The Celtic Harp

On this CD:

1. MacAllistrum's March (Máirseail Alasdroim)
Composed by Celtic Traditional
with Belfast Harp Orchestra, Chieftains

2. Work(s) Tribute to Bunting, medley
Composed by Irish Traditional
with Chieftains

3. Work(s) The Parting of Friends / Kerry Fling
Composed by Irish Traditional
with Chieftains, Matt Malloy

4. Planxty Bunting
Composed by Paddy Moloney
with Belfast Harp Orchestra, Chieftains

5. Mrs. (Madame) Cole
Composed by Turlough O'Carolan
with Derek Bell, Chieftains

6. The Blackbird
Composed by Irish Traditional
with Chieftains

7. Táimse 'im Chodladh (I am asleep and don't waken me)
Composed by Irish Traditional
with Paddy Moloney, Chieftains

8. Sonny Brogan's Mazurkas
Composed by Anonymous
with Belfast Harp Orchestra, Chieftains

9. The Wild Geese
Composed by Irish Traditional
with Chieftains

10. The Green Fields of America (or Canada)
Composed by Irish Anonymous
with Kevin Conneff, Chieftains

11. Carolan's Concerto (aka "Mrs. Power," from Edward Bunting's Ancient Music of Ireland)
Composed by Turlough O'Carolan
Performed by Belfast Harp Orchestra with Chieftains

12. The Lament for Limerick (Limerick's Lamentation)
Composed by Irish Anonymous
Performed by Belfast Harp Orchestra with Chieftains

The Celtic Harp: A Tribute to Edward Bunting with the Belfast Harp Orchestra,Anonymous,Irish Anonymous,Paddy Moloney,Turlough O'Carolan,Celtic Traditional,Irish Traditional,The Belfast Harp Orchestra,The Chieftains,Matt Malloy,Derek Bell,Kevin Conneff,RCA,Band,Band Music,British Folk,Celtic Folk,Celtic/Irish,Chamber,Chamber Music,Concerto,Contemporary Celtic,Int'l & World Music,Ireland,Irish,Irish Folk,Miscellaneous,Miscellaneous Music,Pop,Traditional Celtic,Traditional Irish Folk,Vocal,Vocal Music,World Music
The Tranquil Harp: Improvisations for Relaxation, Meditation, Integration
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Healing music
  • Tranquil harp for babies
  • Soothing the Mind
  • My Heartfelt Review for "The Tranquil Harp"
  • Not sure I agree with the across the board 5 stars
The Tranquil Harp: Improvisations for Relaxation, Meditation, Integration
Paul Baker
Manufacturer: Vocal Integration Concepts
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The Ladder of the Soul - Improvisations for Relaxation, Meditation, & Integration
  2. The Healer's Way: soothing music for those in pain, Vol. I
  3. Healing from the harp
  4. Music for Solo Harp
  5. The Harmonious Harp

ASIN: B00002CFAR
Release Date: 1999-09-19

Tracks:

  1. Ruby
  2. Carnelian
  3. Citrine
  4. Aventurine
  5. Azurite
  6. Amethyst
  7. Quartz
  8. Synthesis

Album Description

The Tranquil Harp consists of eight Celtic harp improvisations for relaxation, meditation and integration. The music was improvised, and recorded live in a concert hall without any added reverb or effects. Each track is in a different key, correlating with the frequencies of color and the energetic centers of the body. The pure harmonically rich harp sounds played at a slow regular pulse encourage alpha wave activity in the brain, resulting in greater relaxation, clarity, focus and concentration. Practical exercises are suggested for each improvisation to assist in physical, mental, emotional and spiritual integration. These improvisations were created on a Dusty Strings FH-36B Celtic harp made in Seattle, Washington.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Healing music.......2007-02-22

Whether lying in bed and reading, driving my car in stressful moments, or just relaxing, the Tranquil Harp provides a wall of wonderful sound that can soothe and center me. Paul Baker has a tender touch, and his improvisational style is beyond compare.

5 out of 5 stars Tranquil harp for babies.......2006-03-21

Paul Baker's improvisations are inspired and beautiful. We use his recordings with high-risk premature babies at the local hospital, with outstanding results. The babies are soothed by the stabilizing tone and rhythms, relaxing their heartrates and improving their overall condition. I have started giving this recording to new parents as a baby gift. I use it myself on stressful days. Thank you Paul!

5 out of 5 stars Soothing the Mind.......2006-03-20

I love this CD and the "Ladder of the Soul". Beautiful composition. What a way to escape.

5 out of 5 stars My Heartfelt Review for "The Tranquil Harp".......2004-05-23

I am continually amazed by the healing power of music. Especially harp music. As those who know me know, my healing from a debilitating stroke came about in large part due to the improvisational healing harp of one man: Paul Baker.

Mr. Baker is such a talented person. He could have chosen to record albums using his vast knowledge and technique on the large and impressive concert harp, piano, or organ. However, for posterity, he chose to record improvisations for healing on the smaller and more personal celtic harp.

How does one capture the essence of such music in words? His two albums, "The Tranquil Harp" and "The Ladder of the Soul" are groundbreaking in their simplicity and breadth. And each one has its own unique place in my life.

"The Tranquil Harp" helped me most in my physical healing. Its music is very basic, simple, and gentle. It has brought, and continues to bring, growth and strength to every part of my physical being. To play it is to bathe in regeneration and light.

"The Ladder of the Soul" continues this healing on the emotional and spiritual planes. It connects our essence to the divine in such a way that we emerge purer and more aware of our true being and purpose in this life. This is real health. Divine health. What a gift to be brought to us by one man. This album is so aptly named as it proves that the harp truly is "the ladder between earth and heaven," connecting us to the divine safely and lovingly.

Thank you, Mr. Baker, for sharing yourself in such a way that allows all of us to unfold in ourselves and in the world with true happiness and peace.

