Alexander James Adams
Encyclopedia
Alexander James Adams is an American
singer, musician and songwriter in the Celtic
and World music genres. He blends mythical, fantasy, and traditional
themes in performances, switching between instrumental fiddle
and song
s accompanied by guitar
, bodhrán
, and fiddle playing. He has also been a popular and influential artist in the field of filk music
.
Adams performed as Heather Alexander for 25 years before beginning to tour as Alexander James Adams.
The last public performance as Heather was at OryCon
2006. His debut as Alexander James Adams was at Seattle's Norwescon
30, on 6 April 2007.
A native of California
, Heather Alexander began performing original music in the mid-eighties for friends, Renaissance fair
s, and science fiction
conventions. Off Centaur Publications
was recording performances at one convention and asked to include Alexander. This began an association where Alexander recorded for Off Centaur and later Firebird Arts and Music, primarily work for hire
.
In the late 1980s Alexander founded the Celtic fusion rock band Phoenyx, which released one album, Keepers of the Flame. The band disbanded in 1991 after achieving a high degree of local fame, and that album is no longer in print.
Alexander returned to a solo career. Firebird Arts & Music produced a live album which did well enough to inspire Alexander to create a label (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) for the release Wanderlust 1994. Two live concert albums and several studio albums have followed. Alexander also moved to the Pacific Northwest, settling in Banks, Oregon
in 2002.
In 2001, Alexander founded a new band, Uffington Horse, together with Andrew Hare and Dan Ochipinti and continued to perform solo gigs between band appearances. In 2004, a limited run of the Uffington Horse promotional CD was offered to fans to help finance recording their first studio album, Enchantment, published in 2004. In 2002, Heather Alexander told Strange Horizons that "I tend to think of myself as a 'musical entertainer.' I sing, play, compose, and tell stories." The band performed at numerous science fiction and Furry
conventions
.
to male and since April 2007 has performed in many of the venues that he had formerly played as Heather Alexander. He has played with Uffington Horse and has also formed a new band, Tricky Pixie, with S.J. Tucker and Betsy Tinney. In summer 2007, the band released a recording of their first concert, Live!, which is the earliest released recording of Adams' voice.
Adams' first post-transition solo album, Cat & The Fiddle, was entirely instrumental. Balance of Nature, released in fall 2007, mixed a few of his older works (such as Creature of the Wood) with new songs.
In November 2007, Adams released the Yule
album Wintertide, featuring duets between both Adams' and Heather Alexander's voices. As noted in Adams' interview in Just Out
, Wintertide is the first album with a series of these duets. A Familiar Promise, released in July 2008, also includes duets between both voices.
and inspired by the works of Andre Norton
. (See the discography below for more information.)
The 2002 album Insh'Allah was inspired by Steven Barnes
's novel Lion's Blood
. The songs and the book were written concurrently, and several of the songs are quoted in the book and its sequel.
In a similar vein, the 2006 album Merlin's Descendants is based on the fiction of Irene Radford.
S.M. Stirling quotes Adams' song lyrics in his Island in the Sea of Time trilogy. His Emberverse
series features a red-haired musician who plays guitar, fiddle, and bodhran named Juniper Mackenzie. Adams' song lyrics are used as Mackenzie's songs in the book. (Juniper
and heather
are both plants.)
John Ringo
quotes Alexander's song March of Cambreadth
, in his Council Wars
series for the Centurions battle song as well as in the Paladin of Shadows series.
Mike Shepard used the song March of Cambreadth in his book Defiant. Defiant also has a character named Heather Alexander.
Several of Adams' songs have been parodied, most notably March of Cambreadth.
Heather Alexander retain the copyright of Heather Alexander.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, musician and songwriter in the Celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
and World music genres. He blends mythical, fantasy, and traditional
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
themes in performances, switching between instrumental fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
and song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s accompanied by guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bodhrán
Bodhrán
The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
, and fiddle playing. He has also been a popular and influential artist in the field of filk music
Filk music
Filk is a musical culture, genre, and community tied to science fiction/fantasy fandom and a type of fan labor. The genre has been active since the early 1950s, and played primarily since the mid-1970s. The term predates 1955.-Definitions:As the Interfilk What Is Filk page demonstrates, there is...
.
Adams performed as Heather Alexander for 25 years before beginning to tour as Alexander James Adams.
The last public performance as Heather was at OryCon
OryCon
Orycon is Portland, Oregon's annual science fiction/fantasy convention, held in November since 1979.-History:*The Symposium Nov 11, 1978 ~125*OryCon Nov 9-11, 1979 John Varley , Steve Perry & Richard Geis 525...
