Broken Ground

Broken Ground

Track Listings

1. Raggle Taggle Gipsies

2. Bay of Biscay

3. Sheffield Waltz/Waltz Clog/The Wounded Hussa

4. Lion's Den

5. Fare Thee Well Cold Winter

6. Rowling Hornpipe/Our Cat Has Kitted/Bleaton Gardens/Sportsman's Hornpip

7. Forsaken Mermaid

8. We Poor Labouring Men

9. Ditchling Caro

10. Dorrington Lads/Adam A'bell

11. Royal Forester/The Bald Headed End of the Broom

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Member of the Order of the British Empire Martin Carthy and award winners Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy have defined two waves of the British "folk revival," individually and in ensemble. Now they are four, with the addition of young melodeon player Saul Rose. Broken Ground continues their high standards for choice of songs and performance. Eliza's "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" is both sad and jaunty. She also tears out your heart on "The Forsaken Mermaid" with a rendition full of desolate emotion, placing her in position to develop into one of Britain's major folk interpreters as she matures. Norma offers a royal chestnut, "Bay of Biscay," and she does a fine new turn on it. Sir Martin's major vocal contribution is "The Lion's Den," which he delivers in classic Carthy style, skewed guitar rhythms and strained emphasis making the lyrics leap off the platter. Saul Rose adds his squeezebox to some terrific sets of tunes and gives Eliza Carthy some moments to show off her solid, unpretentious fiddling. The artists cover no new turf here, just solid ground, well traveled with spirit and very high musicianship. --Louis Gibson

Tracks:

The Pool Of Memory And The Pool Of Forgetfulness
To Earth Like Rain
Song To Nature
One Real Flower
The Dancing Ground
That Vast Life
Eurydice Taken
Charon's Call
Cerberus At Peace
Under The World - Orpheus Looks Back
The Broken Lyre
Severance
Elegy
Return To The Realm Of Eternal Renewal
Lyra

Album Description

Ever since his days as the guitarist for Genesis, Steve Hackett has been setting new standards for his instrument. Matchless versatility combined with extraordinary passion has transformed him through time into a musician's musician. In addition to his work in progressive rock, Steve Hackett has also shown remarkable dedication in the pursuit of his classical side. To date he has released 5 acoustic/classical albums, and has appeared as the featured soloist with the London Chamber Orchestra, earning the respect of both rock contemporaries and classical figures alike.

Metamorpheus, the latest project, is the natural successor to 1997's A Midsummer Night's Dream (which spent several weeks in the UK classical charts). It combines nylon strung guitar with orchestra, seamlessly merging small and large musical forces.

Customer Reviews:

Best of his acoustic albums.......2005-08-09

Hackett hops back and forth between the classical music and progressive rock worlds, and has had hit and misses in both. Happily, this is one of his most diverse and atmospheric classical accomplishments. Even fans who prefer his progressive work might find this a satisfying listen, since it occasionally echoes some of his Genesis era pastoral guitar interludes. Even though I greatly enjoyed "A Midsummer Night's Dream" this new CD seems more cohesive and satisfying overall. It's a lovely creation.

retrocedamos 150 años.......2005-05-05

!Que manía la de todos los rockeros que abundan en el mundo clásico!. Es increible que Vaugah Williams, Elgar y demás tardoromaticos ingleses sigan siendo, más de 100 años después, el referente de lo que es la música clásica para todos los rockeros que se meten en camisas de once varas. Paul MacCartney, Tony Banks o, ahora, Steve Hackett encabezan una larga lista de músicos que parecen olvidar que tras aquellos maestros ha existido el siglo XX. Ligeti, Stockhausen, Lutoskawski, Webern o Messiaen parece como si se los hubiera tragado la tierra. No es que me parezcan malas las composiciones de este Metamorpheus, lo que me parece es que influencias más "modernas" no habrían estado de más. Yo no digo que HAckett se ponga a hacer música concreta, pero, vamos, un poquito más de contemporaneidad y algo menos de tardoromanticismo no le vendría mal

Superb concept well executed.......2005-05-03

Dealing with the mythology was always a formidable strongpoint for Steve Hackett. That he is one of the finest nylon string guitar players in the world only enhances the wonder, the lyricism and the sophistication of his tales. He is not a singer by any means, but it's his hands that tell the story. "Blood On The Rooftops" from the Genesis days is just one of the many extraordinary examples of the sophistication he brought to rock, invoking the legend of Passover into the backdrop of American TV violence and the Israeli-Palestinian cross-fire.
On this latest disc, moving away from social commentary, Shakespeare and back into Greek mythology, Hackett along with his cadres have created a classical masterpiece. The integration of the instruments is subtle. The pacing of the tale is dead-on. His fingerpicking and plectrum work set him apart from both classical and rock contemporaries. I can think of only Steve Howe, with whom he shared an entirely unsuccessful collaboration that played to none of their strengths (GTR), and Sharon Isbin, I can think of no other contemporary guitarist with that capacity for storytelling as well as finesse. Hackett must surely channel John Dowland, both thematically and stylistically. It is a chamber work on offer here, more baroque than classical, but it is one of the ways in which ancient myth informs us of the perils of our particular age.
This is a significant addition to the canon of guitar music.