3 out of 5 stars Not sure I agree with the across the board 5 stars.......2004-05-12

I have several meditation CDs including some other ones that use harp music. I found this CD to be uninspired. The music is soothing in a boring way. It certainly is not my favorite. I personally like the 4 CD Global Meditation series put out by the Rainforest Alliance the best.
Prayer: A Windham Hill Collection
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Music for Meditation
  • Be Thou My Vision
  • Reverent, beautiful
Prayer: A Windham Hill Collection

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Adagio: A Windham Hill Collection
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  5. Touch-Windham Hill 25 Years of Guitar

ASIN: B0000AM6L0
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

  1. Sanctus from Requiem (Gabriel Faur-Tim Story piano, synthesizers
  2. The 23rd Psalm (Condit Atkinson) - Steve Erquiaga guitar
  3. Be Thou My Vision (Irish trad.) - Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning with John Fitzpatrick
  4. Holy, Holy, Holy (trad.) - Jim Brickman piano
  5. The Lords Prayer (Albert Hay Malotte) - Paul McCandless English horn, keyboards
  6. Alisas Prayer (Deborah Henson-Conant) - Deborah Henson-Conant electric Celtic harp
  7. Meditation (Thea Suits) - Thea Suits flute
  8. Ave Maria (J.S. Bach/Gounod) - Steve Erquiaga guitar
  9. Go Gently (Suzanne Ciani & Jeremy Lubbock) - Suzanne Ciani piano
  10. Offering (Tracy Silverman) - Tracy Silverman & Thea Suits
  11. Spanish Stairs (Paul McCandless) - Rosalba Bentivoglio voice
  12. Ave Verum Corpus (W.A. Mozart) - Philip Aaberg solo piano

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Music for Meditation.......2007-01-04

This is a delightful collection of music appropriate to meditative prayer. It is often my prayer companion, and I like the style and performance found on this CD. I highly recommend it to people who enjoy deeper reflection with a wordless musical background.

4 out of 5 stars Be Thou My Vision.......2005-10-19

Track 3, Be Thou My Vision, was a surprise as the song was the final song played at my father's funeral. It set the closing mood most fittingly. While Be Thou My Vision is my favorite the entire collection is wonderfully mellow. I recommend it for for the mellow moods.

4 out of 5 stars Reverent, beautiful.......2003-09-21

After criticizing Windham Hill in the past for often recycling the same songs over and over in various collections, I have to hand it to them with the new "Prayer" CD. It's a fine set of all-new acoustic versions of hymns or spiritual songs, plus a good number of original compositions. Producer Dawn Atkinson has done an excellent job of lining up a bunch of top-drawer people for "Prayer," and in working with the artists on the song selection.

Things get started with Tim Story's lovely piano rendition of the "Sanctus" from Faure's Requiem. The quiet and reflective tone of that piece carries throughout the CD. Other highlights include Paul McCandless's moving "Lord's Prayer" version and Steve Erquiaga's "Ave Maria." "Prayer" is a perfect disc for background listening if you're engaged in some activity that needs harmonious yet unobtrusive accompaniment.
Further Down the Old Plank Road
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Great second set of roots music from "The Plank Road Sessions"
  • Chieftains Merge Irish & Bluegrass Influences
  • Way Down The Old Plank Road
  • further is better
  • The Chieftains turn out another winner
Further Down the Old Plank Road
The Chieftains
Manufacturer: RCA Victor
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  2. Another Country
  3. The Wide World Over: A 40 Year Celebration
  4. Water From the Well
  5. Tears Of Stone

ASIN: B0000ABGD3
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

  1. The Raggle Taggle Gypsy
  2. Jordan Is A Hard Road To Travel
  3. Hick's Farewell
  4. Shady Grove
  5. The Girl I Left Behind
  6. Rosc Catha Na Nuimhain/Arkansas Traveller/The Wild Irishman
  7. Lambs In The Greenfield
  8. The Moonshiner/I'm A Gambler I'm a Rambler
  9. Wild Mountain Thyme
  10. Chief O'Neill's Hornpipe
  11. Bandit Of Love/The Cheatin' Waltz
  12. The Squid Jiggin' Ground/Larry O'Gaff
  13. Three Little Babies
  14. Fisherman's Hornpipe/The Devil's Dream
  15. Talk About Suffering/Man Of The House
  16. The Lily Of The West

Amazon.com

As on Another Country (1992) and The Old Plank Road (2002), the venerable Irish acoustic band celebrates the shared sources of Celtic music and America's Appalachian folk/old-timey/bluegrass canon. That several of the guest players are veterans of all three sets lends a note of continuity to the palpable joy of discovery that fairly leaps from every track. Highlights are non-stop, but Allison Moorer's doom-laden vocal on "Hick's Farewell" raises goose-flesh, as does Emmylou Harris' "Lambs In The Greenfield," while Don Williams' treatment of an old Scottish ballad, "Wild Mountain Thyme," reveals a sturdy, unsentimental masculinity. The Chieftains are generous hosts throughout, often taking a back seat so their collaborators may shine. A poignant note: harpist and multi-instrumentalist Derek Bell, a longtime Chieftains member, died just after the Plank Road sessions were completed. That these were destined to be among his final recordings makes them all the more worthy of treasuring. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great second set of roots music from "The Plank Road Sessions".......2006-04-17

Here we go again. This time around, I think the CD is highlighted by one of country's greatest living legends and one of bluegrass music's greatest young acts. That would be "Wild Mountain Thyme" by gentleman Don Williams and "The Raggle Taggle Gypsy" by Nickel Creek. There are some great pipe tunes on this one as well. Once again we have some themes which seem to exude Appalachia whereas others have a "Northerly" feel. Highly recommended.

4 out of 5 stars Chieftains Merge Irish & Bluegrass Influences.......2005-03-22

This follow-up to 2002's DOWN THE OLD PLANK ROAD doesn't deviate from that album's successful formula of combining traditional Irish music with bluegrass and old timey country music.