2006. His debut as Alexander James Adams was at Seattle's Norwescon
Norwescon
Norwescon is one of the largest regional science fiction and fantasy conventions in the United States. Located in the Seattle area of Washington state, Norwescon has been running continuously since 1978...
30, on 6 April 2007.
Mid 1980s - 2006
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Heather Alexander began performing original music in the mid-eighties for friends, Renaissance fair
Renaissance Fair
A Renaissance fair, Renaissance faire, or Renaissance festival is an outdoor weekend gathering, usually held in the United States, open to the public and typically commercial in nature, which emulates a historic period for the amusement of its guests. Some are permanent theme parks, others are...
s, and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
conventions. Off Centaur Publications
Off Centaur Publications
Off Centaur Publications was the first "commercial" filk label. It was founded in 1980 by Teri Lee, Jordin Kare, and Catherine Cook. For a short time, Off Centaur produced high quality recordings of some of filk's best performers, and changed the course of filk music.Like many other filk labels...
was recording performances at one convention and asked to include Alexander. This began an association where Alexander recorded for Off Centaur and later Firebird Arts and Music, primarily work for hire
Work for hire
A work made for hire is an exception to the general rule that the person who actually creates a work is the legally recognized author of that work...
.
In the late 1980s Alexander founded the Celtic fusion rock band Phoenyx, which released one album, Keepers of the Flame. The band disbanded in 1991 after achieving a high degree of local fame, and that album is no longer in print.
Alexander returned to a solo career. Firebird Arts & Music produced a live album which did well enough to inspire Alexander to create a label (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) for the release Wanderlust 1994. Two live concert albums and several studio albums have followed. Alexander also moved to the Pacific Northwest, settling in Banks, Oregon
Banks, Oregon
Banks is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,777 at the 2010 census. The community was named for settler Robert Banks and his father, John Banks.-Geography:...
in 2002.
In 2001, Alexander founded a new band, Uffington Horse, together with Andrew Hare and Dan Ochipinti and continued to perform solo gigs between band appearances. In 2004, a limited run of the Uffington Horse promotional CD was offered to fans to help finance recording their first studio album, Enchantment, published in 2004. In 2002, Heather Alexander told Strange Horizons that "I tend to think of myself as a 'musical entertainer.' I sing, play, compose, and tell stories." The band performed at numerous science fiction and Furry
Furry fandom
Furry fandom is a fandom for fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics. Examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, the ability to speak, walk on two legs, and wear clothes...
conventions
Fan convention
A fan convention, or con , is an event in which fans of a particular film, television series, comic book, actor, or an entire genre of entertainment such as science fiction or anime and manga, gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and...
.
2007 - present
In early 2007 Adams transitionedTransitioning (transgender)
Transitioning is the process of changing one's gender presentation to accord with one's internal sense of one's gender - the idea of what it means to be a man or woman...
to male and since April 2007 has performed in many of the venues that he had formerly played as Heather Alexander. He has played with Uffington Horse and has also formed a new band, Tricky Pixie, with S.J. Tucker and Betsy Tinney. In summer 2007, the band released a recording of their first concert, Live!, which is the earliest released recording of Adams' voice.
Adams' first post-transition solo album, Cat & The Fiddle, was entirely instrumental. Balance of Nature, released in fall 2007, mixed a few of his older works (such as Creature of the Wood) with new songs.
In November 2007, Adams released the Yule
Yule
Yule or Yuletide is a winter festival that was initially celebrated by the historical Germanic people as a pagan religious festival, though it was later absorbed into, and equated with, the Christian festival of Christmas. The festival was originally celebrated from late December to early January...
album Wintertide, featuring duets between both Adams' and Heather Alexander's voices. As noted in Adams' interview in Just Out
Just Out
Just Out is a bi-monthly LGBTQ newspaper published in Portland, Oregon, United States, founded in 1983 by Jay Brown and Renee LaChance. Former contributors to Just Out include novelist Marc Acito, Pink Martini pianist Thomas Lauderdale, and prize-winning reporter Peter Zuckerman.The newspaper's web...
, Wintertide is the first album with a series of these duets. A Familiar Promise, released in July 2008, also includes duets between both voices.
Literary collaborations and references
Several of the Firebird Arts and Music albums include collaborations with Mercedes LackeyMercedes Lackey
Mercedes "Misty" Lackey is a best-selling American author of fantasy novels. Many of her novels and trilogies are interlinked and set in the world of Velgarth, mostly in and around the country of Valdemar...
and inspired by the works of Andre Norton
Andre Norton
Andre Alice Norton, née Alice Mary Norton was an American science fiction and fantasy author under the noms de plume Andre Norton, Andrew North and Allen Weston...
. (See the discography below for more information.)
