Riverdance: Music from the Show [Special Edition]

1. Riverdance
Composed by Bill Whelan
Performed by The Riverdance Orchestra with Declan Masterson, Robbie Harris, Bill Whelan, Davy Spillane, Rafael Riqueni, Kenneth Edge, Desi Reynolds, Ronan Browne, David Hayes, Brian Dunphy, The Riverdance Singers, Eoghan O'Neill, Lynn Hilary, Mairtin O'Connor, Juan Reina Gonzalez, Nikola Parov, Michael Samuels, Noel Eccles, Eileen Ivers, Tommy Hayes, Maire Breatnach, Des Moore, David Downes
Conducted by Proinnsias O Duinn, Michael McGlynn

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
It's hard to believe that Riverdance, which began as a 7-minute intermission act during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, is already 10 years old. Nobody back then could have imagined that a new-fangled amalgam of Irish folk styles, light classical music a la Albert W. Ketelbey and Tin Pan Alley would top the charts, win a Grammy for Best Musical and go on to take the world by storm. But why re-record Riverdance, which is as deeply associated with its original time and context as Saturday Night Fever is with the 1970s? Yes, the Irish players, all of whom are master instrumentalists, still sound fresh, but the percussive dancing feet, minus visuals, gets old fast. The Macedonian, Spanish and Russian interpolations are great fun if a maybe bit patronizing around the edges. But haven't the misty chorales, New-Age-ridden cloaked-and-hooded sopranos and other portentous Celtic Twilight-isms long since descended into self-parody? --Christina Roden

Tracks:

Reel Around The Sun
The Heart's Cry
The Countess Cathleen/Women Of The Sidhe
Caoineadh Cu Chulainn (Lament)
Shivna
Firedance
Slip Into Spring
Riverdance
American Wake (The Nova Scotia Set)
Lift The Wings
Macedonian Morning
Marta's Dance/The Russian Dervish
Andalucia
Home And The Heartland
The Harvest
Riverdance (Reprise)

Amazon.com

Based on Irish folk dancing styles, Riverdance was originally devised as a 20-minute intermission entertainment for the Eurovision Song Contest. There, its phenomenal reception inspired composer Bill Whelan to expand the piece into a full-length stage show, still centered around Irish music, but now telling a loose story of many different peoples who in the 20th century have found themselves émigrés. The paradoxically formal yet expressive, sensual, and exhilarating energy of traditional Irish dance and Irish folk music is only the beginning. A work full of strong melodies, excitement, romantic dreams, and nostalgic longing, the full Riverdance show is a spellbinding spectacle. Complete with orchestra, Whelan brings influences from Irish classical music, incorporates the haunting sound of vocal group Anuna, and adds the diverse folk sounds of Nova Scotia, Macedonia, Russia, and Andalucia to his rich cultural melting pot. Playing on the album are some of the finest folk musicians around, including piper Davy Spillane and Eileen Ivers on fiddle. The result is not just a tuneful souvenir of a great stage show, but a most enjoyable release in its own right. Whelan also has worked on the Rob Roy soundtrack and composed The Seville Suite and The Spirit of Mayo. --Gary S. Dalkin

Customer Reviews:

A MUST HAVE FOR ALL IRISH!.......2007-04-04

THIS IS A MUST HAVE CD FOR ALL TRUE IRISH BLOODED PEOPLE OUT THERE. THIS IS THE BEST CD YET RIVERDANCE HAS MADE.

Outstanding!!!.......2006-10-14

I have every Riverdance DVD and have watched the live show once. This CD is based on the original production (With Michael Flatley and Jean Butler) and while it might not carry the "excitement" of the original show as others have commented, it is a great way to remember the beautiful music and orchestration when you are not close to a DVD player to enjoy the video production. The unfortunate thing in listening to the "soundtrack" of a live/video production is that separated from its visual context, it can be difficult to understand or appreciate. Riverdance is a visual as well as a sound experience. If you have never watched the show, it would certainly be hard to appreciate the music in this CD. I listen to it frequently and love the music more each time. If you are a Riverdance fan, this CD is a must. It's simply superb.

Disappointment after seeing the show.......2006-03-06

I recently saw the show live & was excited to get the soundtrack. However, as many other reviewers have noted, it was a big disappointment - it doesn't match the charisma of the show. While it does have some great songs on it, you just don't get the feeling you got while actually watching the show, which was a tremendous feeling of excitement & thrill. I must add, I did pick up the 'Lord of Dance' soundtrack & was happily impressed.

Disappointed.......2005-09-29

Not the type of music I had envisioned...much slower than I was hoping for.

Can't get enough of Riverdance!.......2005-07-30

First off, I'm 16 years old. I love music, just about every kind there is. I never cared for Riverdance before until last year when I listened to a song from "Lord of the Dance" completely by accident and then went from there. Now, I completely appreciate it, and I believe it's the best stuff I've ever listened to, and I don't regret it all. It's very refreshing, and it just calms you down, and I swear, some of the songs on here sends shivers down my spine even after listening to it for a good year now. While I don't like every song on the CD like I do with "Lord of the Dance" I still think the music is special and unique in its own way. The music from "Lord of the Dance" is more...alive, but "Riverdance" is good for relieving stress, meditating, or for filling you up with so much emotion it could make you cry. Honestly, it's all great.