Highlights include Tim O'Brien's foot-stomping rendition of "Shady Grove, John Prine's plaintive "The Girl I Left Behind," Ricky Skaggs' "Talk About Suffering/Man of the House" and Nickel Creek's performance of the centuries' old "Raggle Taggle Gypsy."

Several of these songs were not originally recorded for this album. "Fishmerman's Hornpipe/The Devil's Dream," which features the lightning fingers of Doc Watson, was recorded in 1980-81. Four other tracks (9-12) were recorded in 1992, presumably during the sessions for the 1992 release ANOTHER COUNTRY.

Overall, this is a thoroughly satisfying album from Ireland's best ambassadors of Irish music. [Running time 55:06] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

5 out of 5 stars Way Down The Old Plank Road.......2003-12-09

Both "Plank Road" CDs are great for fans of Irish/Old Time/Country music.
Highlights on this one, for me, include John Hiatt's version of the Uncle Dave Macon song Jordan is a Hard Road, and Doc Watson with the Chieftains.
The Nickle Creek version of Raggle Tagle Gypsy doesn't do it for me -- I've been spoiled by listening to the Planxty version for years.
All in all a great listen, with an interesting historical connection.

5 out of 5 stars further is better.......2003-10-01

I found the first cd by the chieftains recorded in Nashville to lack a cohesiveness. It also, in my opinion, suffered from the excess of having a 10+ minute instrumental song at the end that seemed to drone on and on. This one "works" better for me and is entertaining and enjoyable from start to finish. An excellent variety of collaborating artists with everything from the country baritone of Don Williams to the beautiful vocal instrument of Emmylou Harris's voice. Highly recommended for Chieftain and country (real country) music fans alike.

I was surprised that there was no mention of the passing of Derek Bell in the liner notes of the cd. Perhaps a tribute to him will be made in an upcoming cd.

5 out of 5 stars The Chieftains turn out another winner.......2003-09-21

Well, it looks like those old Irish rogues The Chieftains have managed to do it again - take two different but interrelated musical styles, find the best performers in the genre, and pair them up with their group to create a unique and oftentimes brilliant sound. With this take we return to the connection between Irish traditional and American country and bluegrass music, just like their last album, "Down the Old Plank Road" was - in fact, "Further Down the Old Plank Road" is the recording sessions they didn't have room to cram into the first one. And while with some other artists this would seem like an attempt to make money off of work they'd already done, in this case the work is just as high in quality as the first album was, therefore earning itself the merit of being well worth the surprisingly modest price tag.
This album has a wide variety of both Irish and American pieces on it, opening with the old standard "The Raggle Taggle Gypsy", performed with Nickel Creek to stunning results. Next comes the American folk song "Jordan is a Hard Road to Travel" with John Hiatt, and if it weren't for Hiatt's superbly raspy old-time voice this would pass as a traditional dance from back over on the Emerald Isle. Following this upbeat tune comes a mournful Southern song with Allison Moorer, the solemn "Hick's Farewell", her voice backed quietly by Paddy and his boys and attended to by the sorrowful wailing of Matt Molloy's flute. "Shady Grove" with Tim O'Brien has lyrics that are very American in nature but a tune that, like much of the material on this album, could have come right out of Ireland itself.
The incomparable John Prine accompanies The Chieftains on "The Girl I Left Behind", employing his once-twangy but now warmer and deeper voice to a song that sounds like a lot of his other work - not a bad thing, mind you. The following set with Jerry Douglas contains the Irish tunes "Rosc Catha Na Mumhain" and "The Wild Irishman", both played superbly, as well as an unexpected treat - "The Arkansas Traveler", undoubtedly one of the best-known old-time folk songs that transforms the track from a set of Celtic tunes to a sort of Irish hoedown, as the liner notes put it. After that comes a superbly sad/sweet Irish song, "Lambs in the Greenfield", played with a past Chieftains collaborator Emmylou Harris, to lovely results. In the space of Band 8 Joe Ely shows up with his roguishly rambling voice, singing two tunes that suit his demeanor well - "The Moonshiner" and "I'm a Rambler".
Country legend Don Williams turns up on this album to sing that beautiful old Irish ballad, "Wild Mountain Thyme" with his virtually-trademark deep country voice that gives the classic air a new dimension. Chet Atkins plays on "Chief O'Neill's Hornpipe", which if memory serves was actually recorded back on The Chieftains' first bluegrass/country endeavor, "Another Country", and could be considered the single cheap shot on the album, even though the collaboration is still very high quality. Band 11 contains Carlene Carter's "Bandit of Love" from 1980, sung by the composer and The Chieftains' own "The Cheatin' Waltz", the former taking up a much longer time slot than the latter. The famous Nitty Gritty Dirt Band gives a spirited performance of "The Squid-Jiggin' Ground", a lively little song rather peculiar in subject but catchy in tune, its words having been set to the Irish Larry O'Gaff's Jig by immigrants to Newfoundland, Canada.
Patty Loveless delivers a wailing rendition of "Three Little Babes", an anguish-filled variant of an old English air sung in the Appalachian Mountains. On track 14 Doc Watson plays a sprightly hornpipe popular on both sides of the Atlantic, "The Fisherman's Hornpipe", followed by another famous tune, "Devil's Dream." Long-time friend of The Chieftains Ricky Skaggs lays down another soulful Southern song, "Talk About Sufferin'", written in the gospel singing tradition of the American southeast. The final tune, "The Lily of the West", has been sung by The Chieftains on a past album, "The Long Black Veil", in collaboration with Mark Knopfler. But sung here to a different tune with somewhat altered lyrics by Rosanne Cash, Johnny "The Man in Black" Cash's daughter, the song takes on an entirely different feel, to my ears less appealing than Knopfler's rendition but still enjoyable.
All in all, "Further Down the Old Plank Road" is anything but an attempt to administer one last whack to a long-dead horse, to paraphrase the liner notes of "Water from the Well" (also a great album). Even though American music is the predominate style on the album, it's still a real treat for Chieftains fans and a great listen for any fan of traditional Irish, bluegrass, or country music, or any of the performers above for that matter. Highly recommended!
Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Wolcum Yule
  • lovely and unusual Yule album
  • Goose Flesh!
Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King
John Tavener , Richard Rodney Bennett , Peter Maxwell Davies , Geoffrey Burgon , Henry VIII , Benjamin Britten , Anonymous 4 , and Andrew Lawrence-King
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. American Angels
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ASIN: B0000AZKK4
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

