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Contact Hoose Page   Coinneach Musicã 1999

Painted People Part Seven Coinneach Ard Righ Track Time - 29.03 UK CD Price £14.50 + 1.00 P&P Coinneach mac Alpin son of Alpin was the First Ard Righ (High King) of Scots. He united The Scots and Pictish Kingdoms in what is now known as Scotland. Very religious, he is credited with having St Andrew adopted as Patron Saint of Scotland and founding St Andrews. As a young man, accompanying his father, Alpin on a war raid in the south they were attacked. At the height of the battle, Kenneth saw two white lines in the blue sky as a cross. This was taken to be a sign, which roused the Scots and they won the day. It was said that Coinneach had The Lia Faill (Stone of Fate or Stone of Destiny) moved from Iona to Scone for protection from sea raiders. He was crowned King of Alba at Dunadd initiating the ceremony whereby his footprint was cut into a rock. All of the lesser Kings, Sub-Kings etc poured handfuls of earth from their lands into the footprint as a symbol of Overlordship of The Ard Righ. This has been said to be the origin of The Moot Hill at Scone, where, over the centuries, the mound of earth has become a hillock. Coinneach was married to Eithne. Composer's Note I always had a liking for the first two segments in Coinneach. I don't know if it is the ambience or just the spirituality of the pieces. Back tae Painted People