Golden Irish Memories [Import]

1. Whiskey In The Jar

2. Danny Boy

3. Spancil Hill

4. Loch Lomond

5. Nightingale

6. Mother Machree

7. Sam Hall

8. Gartan Mother's Lullaby

9. Port Lairge

10. Roads Of Kildare

11. Lord Randall

12. Dear Little Shamrock

Tracks:

Scarborough Fair
Skye Boat Song
What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor?
Annie Laurie
Greensleeves
Danny Boy
The Lincolnshire Poacher
Loch Lomond
The Lass Of Richmond Hill
Sally Gardens
The Ash Grove
Aiken Drum
Golden Slumbers
Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through The Night)
Going To Towyn
Home Sweet Home
Eriskay Love Lilt
Mairi's Wedding

Customer Reviews:

Top of the line.......2003-06-17

This CD, along with Watching the White Wheat, is consistently a top seller on the group's US tours. Solid musicianship, great passion and emotion brought into the singing. There is some instrumental work done on this disc, but it doesn't overpower the singers.

To correct Mr. Beamer's statement in his review, the KS have indeed been doing pop and all genres of music since their founding in 1968. In fact, it was the inappropriateness of singing pop and light music with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, that led a small group to branch off and sing all genres of music, including pop, on their own time ... this leading to the founding of the King's Singers.

The King's Singers in their element.......2001-09-28

The King's Singers got started a few decades ago doing exclusively classical material, and most of that was pre-1700. Now, many years on, (and after several changes in the group's membership) they have long since branched out into pop and other genres.

This CD (along with another similar one, "Watching the White Wheat") really show off their UK roots, with English, Scottish, and Irish folksongs. The arrangements are mostly quite good, and all the performances are excellent. Deserving of special mention are: (on the slow, poignant side) "Annie Laurie", and "The Ash Grove". [Note: the arrangement of "Annie Laurie" heard here is different from, and I think inferior to, the arrangement they did on an old out-of-print LP called "Atlantic Bridge", where they did both Britsh and American folksongs -- that LP is Highly Recommended (if you can find it -- good luck!)]

Anyway, back to the review: on the up-tempo side, two very fun tunes are "Going to Towyn" and "Mairi's Wedding". For you singers out there, the score for the latter is available in a 3-part arrangement, and is rather easy to learn.

Pure Artistry.......2000-12-09

I bought this CD after seeing the King's Singers in concert. Everytime I listen to it, it takes me back to a magical evening, and a magical place- the British Isles. These songs are beautifully arranged and sung. I never get tired of listening to these timeless folk songs that have been weaved into the cultural fabric of America and others around the world.

Absolutely beautiful!.......2000-08-25

The cracked, maimed, and scuffed CD case that I am looking at right now is in itself testement to the addictive qualities of this recording. I have had this CD for almost a year and it has wandered the country with me (we just got back from No. Cal. ;) I listen to it almost every night before I go to sleep. The beautifully blended harmonies on this CD are gorgeous and I have fallen completly in love with the countertenor voices. All of the tacks are wonderful but my favorites are (#2)The Skye Boat Song (listen to this while reading Diana Gabaldon!) (#4) Annie Laurie (#6) Danny Boy and (#17) Eriskay Love Lilt. *Whew* that was hard, I can't pick my favorites easily. Buy this CD for it's gorgeous cover and fall in love with the music!

Wonderful.......2000-05-18

I love this CD, the arrangements for these folk songs are superb. The songs picked are fun and beatiful representatives of English Folk songs. One of my favorite CD's.

