ ON NEW YEAR’S EVE
Caledonia Skytower spins the discs for a special swing party, live from the plaza outside the Virtual Community Radio Theatre in Chestnut Hills in Second Life. Be there in person or tune in to Virtual Community Radio and listen live: 3–5pm Pacific/SLT, 11pm-1am in the UK.
THE MOST INTERVIEW
At Noon and 5pm Pacific/SLT — 8pm and 1am in the UK — tune in for a special interview with Susannah, the host of The MOST — Music from the Original Sound Track, her monthly programme of film and TV movie music that goes out on the first Saturday in the month — in this case, tomorrow, January 1st.
*Featured image: iStock.
Music of Scotland
As Hogmanay approaches, today on Virtual Community Radio — Weds December 29th — we are featuring the music of Scotland: from traditional pipers and Scottish Country Dance bands to modern popular music from some of the nation’s leading artistes.
“Where Have You Been” is currently on hiatus until January 5th, but you can catch “Engines of Our Ingenuity” every four hours from 4am Pacific Time.
“The Piper” — shot aside the A82 by digicla — is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Programmes & Events for Anniversary Weekend
New Year sees the First Anniversary of Virtual Community Radio and we’re holding a number of special broadcasts and Second Life events to celebrate it over the New Year’s weekend. They range from a special interview with Susannah, the host of The MOST on the 31st to a Grand Viennese Anniversary Ball on the 2nd January.
New shows on Mixcloud
We’ve uploaded two more shows to our “Listen Again” facility on Mixcloud:
A special presentation of Charles Dickens’ classic story, “A Christmas Carol” — the timeless tale of one man’s journey from miserly indifference to redemption.
Through the intercession of the ghost of his seven-years-dead partner, Ebenezer Scrooge journeys through time — and Christmas — with three Spirits; observing the causes, and effects, that his life choices have made — and will make, unless he changes his ways.
The story was adapted for radio by Caledonia Skytower, based on the special abridged version that Dickens himself used for his public performances of the work. Our presentation of “A Christmas Carol” is performed by Shandon Loring, Elrik Merlin, and Caledonia Skytower with music by Paul Mottram. The programme is a CEH production.
“Tarot @ Teatime” Episode 21: In this Episode Honey and Willow discuss some of the plants that are part of the imagery of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot deck, and explore their symbolic meaning and how they enhance the cards on which they appear.
Merry Christmas from VCRadio
We would like to wish all our listeners, sponsors, supporters, friends and colleagues a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and happy New Year.
Tune in today, Christmas Day, for a selection of seasonal music across a variety of genres.