More guitar, please.......2005-04-18

I enjoy most all of Hackett's music, especially his acoustic albums. My only disappointment is that the guitar is not featured even more. No doubt this composition reflects his vision and all, but I was left wanting more of his nylon-string virtuosity. I found his 1997 "Midsummer Night's Dream" a little more satisfying in this regard.

Beautifully melodic combo of classical guitar with orchestra.......2005-04-16

Lush and romantic setting with just the right amount of edge for the story of Orpheus's voyage to the underworld. Upon a few listens I found many of the melodies were very memorable. Nice original music that nods occasionally to Ravel and Morricone yet quite original. The guitar playing is super as are the orchestral players. Very well engineered too. Found this a more balanced effort than Hackett's Midsummer's CD that also featured a guitar and orchestra setting.

Average customer rating:

sounds to make you sleep

British Folksongs

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Folk | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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Thanks for the Memory
Serenade
Folkmusic from Scotland
Annie Laurie ~ Folksongs of the British Isles / Barrueco · The King's Singers

ASIN: B00005MOC8
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Tracks:

Skye Boat Song
Early One Morning
Blow The Wind Southerly
Scarboro' Fair
Londonderry Air
Trotting To The Fair
Drink To Me Only
Kathleen Mavoureen
Morning Has Broken
The Lark In The Clear Air - Skaila Kanga
Cherry Ripe
Ash Grove
David Of The White Rock
The Keel Row
Ye Banks And Braes
Endearing Young Charms
Dashing Away With The Smoothing Iron
My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose
She Moved Thro' The Fair - Tommy Reilly
The Rising Of The Lark

Customer Reviews:

sounds to make you sleep.......2007-05-22

Beautiful relaxing harmonica and harp music. You've got to be a harmonica lover(which I Am) to enjoy this CD. I'm a chromatic harmonica student so this is right up my alley. Tommy Reilly displays wonderful technique and phrasing. If you are having trouble getting to sleep throw this baby on and you'll be having 40 winks in no time.

Average customer rating:

an embarrassment of riches

Broken Ground
Waterson:Carthy
Manufacturer: Topic Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

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

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Waterson: Carthy
Common Tongue
Fishes & Fine Yellow Sand
A Dark Light
Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man

ASIN: B00001NFGI
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Tracks:

Raggle Taggle Gipsies
Bay of Biscay
Sheffield Waltz/Waltz Clog/The Wounded Hussa
Lion's Den
Fare Thee Well Cold Winter
Rowling Hornpipe/Our Cat Has Kitted/Bleaton Gardens/Sportsman's ...
Forsaken Mermaid
We Poor Labouring Men
Ditchling Caro
Dorrington Lads/Adam A'bell
Royal Forester/The Bald Headed End of the Broom

Amazon.com

Member of the Order of the British Empire Martin Carthy and award winners Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy have defined two waves of the British "folk revival," individually and in ensemble. Now they are four, with the addition of young melodeon player Saul Rose. Broken Ground continues their high standards for choice of songs and performance. Eliza's "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" is both sad and jaunty. She also tears out your heart on "The Forsaken Mermaid" with a rendition full of desolate emotion, placing her in position to develop into one of Britain's major folk interpreters as she matures. Norma offers a royal chestnut, "Bay of Biscay," and she does a fine new turn on it. Sir Martin's major vocal contribution is "The Lion's Den," which he delivers in classic Carthy style, skewed guitar rhythms and strained emphasis making the lyrics leap off the platter. Saul Rose adds his squeezebox to some terrific sets of tunes and gives Eliza Carthy some moments to show off her solid, unpretentious fiddling. The artists cover no new turf here, just solid ground, well traveled with spirit and very high musicianship. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

an embarrassment of riches.......2000-02-27

Waterson:Carthy is the best English folk band going -- period -- and of its three releases to date, this is its finest yet. Which is to say a mouthful. Of course, the excellence of Broken Ground is hardly surprising, given the towering and honorable roles Martin Carthy and the Waterson family into which he married have played in the British folk revival since the 1960s. Here Carthy, his wife Norma Waterson, and daughter Eliza, with the gifted young melodeon player Saul Rose, outdo themselves in a stirring set of traditional ballads, songs, and dance tunes. Not the least of these is Eliza's moving, distinctive version of "Raggle Taggle Gipsies" -- surely, if one counts all its variants ("Black Jack Davy," "Gypsy Davy," "Whistling Gypsy," and many more), the most recorded of all of Prof. Child's ballads. She also sings, to powerful effect, the less familiar "The Forsaken Mermaid." She and her mother join up on "Fare Thee Well Cold Winter," a variant of the nineteenth-century American parlor weeper "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight." Martin fronts a brass band on a terrific "Bald Headed End of the Broom," a wry song of marital strife usually associated with old-time Southern string bands. I could go on and on, but you'll find your own favorites here. Here's an embarrassment of riches, if ever there was one.