Average customer rating:

So Much Talent, But So little Commercial Sucess!
Suites for my lady
I was surprised
Wildflower is a GREAT Song...
Just One Small Error

Wildflower: A Golden Classics Edition
Skylark
Manufacturer: Collectables
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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General | Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000092E
Release Date: 1996-09-24

Tracks:

Brother Eddie
What Would I Do Without You
A Long Way To Go
Suites For My Lady
I'll Have To Go Away (Saying Goodbye Is Not Easy)
The Writing's On The Wall
Twenty Six Years
I'm In Love Again
Wildflower
Shall I Fail
If That's The Way You Want It
Virgin Green

Amazon.com

As a historical footnote, Skylark is notable for being the first recorded work of David Foster, who would go on to write and produce Grammy-winning hits for such artists as Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. But at the time of its 1972 release, Foster was simply the driving force behind this overlooked, soul-pop combo. Skylark managed just one U.S. hit, the gorgeous, melancholy title track of this collection, but songs like "Writing's on the Wall" and "Suites for My Lady" have the same sultry late-night vibe. Highly recommended for Foster completists, but also for fans of acts such as Hall & Oates or Chicago. --David Sprague

Customer Reviews:

So Much Talent, But So little Commercial Sucess!.......2007-02-06

When you look back at this album, little did we know in the spring of 1973, ( when "WILDFLOWER" was breaking into the BILLBOARD TOP 10), that this group had one of the most dominant musicians and record producers of the 1980's!!
David Foster went on to be an amazing studio musician and record producer. He produced records for CHICAGO, (He ressurected their career!) Barbara Streisand, Lionel Richie, and a number of other top acts of the 80's. David also was in a few other bands such as AIRPLAY (1980), and the Attitudes (1977). His credentials are legendary! It basically started with the group SKYLARK. However, the short-lived group out of Canada had several other fantastic artists aboard.

One of the lead singers, Donny Gerrard, had one of the greatest soulful voices of the 70's. Listening to him on their big hit "WILDFLOWER" can bring a tear to your eye. It's a shame that he didn't go on to great things. ( He did release a solo album around early 1976 on Greedy Records.) I also think he did a few TV and radio jingles.
Was that him on the MONRO Muffler Commercial back in the late 70'S? "Monro, Monro, we fix your car all under."

Yet another amazing voice in the band was B.J. Cook and later B.J.Cook Foster. (I'm assuming she and David were married for awhile.) B.J. had a voice that was so emotional and chilling at times. "I'll Have to Go Away" which was the follow up hit to "Wildflower" is probably in the TOP 10 most beautiful songs ever! I know that is just one person's opinion, but the musicianship and emotion that runs through this 5 minute ballad is off the charts!!! Unfortunately, this song never made the Billboard chart. I believe it was a BUBBLING Under hit in 1973. Maybe because the 45 version is so hacked up.

Finally, the drummer, Duris Maxwell is a much better than average trap-man. He puts down some nice fills in "What Would I Do Without You".
Overall, this is one of the best albums of the early 70's. So much talent and a unique mix of soul and pop.
The lead singer of the O'Jays said on their live album that the group sounded like a white group trying to sound black, or maybe a blackgroup trying to sound white. I think it was a stab at SKYLARK, but in the song "WIldflower", he made somewhat of a valid point. Unfortunately, SKYLARK only released one more album in 1974. The title is so original- "SKYLARK 2". The sound quality is muffled and they even throw on the hit "WILDFLOWER" as a draw or as to fill up space. The complete first album is on this Collectables CD, and they added "If That's the Way That You Want It" and "Virgin Green" from SKYLARK 2. "Virgin Green" was originally called "Foster Frees" on the record album. This song is an instrumental that really shows off that keyboard talents of David Foster.
On a final note, if you can ever find SKYLARK 2, buy it. It's never been released on CD but it has a lot of great songs. It's too bad Collectables didn't do a two-fer on this CD. With "Wildflower" being repeated on both records, there would have been plenty of room to combine both on one CD. "Skylark 2" has a really FAR-OUT cover which Collectables could have used instead of the generic one. Overall, I heavily recommend this CD.

Suites for my lady.......2006-12-26

I have owned multiple copies of this album since it first came out, and was always disappointed that a follow up album by this group was never released. Although wildflower is a wonderful song and was the song that got the most airplay when the LP was first released, it has always been the instrumental "Suites for my lady" and the vocal "I'll have to go away" that immediately follows it that have been my favorites. The combination of the two pieces is enough to bring a tear to the sternest of individual. The vocals are clean and clear, and at the same time haunting. I have been looking for a CD of this album for many years, as my old LPs have become scratchy from overuse over the years, and I am so happy to finally find it on Amazon.