If you're not convinced yet, then here's a breakdown by song!
REEL AROUND THE SONG: As one person has already said: PERFECT! This is probably the best on the CD. It's starts a little slow with the flute(but then, you learn to love it, the more you listen to it) and then as it progresses, it gets better and better, and then, even better. So it's perfect in every way. But then, considering the song is almost nine minutes long, it better be good.
THE HEART'S CRY: This is a vocal. Nice song, beautiful lyrics, a voice I could tolerate, and I'm just starting to appreciate vocals.
COUNTESS CATHLEEN/WOMEN OF THE SIDHE: Another personal favorite that's almost perfect. The first is very light and pretty, but I love the second half! Very lively and I actually dance to it.
CAOINEADH CU CHULAINN/LAMENT: This is one of the songs that fills you up with emotion and shivers down your spine. It's a very sad (well, the song's called "Lament"), emotional song, and I still listen to it with fresh ears, and probably always will.
SHIVNA: This is another vocal. The only problem with it, is that it's in another language (I'm guessing Gaelic) so I don't know what the heck they're saying, but that doesn't stop me from loving it. Ironically, it's my favorite vocal on here.
FIREDANCE: A mix of Celtic and Spanish music and the results are pretty good. The end of the song is really the only good part of the song though. The beginning's too slow for me.
SLIP INTO SPRING: Very light and incredibly sweet and one of my favorites.
RIVERDANCE: Another favorite (you're probably getting tired of me saying that),it's true. The lyrics are good, the music's beyond great. You really outdid yourself, Whelan.
AMERICAN WAKE: This song falls in the middle. Starts off a wee bit repetitive, but gets better as it progresses.
LIFT THE WINGS: A vocal. Well, the music in the beginning was great. But I just can't get into the song. I think it's the voice that drives me away. Good lyrics though.
MACEDONIAN MORNING: Blah. That's the only word I can use to describe this song. This song can't move me at all. It doesn't go anywhere, it's tiring and dull and flat, and it wouldn't harm the CD if they took this song out.
MARTA'S DANCE/THE RUSSIAN DERVISH: Another (you guessed it!) favorite. It's a mix of Celtic and Russian music, and yes it is a little too repetitive and long, but it's still good and the last two minutes of the song is my favorite part.
ANDALUCIA: I enjoy this song from time to time, it's good, just not as memorable as the other songs.
HOME AND THE HEARTLAND: This song's altogether cute. The lyrics and the music are cute, and the voice that sings it is so tender and beautiful. My second favorite vocal.
HARVEST: Lovely song, falls in the middle and there's some parts that I especially love.
RIVERDANCE (REPRISE): Uh,good, but I'll stick with original.

I don't regret buying this CD at all and I'm sure you'll love this as much as I do. There will be at least one song on here you'll like if not all. If you love emotion and beauty, and you're passionate about music, then you'll love this.

Average customer rating:

Dancing Feet
What???

Riverdance: Music from the Show

Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0007KIGJK
Release Date: 2005-03-08

Tracks:

Reel Around The Sun
The Heart's Cry
The Countess Cathleen/Women Of The Sidhe
Caoineadh Cu Chulainn (Lament)
Shivna
Firedance
Slip Into Spring/The Harvest
Riverdance
American Wake (The Nova Scotia Set)
Lift The Wings
Heal Their Hearts/Freedom
Macedonian Morning
Marta's Dance/The Russian Dervish
Andalucia
Riverdance Reprise

Amazon.com

It's hard to believe that Riverdance, which began as a 7-minute intermission act during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, is already 10 years old. Nobody back then could have imagined that a new-fangled amalgam of Irish folk styles, light classical music a la Albert W. Ketelbey and Tin Pan Alley would top the charts, win a Grammy for Best Musical and go on to take the world by storm. But why re-record Riverdance, which is as deeply associated with its original time and context as Saturday Night Fever is with the 1970s? Yes, the Irish players, all of whom are master instrumentalists, still sound fresh, but the percussive dancing feet, minus visuals, gets old fast. The Macedonian, Spanish and Russian interpolations are great fun if a maybe bit patronizing around the edges. But haven't the misty chorales, New-Age-ridden cloaked-and-hooded sopranos and other portentous Celtic Twilight-isms long since descended into self-parody? --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews:

Dancing Feet.......2007-01-10

Being of Irish descent this is the best collection of Irish music ever. I listen to this CD when I am working out -- it will get your feet moving no matter how you feel.

What???.......2006-11-08

Ok, that was the worst editorial review I have ever seen.... she just totally knocked celtic culture, and one of the best celtic recordings in one condecending swoop. When she can dance like that, then let her critique.