The 2002 album Insh'Allah was inspired by Steven Barnes
Steven Barnes
Steven Barnes is an African American science fiction writer, lecturer, creative consultant, and human performance technician....
's novel Lion's Blood
Lion's Blood
Lion's Blood is an alternate history novel by Steven Barnes. The book won the 2003 Endeavour Award. It is followed by the sequel Zulu Heart....
. The songs and the book were written concurrently, and several of the songs are quoted in the book and its sequel.
In a similar vein, the 2006 album Merlin's Descendants is based on the fiction of Irene Radford.
S.M. Stirling quotes Adams' song lyrics in his Island in the Sea of Time trilogy. His Emberverse
The Emberverse series
Emberverse, or Change World, is a series of post-apocalyptic alternate history novels written by S. M. Stirling. The novels depict the events following "The Change", which caused electricity, guns, explosives, internal combustion engines, and steam power to stop working...
series features a red-haired musician who plays guitar, fiddle, and bodhran named Juniper Mackenzie. Adams' song lyrics are used as Mackenzie's songs in the book. (Juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
and heather
Calluna
Calluna vulgaris is the sole species in the genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae. It is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to tall, or rarely to and taller, and is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade...
are both plants.)
John Ringo
John Ringo
John Ringo is an American science fiction and military fiction author. He has had several New York Times best sellers. His books range from straightforward science fiction to a mix of military and political thrillers...
quotes Alexander's song March of Cambreadth
March of Cambreadth
March of Cambreadth is the award-winning signature song of Alexander James Adams, previously known as Heather Alexander. The song is well-known in filk, Renaissance Fair and Society for Creative Anachronism circles. It has been featured in novels by Mike Shepherd, John Ringo and S.M. Stirling...
, in his Council Wars
The Council Wars
The Council Wars is an in-progress book series by John Ringo, published by Baen. It is a combination of hard science fiction, military science fiction, and high fantasy.-Background:...
series for the Centurions battle song as well as in the Paladin of Shadows series.
Mike Shepard used the song March of Cambreadth in his book Defiant. Defiant also has a character named Heather Alexander.
Several of Adams' songs have been parodied, most notably March of Cambreadth.
Pegasus Awards
He has received three Pegasus Awards:- 1996: Best Performer
- 1996: Best Writer/Composer
- 2006: Best Battle Song, March of Cambreadth
Discography
The albums listed through Everafter are billed as Heather Alexander. Later are billed as Alexander James Adams. Despite the transition, all lyrics, music, and recordings originally copyrightCopyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
Heather Alexander retain the copyright of Heather Alexander.
Solo Albums
Unless otherwise noted, albums feature a mix of traditional & original Celtic music.- Freedom, Flight and Fantasy 1990 (Firebird Arts and Music). Lyrics: Mercedes Lackey. Music: Leslie FishLeslie FishLeslie Fish is a filk musician, author, and anarchist political activist.-Music:Along with The DeHorn Crew, in 1976 she created the first commercial filk recording, Folk Songs for Folk Who Ain't Even Been Yet...
. Arrangements: Cecilia Eng. - Heather Alexander, Live 1992 (Firebird Arts and Music). Alexander sings and plays guitar, bodhran, and fiddle.
- Songsmith, 1993 (Firebird Arts and Music). Songs based on the book Songsmith by Andre Norton and A.C. Crispin.
- Wanderlust 1994 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) First studio recording on Alexander's own label with backing musicians.
- Shadow Stalker 1994 (Firebird Arts and Music). Lyrics: Mercedes Lackey & D.F. Sanders. Music: Heather Alexander & Cecilia Eng. Arrangements: Heather Alexander.
- Life's Flame 1996 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Second live album. Alexander sings and plays guitar, bodhran, and fiddle.
- Midsummer 1997 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Second studio recording on Alexander's own label with backing musicians.
- A Gypsy's Home 2001 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Third studio recording on Alexander's own label with backing musicians.
- Insh'Allah—Music of Lion's Blood 2002 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Songs based in the world of Steven Barnes' book Lion's Blood. The book and album were written concurrently; Barnes quotes song lyrics in the book.
- Festival Wind 2003 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Third live album. Alexander sings and plays guitar, bodhran, and fiddle.
- Album of Secrets 2003 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Primarily bloopers and outtakes from the recording of Festival Wind.
- Merlin's Descendants 2006 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Songs based on the Merlin's Descendants series by Irene Radford.
- Arms of the Sea 2006 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Traditional and original sea shanties.
- Everafter 2007 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Final Heather Alexander solo album, this is a studio recording with backing musicians. (Despite having the same name as the DVD, the album is not DVD soundtrack.)