I was surprised.......2006-12-15

at how good this CD sounded. It is easy to listen to........

Wildflower is a GREAT Song..........2006-03-17

Wildflower is reason alone to get this CD...the soul-rock groove and the melancholy lyrics are unforgettable. About the only other song I can think of off the top of my head that gets me like this is Into the Night, by Benny Mardones.

Just One Small Error.......2004-12-15

Amazon's "review" says this was released in 1972. If so, even the single hit tune took time to find its legs as I remember it clearly in spring of 1973, along with Wings' "My Love". 1973 was a good year for music overall and there was no better song among the really good singles that year than "Wildflower". You would think that there would have been more from this group to hit the U.S. charts but I can't find one. Even so you can bet I'll always have a good copy ot "Wildflower" on hand. And, hey, check out the rest of the tunes on this package. Not bad.

Average customer rating:

Not the best.
What a magnificent Heritage
A Review
Heritage, The Irish Tenors
Tattered Tenors

Heritage

Manufacturer: Razor & Tie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Sacred
We Three Kings
The Very Best of The Irish Tenors
Ellis Island
Live in Belfast

ASIN: B0001FVEVI
Release Date: 2004-03-16

Tracks:

The Harp That Once
Red is the Rose
Off to Philadelphia
Golden Jubilee
Little Brigid Flynn
Fields of Athenry
I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen
My Heart Will Go On
The West's Awake
Danny Boy
Song for Ireland
Dublin Medley (Dublin Can Be Heaven/Rocky Road to Dublin)
South of the Border
Whiskey in the Jar
The Parting Glass
God Bless America

Customer Reviews:

Not the best........2005-03-02

I bought this CD with high hopes. I absolutely loved the first one, the one recorded live. This one was a disappointment though. The guys songs are good and their voices are in good form but it was missing something...feeling, I guess. The live concert version can make me cry and laugh it's so sung with feeling, but this is just singing. I just felt it lacked feeling. I guess that's why I was disappointed with it.

What a magnificent Heritage.......2005-01-22

I highly recommend this album to all fans of Irish music. This is the last album with Ronan as a memember and it is one of their best. Ronan's "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen" is wonderful, so too is Finbarr's "South of the Border". The theme from the Titanic "My Heart Will Go On" is the best version since Celine Dione's. My favorite track is Anthony's "The West's Awake" . One point to note is that this group is one of the few out there who can perform live with an equally good recorded sound. Having listened to them at Meadowbrook NH the night of Ronan's farewell I can assure you that live or recorded they have a fantastic sound. I highly recommend this CD to all fans of Irish music.

Isaac Chute

A Review .......2004-10-30

I have never really been a fan of Traditional Irish Music and had never even HEARD of the Irish Tenors....That is until a friend of mine introduced me to the recording of "Live In Belfast" Instantly, I was hooked. I have become addicted to a lot of these songs. Especially the goofier ones they sing. like "Phil the Fluther" and "Courtin in the Kitchen" When Heritage was released I was estatic....As I had loved all the songs they had released before. Even though they recycled some of their songs. I loved the way they re recorded "Red Is The Rose" with Finbar in place of John and also "Fields Of Athenry" I Found this version to be better than the other one. I found it really bizare that they would sing "My Heart Will Go On" as that is not an Irish Song...Ireland was where the Titanic sank. but still. I really enjoyed listening to it. "South of the Boarder" and "Golden Jubilee" along with "Little Brigid Flynn" were quite entertainingly cute. I really enjoyed Anthony's "The West's Awake" and "The Parting Glass" and "The Harp That Once Through Tara's Halls" I would, too also love to see Anthony put out a solo album.

