Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Keyboardist Scott Hartley says his new album, Ancestral Crossing, is “a celebration of life and adventure,” a musical portrait of his forebear's travels from England and Ireland to America, and later journeys by his relatives and himself across the continent coast-to-coast.
The recording, Hartley's second album on the First Light Music label, equally stresses Scott's love of both acoustic and synthesized instrumental music. A trained synthesist and sound designer who has worked at top companies in the “tech industry,” Scott purposely plays acoustic piano (either a Steinway or a Seiler) on every tune on this album and even adds alto saxophone on one piece.
In addition, even though Hartley contributes various synthesized sounds (including drums, bass and strings) to Ancestral Crossing, he also brought in other musicians to perform acoustically and add to the ensemble sound -- violinist Charlie Bisharat (John Tesh, Jim Matheos), flutist Peter Gordon (also on pennywhistle and recorder, he has played with Suzanne Ciani), cellist Melissa Hasin (John Tesh), saxophonist Farzin (a recording artist himself), acoustic guitarist Brian Donovan (who co-engineered the album and co-wrote one song), and vocalist Elizabeth Egan Everett (various rock bands and opened for The Cure). Hartley co-produced the album with Michael Stern (he also engineered), who is well-known in Hollywood recording circles for engineering many top TV shows and major films.
He attended Indiana University Southeast in New Albany for two years majoring in piano and classical performance. “I decided I didn't want to only play compositions that were 300 years old. I started getting in to synthesizers and technology, and I began writing my own music.” Hartley switched to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston for three years and got his Bachelors of Music Degree in Music Synthesis. His musical influences at that time were Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Wendy Carlos, Yanni, David Lanz and Michael Jones.
"The most important thing on my Ancestral Crossing album was to take the listener and make them experience a journey. Part of the fun of traveling as well as listening to new music is that you never know what's going to happen next. Thematically the album traces my ancestors' travels from the old world all the way to America and across the continent, which is the heritage of so many Americans because that's the way our country developed. But I also hope the music expresses the more universal feelings of any journey taken.”
Product Description
A celebration of life and adventure. This Celtic inspired instrumental journey features piano, violin, cello, voice, guitar and flute. Everyone has an ancestral heritage rooted deep in the soul. Hartley's new album pay homage to the Crossing so many made long ago.
Ancestral Crossing,Scott Hartley,First Lite Records,New Age / Meditation,Pop
Ancestral Crossing
Average customer rating: 
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Ancestral Crossing
Scott Hartley Manufacturer: First Light Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| New Age
| Styles
| Music
Meditation
| New Age
| Styles
| Music
General
| New Age
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B000059RX7 Release Date: 2001-01-01 |
Tracks:
Product Description
A celebration of life and adventure. This Celtic inspired instrumental journey features piano, violin, cello, voice, guitar and flute. Everyone has an ancestral heritage rooted deep in the soul. Hartley's new album pay homage to the Crossing so many made long ago.Customer Reviews:
An Uplifting Journey.......2003-01-21
Excellent Achievement.......2001-03-22
Beauty And Power.......2001-02-03
Pop Music:
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