Orison

Orison

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Five San Francisco Bay instrumentalists takethe name Orison from the old-fashioned word for prayer or invocaiton (see Hamlet, III, i). They are: Barry Phillips, Shelley Phillips, William Coulter, Steve Coulter and Anne Cleveland, whose repertoire includes music from both the folk and classical traditions (The Butterfly*, Arran Boat Song, The Maids of Mitchelston, The Water Kilpie, Morgan Megan and more), along with original compositions. Their combinations of harp, guitar, cello, oboe, English horn, flute and percussion produce textures of etheral and poignant beauty.

Product Description
As an independent label, we've worked hard to develop a distinctive sound — part-folk, part-classical, all-acoustic instrumental music. We feel our music is indeed unique, and we've never compromised in our determination to produce only the highest quality, most beautifully packaged recordings.

We include detailed liner notes for those who are curious about the history and background of the music.

Gourd has licensed music to Warner Bros. Music, Narada, Hearts of Space, Windham Hill, The Disney Channel, A&E and The History Channel. Selections from the Gourd recording The World Turned Upside Down were featured on the Ken Burns documentary Thomas Jefferson. Three Gourd recordings were featured on Ken Burns' latest project ( a documentary on Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton) on PBS.

Tracks:

Carolan's Ramble To Cashel - Northern Lights
The Butterfly - Orison
Donal Agus Morag/The New-Rigged Ship - Altan
Calliope House/The Cowboy Jig - Alasdair Fraser/Paul Machlis
Chuaigh Me 'Na Rosann - Scartaglen
Trip To Skye - John Whelan/Eileen Ivers
Are Ye Sleeping, Maggie? - Alasdair Fraser
Tribute To Peadar O'Donnell - Moving Hearts
Siun Ni Dhuibher - Relativity
Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda - Capercaillie
Puirt A Beul - Sileas
The York Reel/Dancing Feet - Gerald Trimble
Morgan Meaghan (Edit) - Laurie Riley/Bob Mc Nally
Strathgarry - Simon Wynberg

Customer Reviews:

Enchanting and Mystical.......2007-07-02

Along with the other reviewers, this is my favorite celtic compilation. I, too, am moved to tears by Strathgarry at the end. My husband and I loved the music on this cd so much that we used most of it for our wedding 10 years ago, and had it included in our wedding video. It's still as good today as it was then.

Very Good CD.......2007-06-16

Really Enjoy this CD every time I listen to it. I highly recomend it. A great combonation of some slow and some faster paced songs.

Enchanting.......2007-05-11

I agree with all the other reviewers--this is a great CD. It's not too mellow and not too rowdy--just right, and there's a variety of music--some instrumental, some with vocals. I recommend it highly.

Important Celtic compilation.......2006-08-17

Most Celtic compilations usually have 4-5 really good songs mixed in with a bunch of crap. Do the editors think that they can fool us folk fans into believing that just because something has a violin, or a harp, or ethereal vocals, or bagpipes, that it's "good" Celtic music? That's like saying any song with a guitar is good rock. Well, at least according to my personal taste , most if not ALL songs on this CD are good and fit well together. They range from fiddle and drum jig, to slow and melancholy fiddle solo, to a cappella duet, to harp, to drums and other instruments, all mixed in with very crisp, Gaelic vocals. If you're a Celtic music fan, this NEEDS to be a part of your collection!

Not bad.......2005-12-13

Sounds real "purdy". But except for a couple of numbers, not a lot of character to this collection. Makes me think that if the ancient Gaels had elevators, this would be the music they'd be listening to.