Heritage, The Irish Tenors.......2004-09-30

This is another delightful effort by Anthony, Finbar and Ronan.
My favorite songs were "Off to Philadephia" (Anthony) and "My Heart Will Go On" (Finbar). I didn't even mind the repetition of some songs heard on past CDs - but wondered about it, until I learned of the departure of Ronan Tynan. I am curious to see the kind of arrangements they have included on their new CD, due to come out later this year, which they made upon the return of John McDermott. John is a Canadian of Celtic descent, whose voice, though pleasant in a folksy way, does not seem to blend as well with Anthony and Finbar as did Ronan's trained vocals. I would be very pleased to see Anthony make a solo CD, including such ballads as (my all-time favorite) Bantry Bay and some of the wonderfully playful Irish ditties he sometimes performs at his solo concerts.

Tattered Tenors.......2004-08-20

When the Irish Tenors burst upon the public scene not too many years ago, they were heralded as a refreshing change in the sea of musical mediocrity. The original trio of McDermott, Kearns and Tynan thrilled us with their exuberance and vocal virtuosity and frankly, I miss that. (Please note: since I originally wrote this review the threesome has changed to McDermott, Kearns and Wright with Tynan having left the group).

As one of their latest efforts, "Heritage" is an "okay" album, but it certainly lacks the freshness and fun of the Irish Tenors' earlier efforts. Of course, there are notable exceptions such as Kearns' roguish "Off to Philadelphia", the sprightly "Golden Jubilee" and the beautiful "The West's Awake" solo by Kearns. Wright's "Little Brigid Flynn" is downright fun but his "South of the Border" is oddly out of place. With too many recycled songs and a little too little Anthony Kearns, I personally found "Heritage" to be the weakest effort in the generally stellar Irish Tenors' discography.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful!
Simple and sweet songs
Marvellous cd, enchanting music
Good if you want to sing from the book but can't read music
Didn't like the voice.

Lullabies: A Songbook Companion

Manufacturer: Essay
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

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General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

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Lullabies: An Illustrated Songbook
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A Treasury of Children's Songs: Forty Favorites to Sing and Play
Go In and Out the Window: An Illustrated Songbook For Children
The Library of Children's Song Classics

ASIN: B00000083Z
Release Date: 1997-11-18

Tracks:

All Through The Night
All The Pretty Little Horses
All Night, All Day
Armenian Lullaby
Baby's Bed's A Silver Moon
Baloo, Baleerie
Brahms' Lullaby
Brezairola
Traumerei, Op. 15, No. 1
Can Ye Sew Cushions
By'm Bye
Bye, Baby Bunting - Golden Slumbers
Dance To Your Daddy - Dance, Little Baby
Fais Dodo
Good Night To You All
Jocelyn: Berceuse
Hush, Little Baby
Kumbayah
Little Boy Blue
Suo Gan
Matthew, Mark, Luke, And John
Mozart's Lullaby
Chanson de Nuit, Op. 15, No. 1
Now The Day Is Over - Raindrops
Raisins And Almonds
Rock-A-Bye, Baby
Rocking - The Sandman
Tales Of Hoffman: O Bell Nuit - Bacarolle
Skidamarink
Sleep, Baby, Sleep
Sweet And Low
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Toora, Loora, Loora
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: Twinkel, Twinkel, Little Star
When At Night I Go To Sleep

Amazon.com

Released as a companion piece to the award-winning book Lullabies: An Illustrated Songbook, this hour-plus of music is a wonderful mix of stately classical themes and child-friendly vocals. The selections range from "All the Pretty Little Horses" to a global spread of lullabies drawn from classical and folk traditions. The music is spare, with Kapp on piano, Julianne Baird and Kapp's daughter Madeline on vocals, and Mela Tenenbaum on violin, viola, and occasional vocals. Most of the classical selections (from Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Edmund Elgar, W.A. Mozart, et al.) get a straight-ahead, accomplished treatment. Lest you think the project stuffy, each of the melodies is in the one- to two-minute range, which effectively mandates a stronger sense of flow than most children's collections. Kapp, who managed to create a visual and poetic flow in the Lullabies book, keeps things nicely in a groove here, knowing enough to segue into silly tracks about halfway through the CD to provide a wider emotional range. This album every bit as accomplished as the book. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!.......2007-02-14

I love this CD. It's very well-done, and the approach is different than most children's CDs - very refined, yet soothing. I don't get tired of listening to it the way I do others -- which is important when trying to get a little one to sleep! I highly recommend it and the companion book.