Average customer rating:

Henry Purcell & His Time

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ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Ground Broken
Penetrate
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Release Date: 2001-12-18

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Capsized
Present Perfect
West Point Stevens
The Delaware
St. Patrick's Day Parade
Bitter Memorial
Burning Flowers
Deep Seconds

Average customer rating:

New Ground Has Not Broken

Manufacturer: Fork Series/Rock Bottom
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Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0007W0LKA
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Average customer rating:

Full Cincinnati

Manufacturer: Ear to the Ground Music, Inc.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA7PFQ
Release Date: 2002-10-22

Average customer rating:

British Folk Songs

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000000AG8
Release Date: 1992-10-28

Tracks:

Skye Boat Song
Early One Morning
Blow The Wind Southerly
Scarboro' Fair
Londonderry Air
Trotting To The Fair
Drink To Me Only
Kathleen Mavoureen
Morning Has Broken
The Lark In The Clear Air
Cherry Ripe
Ash Grove
David Of The White Rock
The Keel Row
Ye Banks And Braes
Endearing Young Charms
Dashing Away With The Smoothing Iron
My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose
She Moved Thro' The Fair
The Rising Of The Lark

Average customer rating:

Musicke from the Ayre

Manufacturer: Cantus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0009QKVJK
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Average customer rating:

not quite there
No joy in Mudville for me
Choice Indeed

A Choice Collection

Manufacturer: Linn Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Held By The Ears
The Winged Lion
Trios for 4

ASIN: B00000399T
Release Date: 1996-04-30

Tracks:

Broken Consort in D: Fantazie
Broken Consort in D: Courant
Broken Consort in D: Ayre
Broken Consort in D: Saraband
Set Of Ayres in F: Preludio/Prestissimo
Set Of Ayres in F: Sarabanda/Adagio
Set Of Ayres in F: Gavotta Con Divisiono
Ayres: Preludio In Ostinatione
Ayres: Andamento Malinconico
John Come Kiss Me Now
Sett Of Ayres In D: Ov
Sett Of Ayres In D: Minuet
Sett Of Ayres In D: Almain
Sett Of Ayres In D: Corant
Sett Of Ayres In D: Two In One On A Ground
Anon: Old Simon The King
Ground In g
Vars On Callino Casturame
Divisions On A Ground
Sett Of Ayres In E: Bizzararrie Sopra Un Basso Matinconico
Sett Of Ayres In E: Aria Amorosa/Adagio
Broken Consort in C: Fantazie
Broken Consort in C: Courant
Broken Consort in C: Ayre
Broken Consort in C: Saraband

Customer Reviews:

not quite there.......2007-02-16

I ordered this CD as I was impressed with Palladian's CD " Held by the Ears". I found it a very successful program of music beautifully played ; a mix of Ayres by Nicola Matteis and trad/anon Scots tunes and ayres. This CD also has Ayres by Matteis and other works by lesser English composers of the period , they are all well played but taken as a program it all falls a bit flat. The Matteis is not as lively and jolly as that on "Held by the Ears", two movements are designated malinconico. The other composers have fallen into obscurity, possibly for good reason. There is one track by anon, "Old Simon the King", which provides 2 min of superb recorder playing.
I don't think this program quite works, even though the playing of it is excellent.

No joy in Mudville for me.......2006-03-17

I bought this knowing nothing of the Palladian Ensemble other than the glowing review here. This is an era I enjoy, a unique collection of instruments, and I'm always on the lookout for the unknown. The playing is spirited, especially the viola da gamba--wow!, and the recording is certainly expressive, (maybe a bit too expressive; sometimes that recorder sounds as if it is whistling inside my head.) But I have given this CD at least twenty listens, and the compositions have failed to grab me. I believe Purcell the neglected genius of Western music, so I know the flavor. But while this is all pleasant enough and a few pieces do really shine, the vast majority of it falls into the charming background music. Nice enough to have on, good for cooking to or encouraging conversation, but the heart is just not there.

That is not to say there are not delights all over. These are mostly sprightly and elegant tunes. Sometimes they hit it spot on. The string playing is a marvel. But they do not grab the soul, shake it, and not let go. They dissipate all too readily, leaving nothing but a vaguely pleasant memory.

Choice Indeed.......2000-02-18

I have listened to this disc over and over for weeks on end. The playing is fabulous - spirited, informed, and with the fine sense of ensemble that one expects from the best string quartets. The repertoire is fascinating and entertaining. This is the perfect album to play when you get home after a really hard day. It restores my faith in Western Civilization. Order it today and I guarantee that you will become a fan of The Palladian Ensemble.

Music Review:

Music Review

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