Average customer rating:

Smooth Celtic-jazz-classical fusion
Celtic Rain
A Spiritual Dance I Have Never Forgotten
A musical treat not to be missed

Orison
William Coulter & Barry Phillips
Manufacturer: Gourd Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Celtic Sessions
Celtic Crossing
The Crooked Road
An Ancient Muse

ASIN: B000005C2D
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Tracks:

Arran Boat Song
Pierre On The Mountain Playing The Hurdy Gurdy
Morning Rain
Dance Of The Spirits Of Water, The / Golden Goose, The - Holst
Pastorale
Water Kilpie, The / Maids Of Mitchelston, The
Butterfly, The
Morgan Megan
Bob's Room

Album Description

As an independent label, we've worked hard to develop a distinctive sound — part-folk, part-classical, all-acoustic instrumental music. We feel our music is indeed unique, and we've never compromised in our determination to produce only the highest quality, most beautifully packaged recordings.

We include detailed liner notes for those who are curious about the history and background of the music.

Customer Reviews:

Smooth Celtic-jazz-classical fusion.......2006-09-30

A whimsical and pleasantly elegant assortment of traditional and modern tunes played with gentle, acoustic panache by some well-known New Age instrumentalists. Orison comprises William Coulter on guitars, Steve Coulter on harp and recorder, Shelley Phillips on oboe, English horn and flute, Barry Philips on cello and percussion, and Anne Cleveland on flute. Most of the quiet yet resonant tunes are composed or arranged by William Coulter, and in them he manages an artful, seemless blending of folk, jazz and classical elements into something akin to the "Celtic chamber music" promoted by many of the artists on the "Maggie's Music" label (Maggie Sansone, Ensemble Galilei, Robin Bullock, etc.)." Very pretty and very relaxing. Try too William Coulter's solo releases, such as "The Crooked Road," which interprets traditional Celtic tunes in a similar style, again with the Phillipses and other guest instrumentalists. You might also enjoy the Celtic stylings of Bruce Huron in "Celtic Legend," the continental groups Orion and Norland Wind, New Age singer and harpist Aine Minogue, the contemporary Celtic music of Nightnoise, and the traditional and modern folk arrangements of Paul Reiser's group Trapezoid.

Celtic Rain.......2006-03-14

I`ve heard this album for the first time more than 10 years before and still it charms me. Music played by William and Steve Coulter, Shelley and Barry Phillips is healing and soothing cure.
I think that "Morning Rain" by William Coulter is one of the best contemporary music pieces for acoustic guitar. Pure and perfect beauty. You could buy the album only because of this track. You could feel the texture of the sound of acoustic instruments while listening to this record.
By the way, if you like folk side of Mike Oldfield`s works (as example, "Voyager") - you would like this album.
And I don`t want to stress on the Celtic style of this record, because it is simply one of the best albums of contemporary instrumental folk music.

A Spiritual Dance I Have Never Forgotten.......2001-02-10

Orison's music is a spiritual dance of embrace, calm, haunting, joyful. Strings and nature. From the first moment I heard this music in 1990 I have never forgotten.

A musical treat not to be missed.......1998-10-09

From many of the highly talented musicians of the Northern California Gourd group (that also produced Northern Lights) comes an equally delightful collection of Celtic and modern tunes. I have every album these musicians have ever made, and play them almost daily. Their interpretation of these well-chosen Celtic pieces, as well as some wonderful original work, never fails to please. This is a CD you will play again and again and again.

Average customer rating:

Beneath the Quiet
Quinn
Manufacturer: Orison Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Chasing Silence

ASIN: B0000ESXCQ
Release Date: 2003-07-04

Tracks:

A Long Desire
The Trellis
Evelynn
Jivana
Silent Moretta
Letting Go
The Winds of Evenfall
Metanoia
All Within a Whisper
Holi Hai
My Secret Yearning
The Meliorist

Album Description

Beneath the Quiet, Quinn's fifth CD release, captures all the magic of his previous four while expanding into new territory with his passionate lead vocal performance on My Secret Yearning. "Somebody save me from my secret yearning," he emotes, revealing the spiritual struggle of an anchoress living in extreme austerity in the thirteenth century. You will hear his captivating voice, over an answering machine on Evelynn, and the story of a midnight encounter that will send shivers down your spine on Jivana. All twelve songs combine classical, pop and world textures and are surrounded by drums and percussion that Quinn has collected from around the world. Amidst the pulsing grooves and evocative soundscapes you will be transported into a realm of pure euphoria. This second release on Orison Records is sure to stir things up in the world of Ambient World Music. O:m (Orison Music.com)

Average customer rating:

An enjoyable, gently energizing musical journey
An Absolutely Superb CD!