Simple and sweet songs.......2006-04-02

With just piano, violin and vocals, this is a simple and heartfelt album. Ms. Baird's voice conveys the full emotions that a mother feels for her new baby with clean and open singing. The first track in particular, "All Through The Night," still makes me teary. I played this in the hospital when my son was born, and we use it as part of our wind-down ritual. I do agree that some of the songs are a little upbeat for bedtime. We just skip those in the evening (using iTunes).

Marvellous cd, enchanting music.......2005-10-18

Our whole family loves this cd. I am continually charmed and refreshed by the subtlety, taste and musicianship that has gone into these arrangements of well- and lesser-known gems. Apart from the joy of the simple yet perfect chordal progressions, listen to the warm, caressing tone imparted by the low bass notes in the piano in many of the tracks. The pace is so wonderfully leisurely, there is time to savour each song or piece, and yet each lasts only two or three minutes. The three diverse yet complementary singers, each with a tender and gentle presence suiting the subject matter, give a sense of a 19th century family musical evening. Magical.

Good if you want to sing from the book but can't read music.......2004-02-10

I bought this solely because I have the book and wanted to sing the lullabies to my kids, but I can't read music. For this purpose it is fine. The songs are not in the same order as in the book but I can deal. As a stand-alone lullaby CD I wouldn't really recommend it--the songs are not sung in a soothing manner, there's lots of variety in tempo and volume, some are even sung up-beat. The voices are not pitched high enough for babies either. That being said, I am back on Amazon today to buy it for my sister who is due any day now with her 3rd kid--we both like to sing and have the book, and songs (in book or music form) are a great present that the baby won't grow out of for a long time, and helps you bond with your little one too.

Didn't like the voice........2002-12-11

I bought this cd to go with the book and it is very frustrating because the songs on this cd are not even in the same order as the book. The singing voice fluctuates too much, it will be really soft and then it gets really high pitch. And if you have the volume set at a lower level for some songs then you can't hear other songs. I think there are better cds to buy than this one.

Average customer rating:

Old music, fun listening.

1907: "Dear Old Golden Rule Days"

Manufacturer: Archeophone Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000ACNCV
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Tracks:

School Days (Byron G. Harlan)
I Just Can't Make My Eyes Behave (Ada Jones)
San Antonio (Billy Murray & Chorus)
Red Wing (Frank C. Stanley and Henry Burr)
Camp Meeting Time (Collins and Harlan)
Maple Leaf Rag (U.S. Marine Band)
Pagliacci--Vesti la giubba (Enrico Caruso)
Because Youre You (Elise Stevenson & Harry Macdonough)
Let's Take an Old-Fashioned Walk (Ada Jones and Billy Murray)
I Love a Lassie (Harry Lauder)
The Bird On Nellies Hat (Helen Trix)
My Gal Sal (Byron G. Harlan)
"Merry Widow" Waltz (Victor Dance Orchestra)
No Wedding Bells for Me (Bob Roberts)
Harrigan (Billy Murray)
Honey Boy (Columbia Quartette)
Three Rubes Seeing New York (Peerless Trio)
Bake Dat Chicken Pie (Collins and Harlan)
My Irish Rosie (Ada Jones)
Nobodys Little Girl (Byron G. Harlan)
Because I'm Married Now (Billy Murray)
He's a Cousin of Mine (Bert Williams)
The Bully (May Irwin)
If I'm Going to Die I'm Going to Have Some Fun (Arthur Collins)
Auld Lang Syne (Frank C. Stanley)

Customer Reviews:

Old music, fun listening........2007-02-11

In perspective these are some of the most popular songs of their time. I enjoy the historical value of songs from the past. Hearing someone sing about things you may have only learned from a history book, makes it more real.