  1. Awake, And Join The Cheerful Choir
  2. Good People All
  3. The Seven Rejoices Of Mary
  4. The Lamb
  5. A Scots Lilt
  6. Balulalow
  7. Balulalow
  8. The Holly And The Ivy
  9. The Reel Of Tullochgorum
  10. I Saw Three Ships
  11. A Calendar Of Kings
  12. Air: La Fuar Geimhreadh
  13. An Teicheadh Go Heigipt
  14. A God, And Yet A Man?
  15. Grene Growith The Holy
  16. Wel, Dyma'r Borau Gorau
  17. The Cherry Tree Carol
  18. Can Wassel
  19. A New Year Carol

Amazon.com

This offbeat disc of seasonal songs and carols by the Anonymous 4 will delight their fans and please everyone else. The 19 selections include traditional folk melodies and texts, some of which date back to the Middle Ages, interspersed with fitting selections by contemporary composers including John Taverner, Benjamin Britten, and Peter Maxwell Davies, whose ethereal a cappella A Calender of Kings gets its first recording. Andrew Lawrence-King, playing Irish harp, Baroque harp, and psaltery with his accustomed finesse, is a major reason for the disc's success, accompanying most of the vocals and contributing three lovely solos. The disc is crammed with highlight tracks, like the lilting Cornish Wassail song and the Irish Good people all, and haunting numbers like "Flight into Egypt," sung in Gaelic, and "Behold, here is the best morning," sung in Welsh. Excellent sonics and Harmonia Mundi's typically fine production values also help make this a Christmas disc that will give joy in July. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Wolcum Yule.......2006-01-17

The recording is fine . . . it just didn't appeal to me personally

5 out of 5 stars lovely and unusual Yule album.......2004-01-06

Anonymous 4 has brought us a beautiful selection of 19 traditional songs from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. These include a lesser known work by Henry VIII as well as more contemporary songs by John Tavener, Richard Bennett, Geoffrey Burgon and Benjamin Britten, and a piece commissioned for the group from Peter Davies. Andrew Lawrence-King accompanies on Irish harp, Baroque harp and psaltery. There is a short essay on the traditions and legacy of the concept of Yule, a Cetic midwinter celebration, and this and the informative liner notes are given in English, French and German, accompanied by Celtic drawings.

The songs are pure, simple and very beautiful -- a welcome addition to your holiday listening.

5 out of 5 stars Goose Flesh!.......2003-12-09

This is a remarkable quartet, singing with purity and style, from the haunting to the merry, medieval chant to modern settings of Celtic religious texts. Where there are arrangements, they are lovely and the instrumental pieces are simple and beautiful. This is the first time I have heard this group of women, and I am enchanted. It's a cappella at its very best: look to your laurels, King's Singers and Chanticleer, here come the ladies!
The Mystic Harp
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Most soothing music ever
  • "The silence must be heard"
  • Excellent vocals.
  • Superb!
  • soothing music that delights your soul.
The Mystic Harp
Derek Bell
Manufacturer: Clarity Snd & Light
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Irish FolkIrish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Mystic Harp, Vol. 2
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  3. The Healer's Way: soothing music for those in pain, Vol. I
  4. Celtic Harp 1: Music of Turlough O'Carolan
  5. The Harmonious Harp

ASIN: B000003LVR
Release Date: 1996-01-01

Tracks:

  1. Celtic Moonrise
  2. New Dawn-featuring Alasdair Fraser on violin
  3. The Hill that Was Tara
  4. Dublin Town
  5. Playboy of the Western World
  6. Irish Lullaby
  7. Desdemona's Song
  8. Maurya's Lament
  9. Mukunda
  10. Parade
  11. Memories of That Isle
  12. Ancient Memories
  13. Deirdre's Sorrows
  14. Mist
  15. Daughter of Aran
  16. Homeward Bound
  17. Lift Your Heart in Strength
  18. Woodland Devas
  19. Emerald Isle

Album Description

Derek Bell, of the Chieftains,, captures the haunting, mystical quality of traditional Celtic music on this solo album of original melodies by Donald Walters.

Derek has played harp for 23 years with five-time Grammy Award-winning group, The Chieftains--Ireland's best-known interpreters of traditional Celtic music. Classically trained, Bell joined the group in 1972, after a distinguished career as a harpist with the Northern Ireland BBC Orchestra, and as a professor of harp and Irish harps at the Belfast Academy of Music.

For thirty-one years, The Chieftains have been the most influential of the Irish folk musicians, credited with doing more to spread the appreciation of traditional Irish music than any other group in Ireland's history. Bell, a resident of Northern Ireland, has several solo albums to his credit. He has composed three piano sonatas and Symphony in E-flat for orchestra, and is the recipient of the Manns Prize from the Royal College of Music

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Most soothing music ever.......2003-12-07

It is soothing, relaxing, regenerating collection of Music I have found. I can read while listening to this CD, I often go to sleep with the music.
I so wanted to hear Derek Bell when he was alive. The sorrow of the Chieftains is very evident. He was a good and great person in life as well as music. I found harp music too late, but we can all still enjoy Derek Bell's music.

