White Stones

Track Listings

1. Steps

2. First Day of Spring

3. Hymn

4. Windancer

5. Appassionata

6. Celebration

7. Berceuse

8. Moving

9. Passacaglia

10. Poème

11. Home

12. Rhapsody

13. Sanctuary

14. Lament

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Two factors account for the broad-based popularity of Secret Garden (the duo of Norwegian keyboardist Rolf Lovland and Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry). One: the twosome's attractive, smartly conceived mix of compatible elements including light classical, urbane New Age, and well-mannered contemporary Celtic. Two: the pair's ability to persuasively present this formula with poise and (crucially) fetching good looks in a concert film, which in 1999 enjoyed broad exposure on American public television. (The performance, A Night with Secret Garden, is available on DVD.) White Stones is Lovland and Sherry's second collaboration, and, despite a few side trips into weighty sentimentality (e.g., the heart-clutching earnestness of "First Day of Spring"), it nicely conveys the pair's simple yet endearing children-of-the-cosmos spirit. Highlights here include the disc's energized, Celtic-influenced tunes ("Steps," "Moving," "Escape") and an infectious, regal charmer ("Celebration") Lovland composed in honor of the Queen of Norway's 60th birthday. Accompanied on nearly every piece by a small orchestra or Celtic instrumentalists, Sherry's violin sometimes evokes moods of melancholy that seem better suited for a two-hanky, movie-of-the-week film score. Yet a piece such as "Hymn to Hope" shows she can also elegantly trigger deeper feelings of longing and anticipation that can linger for hours. Overall, a worthwhile listen. --Terry Wood

White Stones,Secret Garden,Polygram Records,Classical Music,Contemporary Instrumental,Neo-Classical,New Age / Meditation,Pop,Spiritual

White Stones

White Stones

Average customer rating:

Pleasant, romantic music for the soul

Excellent Work

Classic, beautiful music by Secret Garden - INCREDIBLE

White Stones

Enchanting

White Stones
Secret Garden
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
General | New Age | Styles | Music
Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
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Songs from a Secret Garden

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ASIN: B000001ES4
Release Date: 1997-04-15

Tracks:

Steps
Poeme
Hymn To Hope
Moving
First Day Of Spring
Passacaglia
Reflection
Windancer
Appassionata
Escape
Sanctuary
Celebration
Home
Illumination

Amazon.com

Two factors account for the broad-based popularity of Secret Garden (the duo of Norwegian keyboardist Rolf Lovland and Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry). One: the twosome's attractive, smartly conceived mix of compatible elements including light classical, urbane New Age, and well-mannered contemporary Celtic. Two: the pair's ability to persuasively present this formula with poise and (crucially) fetching good looks in a concert film, which in 1999 enjoyed broad exposure on American public television. (The performance, A Night with Secret Garden, is available on DVD.) White Stones is Lovland and Sherry's second collaboration, and, despite a few side trips into weighty sentimentality (e.g., the heart-clutching earnestness of "First Day of Spring"), it nicely conveys the pair's simple yet endearing children-of-the-cosmos spirit. Highlights here include the disc's energized, Celtic-influenced tunes ("Steps," "Moving," "Escape") and an infectious, regal charmer ("Celebration") Lovland composed in honor of the Queen of Norway's 60th birthday. Accompanied on nearly every piece by a small orchestra or Celtic instrumentalists, Sherry's violin sometimes evokes moods of melancholy that seem better suited for a two-hanky, movie-of-the-week film score. Yet a piece such as "Hymn to Hope" shows she can also elegantly trigger deeper feelings of longing and anticipation that can linger for hours. Overall, a worthwhile listen. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

Pleasant, romantic music for the soul.......2007-06-27

As a fan of "Secret Garden" I have enjoyed this CD for weeks now. I fall asleep to it almost every night. It is not my very favorite, prefering the turn of the century one, but I do alternate listening to both. I am looking forward to a new album, as the recently purchsed one has mostly repeats on it.
Talented musicians, composers and singers make this CD incredibly enjoyable and I do say I love it.