Average customer rating:

Typical of Cambridge Singers--A good thing
Beautifully Lyrical Folk Melodies a la Rutter
The Lark touches my own heart!
Rolicking English folk music

The Lark in the Clear Air

Manufacturer: Collegium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

A Cappella | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000031HX
Release Date: 1993-09-13

Tracks:

I know where I'm going
She moved through the fair
The lark in the clear air
Down by the sally gardens
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
The spring time of the year
The sprig of thyme
The bold grenadier
The British Grenadiers
The dark eyed sailor
The keel row
The girl I left behind me
Just as the tide was flowing
The cuckoo
O waly, waly
She's like the swallow
The lover's ghost
Willow song
The willow tree
Wassail song
The miller of Dee
O can ye sew cushions
Afton water
Golden slumbers

Amazon.com

A whole disc of choral arrangements of folk tunes could be too much--except in this case, the choir is the excellent Cambridge Singers, and the well-chosen arrangements cover a variety of composers and styles. Among the arrangers are Rutter, Vaughan Williams, and Daryl Runswick; the repertoire includes a hauntingly gorgeous "She moved through the fair" and 23 other selections. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Typical of Cambridge Singers--A good thing.......2005-06-14

This is very typical of John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers. Superbly performed, meaning not too forceful or too delicate. Diction and tone excellent. The folk song is not necessairly as entertaining or enjoyable as some of their other repertoire, nor is it as meaningful, but it still a powerful listening experience. The money for this recording will be well spent. The arrangements, well chosen, showcase beautiful, evocative choral singing. Vaughan Williams' arrangements are best, and he is well known for his arrangements of folk songs. Rutter's are good, but his harmonies are too often predictable or saccharine.

Best are: Dashing away with the smoothing iron (5), The Dark Eyed Sailor (10), The Girl I Left Behind Me (12), Just as the tide was flowing (13), O waly, waly (15)

Beautifully Lyrical Folk Melodies a la Rutter.......2000-09-28

This is a collection of Irish, Scottish, and English folk songs beautifully caressed by The Cambridge Singers under the masterful direction of John Rutter. He seems to possess an uncanny ability to create a uniquely lush and lyrical sound with a choir.

In listening to these songs, I find that they have the capacity to simultaneously evoke feelings of melancholy and joy, and, ultimately leave me to conclude that I have been visited by sheer beauty.

The Lark touches my own heart!.......2000-04-27

In this review I am going to be exceptionally candid! This CD is a wonderfully arranged and performed set of traditional songs that will be treasured by any lover of this delicate yet vigorous music. I was a child of post war England in a poor suburb of South East England and our music teacher used to make us sing these songs which came from The National Song Book and from the folk song collectors, notably Vaughan Williams who put so much of this national flavor into his two collections, 'The English Hymnal' and 'Songs of Praise'. Before our generation the BBC had set up a radio programme called 'Listen with Mother' which we followed the established tradition of listening to them in those years of austerity (its funny you know, but we did not seem to get bored like they do today) on November evenings when the pea souper fogs swirled around the blue mercury lamps as the coal glowed orange in the grate. This music transported us to May mornings, harvesting, landscapes peopled with grenadiers, young love sick swains tip toeing in forbidden rooms at night etc. from these bleak afternoons and gave us the promise of the return of the season when we will be able to walk the Downs under blue skies once more. They also made us think that we were part of a continuum of being young, loving, having children and growing old and dying on this misty offshore island as hundred of generations had done before us. This self-consciousness of these characteristics that made us English and in their understated passion they revealed to us the promises of adulthood together with its victories, disillusionments and inevitable tragedies. Alas, the powers that dictate the conventional wisdom today have consigned these songs to the trash basket of history in the name of multiculturalism and globalism. The songs are not sung today as they appear too ethnocentric in a pluralistic society for our contemporary captains of society. This is a shame for those of us with no real English blood could still participate and enjoy these lovely songs that summon up the freshness of a spring morning or the pangs of a spurned lover in a few lines of beautifully stated verse. These are universal feelings that just happened to be in an English setting, which was where we were! The arrangements here are sublime, particularly 'She moved through the Fair' which always moves me to tears. The subject 'What are the English?' is a current topic for the UK is still settling down after Devolution and finding its own identity. They could do worse than playing 'The Lark in the Clear Air' to answer this question tout court. Please buy, but be warned: this stuff can be dangerously upsetting in its waves of nostalgia. It is like meeting a long lost (and forgotten) friend. That is an (almost lost) part of yourself.