Chasing Silence
Quinn
Manufacturer: Orison Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beneath the Quiet
Quinn

ASIN: B00005BAAW
Release Date: 2000-07-04

Tracks:

Widow's Walk
A Glimpse of You
One More Lifetime
My Dearest Torment
Without Your Love
Acedia (The Noonday Demon)
The Mercy of the World
I Am Yours
I Will Believe
More Than This

Customer Reviews:

An enjoyable, gently energizing musical journey.......2006-09-29

A collection of love-inspired songs sung by female vocalists, set over popularly styled, beat-fueled soundscapes that alternate between cheerful pop and moody world fusion (and often within the same song). Quinn is a composer, keyboardist and percussion player who is happy to share the spotlight with an ensemble of guest artists to produce a full, rich, smooth sound. Joining him here are singers Donna DeLory, Corrinne May and Lindsay Tomasic, the ubiquitous Cameron Stone on cello, and Chris Bleth on soprano sax, duduk, zurna and bamboo flute. If I had to categorize the music of "Chasing Silence," I would say it most closely resembles a cross between the emotive, uplifting songs of John Adorney and the mystical world fusion of Deep Forest. Though fairly derivative in terms of musical structure, and with lyrics that don't always fit the mood of the music, these songs do have catchy, soaring melodies and lots of heart. Much of the "groove-chant" and club-style world fusion out there has a cold, detached feel to it, but the selections on "Chasing Silence" that fall into those categories are warm, intimate and somehow more approachable. Consequently this album, gently but unfailingly, raises my energy and makes me smile. And the graphics on the insert are clever and considerate, too--changing the color of the type face to contrast clearly with the lights and darks of the background photo so that those so interested can actually read them. (Sounds like basic common sense, but I'm amazed at how many illegible album packagings there are out there!). Try also the music of John Adorney, as well as that of Deep Forest, Delerium and Enigma.

An Absolutely Superb CD!.......2001-08-03

Most people who are die-hard fans of Enigma continually search for music that is "like Enigma." I am one of those people and I now own some 60+ CDs in that genre. Many of them are very good and Quinns first self-titled release has been one of my favorites for a few years. Nothing could prepare me, however, for Quinn's fouth effort, "Chasing Silence". It is a masterpiece of songwriting, production and performance unlike anything I have heard.

This album is a departure (again) from Quinn's other work as it features heartfelt female vocals from Donna DeLory and Corrinne May, two very talented singers and has a less Enigmatic feel. But fear not, for this is a good thing. In addition to his use of more traditional instruments on this CD, Quinn still utilizes many eclectic instruments like the Armenian duduk, zurna, bamboo flute, Middle Eastern and Celtic cello, sitar, harmonium and exotic percussion instruments. All this combines to make for an ambience that is mysterious yet familiar.

Quinn has written several wonderful songs with for this CD with beautiful melodies and gentle rhythms like "Widow's Walk", that tells the tale of a sailor's wife who anxiously awaits the return of her love. Other stand-out tracks include the up-beat, "One More Lifetime", "Without Your Love", the incredible, "The Mercy of the World" and "I Am Yours" with it's sensuous saxophone that is reminisent of some of Sting's work.

Do your self a big favor and buy this CD. It will be very hard to take "Chasing Silence" out of your player!

Everyone Get on the Floor
Average customer rating:
Everyone Get on the Floor
Oris , Jon Orison , James Poore , Darren Roy , Jordan Falk , and James Bratton
Manufacturer: Random Play
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000RCJH2I