- Cat & The Fiddle 2007 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) InstrumentalInstrumentalAn instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
fiddle tunes. - Balance of Nature 2007 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Mostly new songs, a few re-recorded old songs (Creature of the Wood), and a few songs that blend old and new (such as He of the Sidhe).
- Wintertide 2007 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Yule album featuring traditional and original songs by Heather Alexander & Alexander James Adams, featuring duets between both voices.
- A Familiar Promise 2008 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Studio album featuring new and old songs.
- Harvest Season: Second Cutting 2010 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Studio album featuring new and old songs.
- UnSeelie Self 2010 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Studio album featuring new and old songs.
Band albums
- Keepers of the Flame, Phoenyx 1990 (Phoenyx and Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Issued by the band in 1990. No longer in print.
- Uffington Horse Promotional Album, Uffington Horse, 2004 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Created for promotional purposes; a limited run was offered to fans in 2004.
- Enchantment, Uffington Horse 2004 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Uffington's studio album.
- Live!, Tricky Pixie 2007. Contains songs written and performed by Alexander James Adams, S.J. Tucker and Betsy Tinney. No longer in print.
- Mythcreants, Tricky Pixie 2009. Contains songs written and performed by Alexander James Adams, S.J. Tucker and Betsy Tinney.
DVD
- Everafter February 2007 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Recording of Heather Alexander's final public concert in November 2006 at Orycon. Alexander sang and played guitar, bodhran, and fiddle. Bonus materials include a few performances at a pub and an interview.
- Yule Concert December 2009 (Sea Fire Productions, Inc.) Recording of Alexander James Adams's December 2009 concert at the Lucky Lab Pub.
Books
- Everafter booklet February 2007. A short faerie tale.
- The Heather Alexander Songbook was published in late 2007. It includes lyrics and music for the Sea Fire Productions albums from Wanderlust through Everafter.
Guest appearances
This includes compilations and backing appearances for other artists.- Thirteen, Vixy & Tony, 2008. Played fiddle and percussion on the track Apprentice.
- Gaia Circles, Gaia ConsortGaia consortGaia Consort is the original incarnation of Seattle-based folk rock music-group Bone Poets Orchestra. The group, popular in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, was founded as Gaia Consort by Chistopher Bingham and Sue Tinney in 1997. Their first performance was at Nudestock 97...
, 2000. Played fiddle on most of the tracks. - Firestorm: Songs of the Third World War, Leslie Fish. Sings on the track Better than Who.
- The Constellation, Hank CramerHank CramerHank Cramer is an American folk singer. The son of a Green Beret, Cramer started singing in college before enlisting in the Army in 1976...
, 2003. - Roundworm, various artists, 2000. (Song parodies by Bob Kanefsky.) Sings December of Cambreadth, a parody of March of Cambreadth, and Something's Under The Bed, a parody of Up In The Loft.
See also
- Faerie Queen (song)Faerie Queen (song)Faerie Queen is a song performed by Celtic artist Heather Alexander on her first solo album, Wanderlust. The song credits in the Heather Alexander Songbook are lyrics by Philip R. Obermarck; additional lyrics & music by Heather Alexander.- Synopsis :...
- The Stolen ChildThe Stolen Child"The Stolen Child" is a poem by William Butler Yeats, published in 1889 in The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems.-Overview:The poem was written in 1886 and is considered to be one of Yeats's more notable early poems. The poem is based on Irish legend and concerns faeries beguiling a child to come...
- March of CambreadthMarch of CambreadthMarch of Cambreadth is the award-winning signature song of Alexander James Adams, previously known as Heather Alexander. The song is well-known in filk, Renaissance Fair and Society for Creative Anachronism circles. It has been featured in novels by Mike Shepherd, John Ringo and S.M. Stirling...
- filk music
External links
- Official website of Alexander James Adams
- Official website of Heather Alexander and Uffington Horse
- Tricky Pixie Official website
- The Disappearance of Heather Alexander in Just OutJust OutJust Out is a bi-monthly LGBTQ newspaper published in Portland, Oregon, United States, founded in 1983 by Jay Brown and Renee LaChance. Former contributors to Just Out include novelist Marc Acito, Pink Martini pianist Thomas Lauderdale, and prize-winning reporter Peter Zuckerman.The newspaper's web...
, March 7, 2008, pp 24 & 25 (PDFs). Adams discusses his transition and career in this interview. - Firebird Arts and Music
- Review of Life's Flame
- Strange Horizons Interview, 29 July 2002
- Strange Horizons Review of Insh'Allah, 29 July 2002
- Performance review, October 2002
- S.M. Stirling's website, including sample chapters of the Dies the Fire series.
- Irene Radford's site, featuring the Merlin's Descendants series.
- Last.fm page
- BAEN bio of Heather Alexander (BAEN publishes the John Ringo books that reference Heather Alexander)