Rolicking English folk music.......1999-06-13

Beautifully sung under Rutter's usual masterful directions. Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron and the Dark Eyed Sailor were my favorites.

Celtic Harpestry: A Contemporary Celtic Collection

Average customer rating:

Celtic Meets Classical
Excellent Celtic Cd
Just lovely!
Amazing
The best harpestry CD!

Celtic Harpestry: A Contemporary Celtic Collection

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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Harpestry: A Contemporary Collection
Faces Of The Harp: Celtic & Contemporary
The Celtic Harp: A Tribute to Edward Bunting with the Belfast Harp Orchestra
The Mystic Harp
The Water Is Wide

ASIN: B00000DLV8
Release Date: 1998-11-03

Tracks:

Bright New Morning - Belfast Harp Orchestra
The Humours Of Ballyloughlin - Maire Ni Chathasaigh
The Golden String Hornpipe - Rudiger Oppermann
A Walk On Belfast - Belfast Harp Orchestra
Star Of The County Down - Deborah Henson-Conant
The Old Woman's Dance - Sileas
My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From Titanic) - Belfast Harp Orchestra
The Chestnut Tree Medley - Maire Ni Chathasaigh
The Butterfly - Rudiger Oppermann
Londonderry Aire (Danny Boy) - Deborah Henson-Conant
Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain - Sileas
Breton Medley - Cheryl Ann Fulton
Brian Boru's Set - Belfast Harp Orchestra
Robert Jordan - Maire Ni Chathasaigh
The Minstrel Boy - Deborah Henson-Conant
May Song - Rudiger Oppermann
Earth, Water, Wind And Fire - Belfast Harp Orchestra

Amazon.com

The pristine tones and lilting melodies of the Celtic harp are immediately inviting. Celtic Harpestry, a companion to a PBS performance special, explores a sound both traditional and modern in a tasteful and evocative collection. This isn't a purist's album--half of the harpists aren't even from the Celtic isles, and among the album's old Irish chestnuts is "My Heart Will Go On," the love theme from Titanic. The otherwise-joyful Belfast Harp Orchestra tromp through the James Horner tune, almost pulling some subtlety out of its overwrought themes. Turlough O'Carolan, the blind patron saint of the Celtic harp, might wish he were deaf as well, if he could hear it. But the bard would be thrilled to hear the 12-piece BHO playing the traditional "Brian Boru's Set" or one of founder Janet Harbison's zephyrlike originals. Her "Earth, Water, Wind and Fire" elicits shifting textures and colors that belie their traditional roots. The song also exemplifies the ethereal side of the Celtic harp explored on Celtic Harpestry with artists like Rüdiger Oppermann. Playing a wire-strung harp accompanied by bass and keyboards, the German harpist soars through crystalline melodies whether he's playing traditional tunes or originals. The most traditional sound actually comes from the American players. Cheryl Ann Fulton gives a straight-up rendition of "Breton Medley," and jazz harpist Deborah Henson-Conant is refreshingly restrained, faithfully rendering "Londonderry Aire (Danny Boy)" and "The Minstrel Boy." Although Celtic Harpestry focuses on slow airs, there are robust performances here, including those by Máire Ni Chathasaigh's group and the harp and vocal duo of Sileas. Outside of the Titanic love theme, Celtic Harpestry is an elegantly wrought collection. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Celtic Meets Classical.......2007-07-12

Hard rock it ain't. Celtic Harpestry: A Contemporary Celtic Collection may cite "contemporary" in its title, but the style is classic. Rich harmonies and intricate musical textures rise to a crescendo in "Earth, Water, Wind And Fire," the final cut, performed by the Belfast Harp Orchestra.

