Celtic Harp 3: Secret Isles

1. Planxty Burke/Bumper Squire Jones

2. Carrickfergus

3. Susie Mcguire/Bridget Geary

4. Lord Inchiquin

5. Carolan's Favorite Jig

6. Song of the Water Kelpie/The Sheep Under the Snow

7. Planxty Irwin

8. Foggy Dew

9. Squire Wood's Lamentation

10. Carolan's Concerto

11. Eleanor Plunkett

12. Dark Woman of the Glen

Celtic Harp 3: Secret Isles,Patrick Ball,Fortuna Records,Celtic Folk,Celtic New Age,New Age / Meditation,Pop,Solo Instrumental

Average customer rating:

More for a Harp Enthusiast than the Average Listener
Pleasant music but nothing to rave about
I think this CD is great
An outstanding album

Celtic Harp 3: Secret Isles
Patrick Ball
Manufacturer: Fortuna Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Celtic New Age | New Age | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music

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

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

New Age | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

Fusion | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Celtic Harp 2: from a Distant Time
Celtic Harp 1: Music of Turlough O'Carolan
Celtic Harp 4: O'carolan's Dream
The Christmas Rose
Celtic Harp: Fiona

ASIN: B0000007T4
Release Date: 1991-10-16

Tracks:

Planxty Burke/ Bumper Squire Jones
Carrickferges
Susie McGuire/ Bridget Geary
Lord Inchiquin
Carolan's Favorite Jig
Song Of The Water Kelpie/ The Sheep Under The Snow
Planxty Irwin
The Foggy Dew
Squire Wood's Lamentation
Carolan's Concerto
Eleanor Plunkett
Dark Woman Of The Glen

Album Description

The lilting, crystalline tone of the Celtic harp must be one of the most joyful sounds in mankind's history. The harp originated a thousand years ago in ancient Ireland; it shone through the age of the bards and brought hope during long years of occupation and oppression. As it is a challenging instrument to play well, nearly two centuries ago the wire-strung Celtic harp was abandoned in favor of the easier to play, more subdued gut-strung neo-Irish harp. Patrick Ball would not let that sweet voice fall silent. He brings to audiences world-wide the ancient Celtic harp that "has always been loved and celebrated by the Irish people for its mystical power to enchant them, to draw them into realms beyond thought, and to refresh their spirit." That is exactly what Patrick Ball accomplishes in these five sparkling recordings. Listeners are enchanted by his performances. They are drawn to the emotional portrait that Patrick paints with each piece, romantic, melancholy or jubilant. Although Patrick is a delightful storyteller with words, these instrumental works tell their own stories, requiring nothing more than Patrick's fingernails deftly plucking the brass strings of his beautifully crafted harp. The harp he plays is a re-creation of the ancient Celtic instrument, lovingly crafted by master harp builder Jay Witcher of Houlton, Maine, who has made it his life's work to allow the sound of the great instrument to live again.

Patrick Ball pays his greatest tribute to the legendary Turlough O'Carolan, a blind, itinerant harper who wandered the Irish countryside at the turn of the eighteenth century, playing for wealthy landowners. O'Carolan was witty, a prolific composer and a genius on the Celtic harp. It is little wonder that Patrick Ball has included O'Carolan's brilliant tunes in each of his first four volumes.

Customer Reviews:

More for a Harp Enthusiast than the Average Listener.......2005-12-04

Solo harp isn't my interest, so this isn't one of my favorite recordings. I found that it does become background music because one song seems to run into the next. The one redeeming song, one of my all time Carolan favorites, is "Carolan's Concerto."

Patrick Ball's playing is skillful, and I think that this would be a good recording for people who play the harp to use to learn both songs and technique.

Pleasant music but nothing to rave about.......2003-12-31

The first time I listened to this cd, I was working at the office and I played it as backround music. My first impression was one of a continuum of sound with very little variation, as if I were listening to a babbling stream. I continued to play it for several days and little by little I began to feel the originality of each piece. The mood is mostly joyous with a tinge of melancholy.

Secret Isles is certainly an ideal background music cd. I wouldn't call it great music: it simply lacks depth and color. Fresh but rather tasteless is the best description I can find. Just like water.

Finally I would like to remind you that this is a rather short recording: about 50 minutes. On average each piece is about 3 minutes long. Considering the price, this is clearly an expensive cd.

My advice is: just buy one. The other recordings must be more of the same.

I think this CD is great.......2001-09-07

I have the CD and I think that it shows what a great artist Mr Bell is .

An outstanding album.......1998-05-22

I think this is Ball's strongest album: years of touring and recording have made him fully at ease with his instrument (his earlier albums have a few rough edges), and the selection of mostly unfamiliar tunes is excellent. The arrangements are attractive and varied enough to keep up the listener's interest, and the performances are masterful without being slick. And, as always, the wire-strung harp has a clarity and openness that transforms whatever is played on it. All of Ball's albums are good, but this one approaches perfection.