Ethel Cain’s Middle English Song for Werwulf
Ethel Cain's psaltery line, inspired by medieval music, anchors "Wynter Waxeth," a Middle English song for Robert Eggers's 14th-century film Werwulf, built from Robin Carolan's score.
Tracklist
- Wynter Waxeth — Ethel Cain & Robin Carolan
- Werwulf — Robin Carolan
Transcript
Wynter Waxeth — Ethel Cain & Robin Carolan
Ethel Cain says she bought a psaltery, a plucked string instrument, after film composer Robin Carolan sent her medieval music. The simple line she played on it became the start of “Wynter Waxeth,” their original song for Robert Eggers’s film Werwulf, set in 14th-century England. Carolan says they'd first discussed using Cain's voice as texture in the score, then moved toward a full song. She sang in Middle English; Carolan says Eggers helped with pronunciation and consulted with them on the language and words. Cain made a demo, and Carolan says he built the music around it to suit the film's ending. Hear Wynter Waxeth by Ethel Cain & Robin Carolan.
Werwulf — Robin Carolan
Carolan says he brought elements of his score into “Wynter Waxeth” to reflect the film’s family bond, curse and mysticism. “Werwulf” is on the same soundtrack, but this track is credited to Carolan alone. What do you hear when you put his track beside the song he made with Cain? Hear Werwulf by Robin Carolan.