This collection overlaps several genres. Celtic, classical and New Age meet in what may be the instrument most associated with classical melodies.

If you are a fan of Rap or Hip Hop, keep looking. If you want a hoedown, this is not going to be your cuppa joe. But if you are looking for something elegant - background music for a business or important meeting, for example - this is a wonderful, understated choice.

Excellent Celtic Cd.......2006-12-30

A sibling to "Harpestry," this is a wonderful cd. I am a harper and head up a Celtic Harp Choir at my church (I'm a fulltime church music director), and I have used this cd as a model for my musicians. It's very pleasant to listen to, and you definitely get a good feel for the Celtic style. I highly recommend this!

Just lovely!.......2003-05-25

This uplifting compilation CD from Imaginary Road Records, actually the soundtrack to the public television special "Celtic Harpestry at Lismore Castle, Ireland", is simply beautiful. Especially wonderful are the five numbers by the Belfast Harp Orchestra, an ensemble of 12 harpists who demonstrate remarkable intonation and stunning coordination as they play together on instruments that are difficult enough just to play alone. What a great concept, and what great musicianship! Also featured are individual performers such as Maire Ni Chathasaigh on Irish harp, Rudiger Oppermann on wire-strung harp, Cheryl Ann Fulton on a contemporary lever harp, the harp and song duo Sileas, and Deborah Henson-Conant on a "Camac `Baby Blue' Celtic electroharp". Other instruments, including Uilleann pipes and whistle, violin, viola and concertina, occasionally join in, but the focus is on the harp itself. In all its many forms and combinations, the harpestry on this recording remains soothingly delicate in timbre while at the same time scintillating in technique--in short, a pure delight. If you enjoy "Celtic Harpesty", you're sure to like it's companion release, "Harpestry: A Contemporary Collection", featuring more of a worldwide assortment of harpers. Another great harp compilation CD is "Faces of the Harp" from Narada.

Amazing.......2001-08-30

I always had a desire to learn to play the Celtic harp...and the PBS special and especially this CD made that desire boil over. Don't buy another harp CD before you've listened to this one!
No matter how many times I have listened to this recording, I ALWAYS break into a smile when the Belfast Harp Orchestra begins to play. Nothing prepares you for that 12-harp sound!
Order this CD with overnight shipping!!!

The best harpestry CD!.......2001-07-23

One day in a music shop, my hand knocked three CDs off of a rack. The first CD, though the case was cracked, caught my eye. I bought it five minutes later. In this sweetly harmonized collection, nearly all the songs are wonderful. I would have bought the CD for only My Heart Will Go On-the song is a skillful take of the Titanic (movie) theme, and it seems almost to have a voice of its own. This is a must-have for any harp music lover!

Chords & Thyme English Folksongs for Guitar

Average customer rating:

En Evocative Musical Escape to England

Chords & Thyme English Folksongs for Guitar

Manufacturer: Dorian Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
ASIN: B000001QAI
Release Date: 1995-01-17

Tracks:

The Death Of Queen Jane
She Moved Through TheFair
I Wish
The Lass Of Patie's Mill
The Golden Vanity
Nottamun Town
The Water Is Wide
My Last Farewell To Stirling
The Cherry Tree Carol
Barbara Allen
The Drunken Sailor
Suo Gan
Simple Gifts
The Grey Cock
The House Carpenter - Edward Flower, Joel Brown
Wild Mountain Thyme

Customer Reviews:

En Evocative Musical Escape to England.......2006-04-13

I bought this CD on a whim, and it far exceeded my expectations. Edward Flower's arrangements of these folk songs (most for two guitars) are truly exquisite; each piece is a miniature artistic gem, capturing the soulful, plaintive, and often melancholy mood of these timeless tunes. This is a great CD to put on when you want to relax. Just sit back with a cup of tea, close your eyes, and let your mind drift off to the quiet meadows, shady woods, and green rolling hills of England!