5 out of 5 stars "The silence must be heard".......2002-07-23

This artist will open a new chapter in your life. I reach for this CD after a long day at the office. The music is a blend of classical, new age. Deeply moving, these songs give you a moment to reflect on love and to explore your inner self. If you play piano, this is a worthy investment. Let "Mystic Harp", melt your stress, and be lifted instantly.

4 out of 5 stars Excellent vocals........2000-06-18

Some of the best vocals of any recording. Mystic Harp has a pleasent beat, but it is the powerful vocals that seperate it from similar recordings.

5 out of 5 stars Superb!.......1999-04-06

Excellen Celtic harp. And not just harp, but other instruments as well. 19 cuts, lotsa music. Highly recommended. I ordered the second album too.

5 out of 5 stars soothing music that delights your soul........1999-01-12

What a treat you have in store for you--almost music to "die for" in the sense that you'd want this playing if you ever are down and out and want something to connect deeply to that place of goodness, quiet, calmness inside of you. This album celebrates the spirit and Donald Walters, who I met some 20 years ago at Ananda is a spiritual genius and he sings one song on this album too! This is an A+ album all the way and I'm buying it for numerous friends.
The Ladder of the Soul - Improvisations for Relaxation, Meditation, & Integration
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Centering and healing
  • Time for Ladder of the Soul #2
  • beautiful music, beautifully played
  • My Heartfelt Review for "The Ladder of the Soul"
  • The Most Beautiful Music
The Ladder of the Soul - Improvisations for Relaxation, Meditation, & Integration
Paul Baker
Manufacturer: Vocal Integration Concepts
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Celtic New AgeCeltic New Age | New Age | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
MeditationMeditation | New Age | Styles | Music
RelaxationRelaxation | New Age | Styles | Music
New AgeNew Age | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
FusionFusion | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The Tranquil Harp: Improvisations for Relaxation, Meditation, Integration
  2. The Healer's Way: soothing music for those in pain, Vol. I
  3. Healing from the harp
  4. The Healers Way: Calming Music For Anxiety Vol. II
  5. Harp Of The Healing Light

ASIN: B00005MCVL
Release Date: 2001-06-15

Tracks:

  1. Awakening
  2. Acceptance
  3. Understanding
  4. Compassion
  5. Forgiveness
  6. Loving
  7. Grace
  8. Transcendence

Album Description

Peaceful relaxation and meditation music performed on the Celtic harp by master harpist Paul Baker. Following in the tradition of “The Tranquil Harp”, “The Ladder of the Soul” presents eight improvisations in keys corresponding to the energy centers of the body. The improvisations are designed to ground your body, open and tune your mind, balance your emotions and soothe your spirit. The pure and ancient sound of the harp, sometimes called “the ladder between earth and heaven”, is ideal for relaxation, meditation and integration. Each track is provided with a suggested meditation.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Centering and healing.......2007-02-22

This healing music can be used with babies, little children, and testy adults! Paul Baker's unique inovative style provides wonderful, soothing sounds that can be used for meditation or to create a quiet space.

5 out of 5 stars Time for Ladder of the Soul #2.......2006-04-11

Beautiful throughout. Mr. Baker, your music is wonderful. I feel totally peaceful while stretching the morning. It' time for another masterpiece.

5 out of 5 stars beautiful music, beautifully played.......2005-03-30

Lovely music, not only played with great skill by Paul Baker, but also music whose heart and sincerity of compassion shines through. Not overly simplistic like some massage music, but rather with real musical interest and beauty.

5 out of 5 stars My Heartfelt Review for "The Ladder of the Soul".......2004-05-23

I am continually amazed by the healing power of music. Especially harp music. As those who know me know, my healing from a debilitating stroke came about in large part due to the improvisational healing harp of one man: Paul Baker.

Mr. Baker is such a talented person. He could have chosen to record albums using his vast knowledge and technique on the large and impressive concert harp, piano, or organ. However, for posterity, he chose to record improvisations for healing on the smaller and more personal celtic harp.

How does one capture the essence of such music in words? His two albums, "The Tranquil Harp" and "The Ladder of the Soul" are groundbreaking in their simplicity and breadth. And each one has its own unique place in my life.

"The Tranquil Harp" helped me most in my physical healing. Its music is very basic, simple, and gentle. It has brought, and continues to bring, growth and strength to every part of my physical being. To play it is to bathe in regeneration and light.

"The Ladder of the Soul" continues this healing on the emotional and spiritual planes. It connects our essence to the divine in such a way that we emerge purer and more aware of our true being and purpose in this life. This is real health. Divine health. What a gift to be brought to us by one man. This album is so aptly named as it proves that the harp truly is "the ladder between earth and heaven," connecting us to the divine safely and lovingly.

Thank you, Mr. Baker, for sharing yourself in such a way that allows all of us to unfold in ourselves and in the world with true happiness and peace.

5 out of 5 stars The Most Beautiful Music.......2002-03-19

The Ladder of the Soul has become my favorite CD of all, and with good reason. I love this CD! It`s the most beautiful relaxing music I have ever listened to. If you have a stressful job or just want to unwind this is the CD for you. A cup of tea with Paul Baker is a peaceful way to end any day.
Renaissance of the Celtic Harp
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Great music, and this coming from someone not in to Celtic music
  • Soundtrack for your dreams!
Renaissance of the Celtic Harp
Alan Stivell
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Irish FolkIrish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Celtic FolkCeltic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Traditional FolkTraditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Traditional Jazz GeneralTraditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music
Celtic New AgeCeltic New Age | New Age | Styles | Music
Rounder RecordsRounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Master Serie
  2. Beyond Words (Au-Dela Des Mots)
  3. Harpes Du Nouvel Age
  4. Symphonie Celtique
  5. 1 Douar

ASIN: B000000338
Release Date: 1994-05-02

Tracks:

  1. Ys
  2. Marv Pontkellec
  3. Ap Huw And Penllyn
  4. Eliz Iza
  5. Gaeltacht

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great music, and this coming from someone not in to Celtic music.......2005-11-30

Renaissance of the Celtic Harp was my first try at Alan Stivell, one of the big names of Celtic music from Brittany in France, the area where the language and culture is Breton, in which the language is Celtic, unlike French which is a Romance tongue. I am not familiar with Breton folk music, but from my understanding is this album contains Breton, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Manx styles. Since that time, I also acquired Chemins de Terre (1973) (actually the German LP version called Attention!), 'Roak Dilestra (Before Landing) (1977), Journée à la Maison (1978) and Celtic Symphonie (1980), and they all are quite varied, from the folk-rock of Chemins de Terres to the more proggy (but without forsaking his Celtic roots) Before Landing to the more mellow Journée à la Maison to the highly ambitious symphonic style of Celtic Symphony (no surprise the style given the album title).