Excellent Work.......2007-04-15

This is by far my favorite Secret Garden CD and their only all instumental CD. I prefer the allegro selections , despite the fact that they consider them to be filler material . The musicianship is first rate and you would never know that the individual songs were recorded in pieces , unless you visited their website . This CD has , what the Grateful Dead refered to as , the X factor . Everything on each selection flows together as if all of the musicians were in the same studio doing it live . Fionnuala Sherry dominates the entire work as the featured artist , but certainly doesn't overpower the rest of the fine musicians involved . I find it remarkable that this CD has never received a major award .

Classic, beautiful music by Secret Garden - INCREDIBLE.......2006-07-10

Secret Garden is the best discovery of my life as far as music goes. The violin is so soft and beautiful, and the singing is ethereal. I cannot get enough of this group! I highly recommend White Stones. I love Irish music and they have a lot of songs that have the Irish Celtic sound, and I just cannot say enough good things about this CD.

White Stones.......2005-09-26

Excellent orchestrations, with use of specific instruments to bring out various emotions in the listener. Excellent up front or as background music, or even for meditation. I like driving in the mountains or desert listening to any of Secret Garden's great music.
Dr. Ronaldo Fritz

Enchanting.......2004-09-25

Secret Garden's "Whitestones", is an amazing CD. The talent of Rolf Lovland and Fionnula Sherry is unprecedented...their styles compliment each other perfectly. "Whitestones" is a beautiful compilation of instrumentals, highlighting Rolf's songwriting and piano ability as well as Fionnula's amazing and haunting violin melodies. The songs on "Whitestones" are perfect to listen to after a long and stressful day, in the bath, and they are perfect to listen to while falling asleep as the songs are very ethereal and dreamlike. I have been listening to this disc for about six years and it is still in my main CD rotation, in fact I used the song "Hymn" at my wedding as I walked down the isle. This CD is a must to own for those who appreciate New Age and Celtic music. Their other albums are also amazing, and I am proud to say that I own every one of their releases and I am looking forward to their next release which will be out soon!

Average customer rating:

Precursor of "Muzak"

Satie for Relaxation

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Debussy for Relaxation
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ASIN: B00004L8HP
Release Date: 2000-04-14

Tracks:

3 Gymnopedies: No.1
3 Gymnopedies: No.2
3 Gymnopedies: No.3
The Sting Of The Medusa
Caress - John White
Gold Dust
The Poor Man's Reverie - John White
Gymnopdie No.1 - Richard Stoltzman/Nancy Allen
3 Gnossiennes: No.1 - Ikuyo Kamiya
3 Gnossiennes: No.2 - Ikuyo Kamiya
3 Gnossiennes: No.3 - Ikuyo Kamiya
Topics Thoroughly Covered: The Carrier Of Big Stones
Prld In Tapestry
I Want You
Gymnopedie No.2 - Michala Petri/Lars Hannibal
Cold Pieces (Tunes To Chase Away): II: Modestement
Prld Of The Heroic Gate Of Heaven - John White
Nocturne No.2 - Ikuyo Kamiya

Customer Reviews:

Precursor of "Muzak".......2006-03-11

Erik Satie cultivated his fame as an obscure pianist within the smokey cabernet-cafes high on the hill of Montmartre - a trendy, artist haunt in the shadow of Sacre Coere cathdrel overlooking 19th-century Paris. His novel music, isolated lifestyle and unusual fashion (always a dark velvet suit and derby) were eccentric yet endeared him to - not only to the poets, writers and artists of Montmartre - but to the Parisian musical elite. Another oddity of Satie was his contentment - and sometimes insistance - that his music be relegated to the background as to not interfere with patron's festivities. Where Beethoven or Wagner would have cringed to have their compositions played as "musical wallpaper" (or featured on a "Relaxation" recording like this), Erik Satie would likely have been pleased. In this respect, his music was perhaps the precursor of modern "Muzak" heard by many an elevator user.

Over three-forths of Satie's compositions are for solo piano. Often he gave these pieces strange titles and programmic references - such as his most famous work, Gymnopedies, which is related to some ancient festival honoring Apollo. In fact, this gentle, melodic piece so charmed Debussy that he composed an orchestral version of it, emphasising its dreamy qualities. However, on this CD, this famous piece is heard four times in different variations, which presents a great risk of trivialization and weariness. That is one downfall of this collection.

