Arthurian Legend in Music  The Birds of Rhiannon (2001)  James
MacMillan  (born 1959)  In the Birds of Rhiannon, McMillan has
composed an interesting work comprising four sections and
lasting about 25 minutes. Performed and presented by the BBC,
the piece is an abstract blend of musical themes, concerto and
choir, inspired by a myth from the Mabinogion. The Birds of
Rhiannon are mystical presences which sing for the returning
heroes and later sing on the death of Bran - a warrior king that
many associate with the Fisher King of Grail legend. Bran is
poisoned by a battle wound in a war with the Irish to rescue his
sister. After a sojourn of 80 years feasting and listening to
the Birds of Rhiannon, he sacrifices his life and his head is
buried in the cliffs to magically ward away other invaders. One
legend states that the reason Arthur eventually lost to the
Saxons was that in his arrogance, he dug up Bran's head.    The
first section moves from a delicate, almost wistful melody of
strings with a deeper percuss