What I understand of Alan Stivell is he helped launch the careers of Malicorne (Gabriel Yacoub played with Stivell up until 1973's Chemins de Terre) and Dan Ar Bras (who would eventually become a member of Fairport Convention, one of the biggest and most important British folk/rock groups).

Renaissance of the Celtic Harp aka Renaissance de la Harpe Celtique was released in 1971 as the followup to Reflets (1970) and unsurprisingly (as the title suggest) the Celtic harp is the most dominant instrument, although some tabla, bass guitar, drums, fiddle, and bagpipes are used, even a little orchestra and choir used on one cut. Unlike Reflets, or most of his other albums, this one is all-instrumental. The original cover was more psychedelic, with the harp clearly shown. That was the harp that Alan's father made and gave to him as a child. The Rounder reissue shows an older Alan Stivell with a different harp (not the one seen on the original pressing).

I am not a fan of Celtic music, I tend to prefer prog rock, and Alan Stivell is one of the few Celtic musicians that's of interest to prog rock fans. Strangely a lot of this album reminds me of the more acoustic moments of Anthony Phillips (like what you hear on The Geese & The Ghost) or Trespass-era Genesis (when he was still in that group) during that album's more pastoral moments, without the rock influence of that group, and (unsurprisingly) a stronger Celtic feel. His music is often of interest to progressive rock fans, because he often had a progressive attitude towards Celtic music, that's something Irish groups generally didn't do (with the possible exception of Horslips). Perhaps it's because France was more prog friendly than Ireland (France, after all, did give us groups like Ange, Pulsar, Magma, Gong, Atoll, etc.).

Renaissance of the Celtic Harp starts with "Ys" which is a collection of different Breton harp songs, with the sounds of the ocean seguing the songs. The album tells the story of the town of "Ys" in Armorica which was destroyed by the ocean due to the sins of the local townsfolk (it sounds a whole lot like a Celtic version of Atlantis). Much of the rest of the first half of the album also consists of more Breton material. The big exception being "Ap Huw/Penllyn", which are Welsh songs. The second half contains the side-length "Gaeltacht", which really is a collection of various songs, including some jigs and reels from the Gaelic speaking regions, that is Irish, Scots, and even Manx.

Renaissance of the Celtic Harp tends to have a more somber mood, and the use of electric guitar from Dan ar Bras is pretty limited here. On Alan's more rock-oriented albums like Chemins de Terre or Before Landing, Dan really gets to show what he's made of.

Alan Stivell really is a pan-Celtic musician, he realized that if he concentrated solely on Breton material, he probably would not have gone as far. Of course he's done other things than cover traditional Celtic material, like the Before Landing album, which was all self-penned, or the occasional cover of a non-Celtic folk song, like "The Trees They Do Grow High" (yes, the Pentangle did their version of off their album Sweet Child) which was an English folk song (but remember: English folk music often gets put in the Celtic category, probably due to musical similarities, and sharing a similar geographical location, but England and English culture is not Celtic). Or Celtic Symphony where it's really difficult where he gets all the ideas, since so much is going on on that album. Plus I haven't heard everything from him, and I'm certain he probably had a dry spell (releasing albums not worth listening to).

Truly a wonderful album to have if you enjoy Celtic music (and even someone like me who isn't in to Celtic music).

5 out of 5 stars Soundtrack for your dreams!.......2003-10-06

On one of my trips to Japan I had the pleasure of listening to a harp being played by a beautiful young lady with no accompanying instruments (solo) from few feet away. It was Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", a composition very popular with the Japanese. Knowing what a harp sounds like in its pure form and in reality even though it was not the Celtic harp, I'd say that the natural ambience and delicate sound of the harp is captured on this album very beautifully. Recording a solo harp is one of the most daunting tasks for any recording engineer. On the other hand, getting the audio system to reproduce the sound of harp faithfully is equally frustrating. If you need to perform maintenance of your system, a harp is an instrument of choice for finding out which screws need to be tightened! You will be surprised how many of them are loose once the harp starts to resonate. On equipment capable of bringing out the last ounce of detail, a very slight hiss can be noticed, only on certain very quite passages where the harp is the only instrument playing, that too if heard very, very carefully. I personally did not find it disturbing in any way whatsoever and I am sure most would not even notice it. At times, if you are really engrossed, the sound of the harp will be like a breath of fresh air.

I have five Alan Stivell albums in my collection and if I were asked to recommend another album of Alan Stivell to complement "Renaissance of the Celtic Harp", it would be "Harp of the New Age", recorded and mastered in digital domain. This album is actually a sequel to "Renaissance....." and is a solo effort by Alan Stivell, which also features the newer electro-acoustic harps built by him. You can actually revitalise your soul by sprinkling some of the music from this album.