Satie's music indeed does fit well with the "Relaxation" theme with its simple, slower-paced, child-like innocent melodies bathed in rich, yet austere harmonies. In this respect Satie's music is often downgraded by music critics as "lightweight compositions from a French eccentric." They have their point. But, the weary looking for some "nice music" will often find Satie's works a balm - free of pretention, complication and attitude. Yet, it was this simplicity and minimalistic approach that earned Satie the title, "The Precursor" as his textures and forms foreshadowed the minimalist music of John Cage and the Surrealism/Dada movements in art.

Like any, Satie's music is not for everyone. At times the repeated-note simplicity can be downright boring; other pieces can remind one of a player piano at the cabernet. Yet, many pieces have great charm and appeal once you get past their simplicity. So, overall, this CD is a decent sampling of Satie's music for piano - solo or with one or two other instruments - recorded in good sound quality. Also, there are few if any loud outbursts for those wanting to nod off in their relaxation. But, the overplayed Gymnopedies pieces are unfortunate - typical when the public gets hold of a popular piece and plays it to death.

Average customer rating:

Best of

Manufacturer: Immg - White Eagle
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAA97C
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Average customer rating:

Karma
Karma
Manufacturer: Floodgate Productions
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000B7T7VA
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Tracks:

Cool Cool Water
They've Got a Name for You
Daughter of a Preacher
How Long
All I Ever Want
What's It to Ya
You Know What I Mean
Heart to Stone
You Can't Blame Love
Dragging Me Down
Last Time

Product Description

1. Cool Cool Water 2. They've Got A Name For You 3. Daughter Of A Preacher 4. How Long 5. All I Ever Want 6. What's It To Ya 7. You Know What I Mean 8. Heart To Stone 9. You Can't Blame Love 10. Dragging Me Down 11. Last Time Karma was named by her progressive parents, an Episcopalian Minister and a southern bluegrass singer. Karma's father's spiritual calling in the church took the family from Asheville NC, to Austin TX, to Panama, to Philadelphia PA, and finally to King City CA. Her mother was a professional singer whose love of the lyrical content of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Carol King had a deep impact on Karma's young musical psyche. But, It was in junior high school in urban Philadelphia that Karma discovered music for herself and on her own terms. Karma attended junior high school (with a primarily black student body) in East Oak Lane, PA where she discovered Prince. Her love of R&B was forged in these formative years, as she began cutting her vocal chops in a church choir. In the summer before her freshman year in high school, Karma's father uprooted and moved the family again, this time to King City, California to lead a congregation there. Rural King City is a predominately white and hispanic farming community, and a complete culture shock to Karma from her years spent in Phily. As hard as it is being the new kid in school, especially your freshman year in high school, Karma was no stranger to adjusting to new environments and quickly adapted. Enter Led Zeppelin and Guns & Roses to Karma's musical universe. If you listen to Karma's "Last Time" you can hear the influence of "Appetite for Destruction", or listen to "They've Got A Name For You" and hear the impact of Zeppelin.

Average customer rating:

off the radar

Ten White Stones
The Green Pajamas
Manufacturer: Hidden Agenda
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0003JALJI
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

The Cruel Night
Gazelle
Blue Eyes To Haunt Me
Mrs. Cafferty
If You Love Me (You'll Do It)
Holden Caufield
For S
She's Still Bewitching Me
Lost Girls Song
I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)

Customer Reviews:

off the radar.......2007-06-21

If most of the Green PJs albums are underappreciated, for some reason this album has gone especially unnoticed. It's certainly eclectic, from the countryish opening track, the fuzzy pop psychedelia of Mrs.Cafferty, to delicate ballads, like She's Still Bewitching Me. And yet for all its variety, this is a routinely strong batch of songs. I bought this over a year ago and find myself going back to it over and over again. It's worth noting that this was recorded live in the studio, which is not to say it is lo-fi, and part of its charm is its first take professionalism. Like most of the PJs work, this deserves more recognition.