On several occasions I have come across websites featuring graphics where angels are depicted playing the harp in heavenly surroundings. Could it be that the angels, from amongst all the known instruments, prefer the harp? Well, we may never know. Nevertheless, harp is an instrument that at times, I believe, is featured in one's dreams. "Renaissance of the Celtic Harp" is perfectly suited to be the soundtrack of your dreams.
Deep Within a Faerie Forest
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Disappointed
  • Spellbinding
  • The fairies are closer than ever now
  • Brilliant.
  • ANOTHER GREAT ALBUM!
Deep Within a Faerie Forest
Gary Stadler & Wendy Rule
Manufacturer: Sequoia Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
MeditationMeditation | New Age | Styles | Music
ElectronicElectronic | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Reflections of Faerie
  2. Fairy Night Songs
  3. Fairy Heart Magic
  4. Fairy Lullabies
  5. Fairy of the Woods

ASIN: B0002SPPP0
Release Date: 2004-08-17

Tracks:

  1. Invocation
  2. FlyAway
  3. Dance of the Wild Faes
  4. Are You Coming with Us?
  5. Uyll
  6. Lus y Vaaish
  7. Midwinter
  8. The Infinite Shore
  9. L'Pavane
  10. Deep Within the Forest

Album Description

Rediscover the magic - Become filled with exquisite beauty as you journey into a mystical land of dreams. This new collaboration from bestselling composer Gary Stadler (Fairy HeartMagic) and Australian vocalist Wendy Rule leads you through landscapes of forest, deep into the heart of nature. Those who are familiar with Gary's previous albums will recognize the soulful beauty of his piano based soundscapes. To this Gary now adds artful Cello, Uilleann Pipes, and classical guitar. Combine that with the magical voice and gentle guitar of Australian singer/songwriter Wendy Rule and the lovely Celtic harp of Lisa Lynne, and the result is absolutely breathtaking. While their music can be compared to Enya or Loreena Mckennitt, they have crafted their own special style. Come along with them on this serene and spellbinding journey, as images of the ancient Celtic Faerie realm come alive once more and touch you with enchantment.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Disappointed.......2006-08-29

I was hoping for more of an ethereal sound. The CD isn't bad, just not what I expected.

5 out of 5 stars Spellbinding.......2006-02-26

I absolutely LOVE this album. It is magical, spellbinding, and very calming. My grandson, age 6, also loves the CD. It is his and my favorite CD, and we play it often.

5 out of 5 stars The fairies are closer than ever now.......2005-03-18

Beautiful, magical album that really sends my consciousness to dance with fairies and gets me dreaming of living in a green woods with lovely people around. For the one who was blaming the album I would say that you yourself are a freak, because your senses are so dull that you can't feel this magic anymore. And if you ask enlightened people, they say that fairies exist, but only in the right side of a brain... So only your feminine, intuitive part can see the fairies, and ghosts and other spirits that co-exist in another dimension parallel to our own. Small children can also see them. But if you live too much in your head you can't feel any of these things...
The artists in this records sure have experienced themselves and they share it in such a beautiful way that brings tears of gratitude to my eyes. So maximum respect to them!

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant........2005-01-24

This is the most "Gothic" or "dark" sounding album of Stadler's. I'm not familliar with Rule's other work, but this disk is my favourite of the Faerie series. It's absolutely gorgeous, with transcendental musick and divine near-operetic aethereal vocals atop. She does sound like a Fae queen. I would recommend this to anyone who embraces the more dark side of Fae; someone big on introspection and meditation. This is a great release.. thanks you guys for such a gift.


~DJ Raven~
KBGA 89.9fm
Missoula, MT

5 out of 5 stars ANOTHER GREAT ALBUM!.......2005-01-05

Another lovely addition to Gary Stadler's fairy albums. He has joined with another enthralling female vocalist to produce very soothing songs and a magical mood throughout!!
Fairy Heart Magic
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Actually 14 tracks
  • Very Soothing
  • Enchanting~
  • Definitely off the beaten path
  • Fairy This, Fairy That.
Fairy Heart Magic
Gary Stadler , and Stephannie
Manufacturer: Sequoia Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Celtic New AgeCeltic New Age | New Age | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
MeditationMeditation | New Age | Styles | Music
New AgeNew Age | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
FusionFusion | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Fairy Night Songs
  2. Deep Within a Faerie Forest
  3. Reflections of Faerie
  4. Fairy of the Woods
  5. Fairy Lullabies

ASIN: B00004Y6OZ
Release Date: 2000-11-14

Tracks:

  1. Fairy Nightsongs
  2. Petals
  3. Mystery
  4. Otherworld
  5. Heartmagic
  6. Sa'Brooke
  7. Deanash
  8. Edge Of Dawn
  9. DonaCreiTun
  10. Ehsellyei
  11. Garden Of Dreams
  12. Veil Of Elphame

Amazon.com

The follow-up to Fairy of the Woods, Fairy NightSongs, and Fairy HeartMagic finds Gary Stadler back at the piano spinning out lush emotive songs that conjure moonbeams, star-blanketed nights, and enchanted forests. Layers of light synthesizer, Lisa Lynne's dreamy Celtic harp, and the fantasy language lyrics of fine new vocalist Stephannie dance with Stadler's soft-pedaled playing. Fairy HeartMagic, rather than featuring starkly individual pieces, plays more like slightly varied movements of one unified piece, just right for pre-slumber, soft-focus Saturday mornings, or unwinding after a long afternoon. While not written specifically for children, little ones will find this frolicsome but gentle music pleasant to the ears and soothing to the psyche. Stadler, whose songs often begin as bedtime songs for his wife, has composed and arranged a dilly of a lullaby for the magical landscape of vision and reverie. --Paige La Grone

Album Description

Acclaimed composer Gary Stadler (Fairy of the Woods, Fairy NightSongs) takes you further into the world of ancient Celtic lore, featuring extraordinary " Enya-esque" vocalist Stephannie and Celtic Harpist Lisa Lynne. Together they take you on a soul-healing journey into a place where innocence and wisdom are one. Listen, and your heart will be renewed with a mystical beauty.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Actually 14 tracks.......2007-03-20

I was going to rate this 4 stars, because I was unhappy to find so many instrumental tracks. They are pretty (though nothing special), but there are 6 of them. Out of twelve that's disappointing, but then I read the booklet and found that there are an additional 2 tracks you can get on the computer. One of them is called Story, which is more of a spoken poem; the other I'm not sure but I'm calling it Far Away and it's very beautiful.
A lovely album altogether.

About the extra tracks, you can get them only on the computer. For windows I'm not sure, but the 'presentation' doesn't work on my Mac. However, you can access the folder called 'gary media' and drag the tracks to iTunes (or your desktop). Along with the two complete songs, you also get a lot of sample songs for other albums.

The booklet that comes along with the CD explains how to get the tracks, and has the lyrics for the 12 tracks on the CD. Pretty artwork!

Very different from the first Gary Stadler CD I got, Deep Within a Faerie Forest (the tracks in addition to being beautiful are also cool), which I recommend, but Stephannie has a sweet voice and the songs are pleasing to the ear with a few treasures.

5 out of 5 stars Very Soothing.......2007-03-02

Do you need some soothing, yet uplifting background music? That is what I was looking for, and I was not disappointed! It is suitable for an adult, who I purchased it for, as well as children for quiet times. I will be checking out more titles from this artist.

5 out of 5 stars Enchanting~.......2006-03-09

I disagree with Marc Ruby... Stephaine has a beautiful voice.
Its my fav of all the Gary Stadler Fairy cd's..Stepahine's voice takes you to another time..another place.. I love it! Wish I could find more of her but so far have been unable to..
This Cd is definalty worth your money!

3 out of 5 stars Definitely off the beaten path.......2005-11-09

This is a CD I enjoy. It is definitely not within the mainstream of most musical styles. It was the inclusion of Lisa Lynne on a couple of selections that encouraged me to buy it without having heard it. Generally, I was not disappointed although this CD doesn't inspire me as much as some other New Age and Native American music I have.
For me, the treasure in this CD is the song "Sa'Brooke", which features Stephannie singing softly over gentle, evocative music in a gaelic-sounding language which, according to the insert, she essentially came up with herself. Her voice is sweet, passionate and inspiring in a simple melody which perfectly compliments the gentle arrangement.
"Deanash", though nice, is basically "Garden of Dreams" without the vocals or orchestral arrangement. The same could be said for "Heartmagic", a piano solo which is really "Sa'Brooke" without the vocals or orchestral arrangement. To my ear, these two variations represent a failure on the part of the producer to avoid repetitiveness.
It is a good CD for background ambiance while reading or writing.

4 out of 5 stars Fairy This, Fairy That........2005-05-02

This is the kind of album that pushes me into a new age crisis. While there is nothing inherently wrong with it, the fact that Stadler opted for a 'cute' title and album cover is a warning that the potential for great silliness in the name of a music genre lurks in the bushes.

For the most part, this never materializes, although my slight deafness reduces the impact of lyrics that are a bit lightheaded. Musically the album is sometimes hackneyed (angelic choirs, etc.), but always pleasant to hear. Little moments, like Deanash make up for the less successful parts and overall I rate this album as good background for contemplative or creative moments.

This album was originally intended for performance with Singh Kaur. Unfortunately, the singer died before the recording and Stephannie took Singh Kaur's place. Unfortunately, I say, because Stephannie's voice has a 'little girl' edge and breathiness that was totally absent from Singh Kaur's. This gives the singing a trivial sound when it deserves better. On the bright side, though, is Lisa Lynne's appearance on harp. Essentially, this is a break-even for the listener.

Frankly, I would go with Fairy Night Songs and only buy this album if it is exactly your cup of tea. New age vocals are difficult on a good day and you are likely to be a bit disappointed. Listen to Fairy Night Songs and Sa'Brooke - you will see what I mean. But the instrumental work is good. You will have to decide for yourself.
Celtic Harp 1: Music of Turlough O'Carolan
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • O'Carolan himself could not do better.
  • Beautiful, peaceful, and precise
  • Awesomely Beautiful
  • Very good
  • An eye-opener
Celtic Harp 1: Music of Turlough O'Carolan
Patrick Ball
Manufacturer: Fortuna Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Irish FolkIrish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Scottish FolkScottish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Celtic FolkCeltic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Traditional FolkTraditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
MeditationMeditation | New Age | Styles | Music
Solo InstrumentalSolo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Celtic Harp 4: O'carolan's Dream
  2. Celtic Harp 2: from a Distant Time
  3. Celtic Harp 3: Secret Isles
  4. Celtic Treasure: The Legacy of Turlough O'Carolan
  5. The Christmas Rose

ASIN: B0000007SD
Release Date: 1991-10-16

Tracks:

  1. Carolan's Quarrel With The Landlady
  2. Maurice O'Connor
  3. Blind Mary
  4. Carolan's Receipt For Drinking
  5. Carolan's Ramble To Cashel
  6. Carolan's Welcome
  7. Young William Plunkett
  8. George Brabazon
  9. Lady Athenry/ Fanny Poer
  10. Give Me Your Hand
  11. Lady Maxwell
  12. Dermott O'Dowd/ The Queen's Dream
  13. Mrs. Judge
  14. Carolan's Farewell To Music
  15. Sheebag Sheemore

Album Description

The lilting, crystalline tone of the Celtic harp must be one of the most joyful sounds in mankind's history. The harp originated a thousand years ago in ancient Ireland; it shone through the age of the bards and brought hope during long years of occupation and oppression. As it is a challenging instrument to play well, nearly two centuries ago the wire-strung Celtic harp was abandoned in favor of the easier to play, more subdued gut-strung neo-Irish harp. Patrick Ball would not let that sweet voice fall silent. He brings to audiences world-wide the ancient Celtic harp that "has always been loved and celebrated by the Irish people for its mystical power to enchant them, to draw them into realms beyond thought, and to refresh their spirit." That is exactly what Patrick Ball accomplishes in these five sparkling recordings. Listeners are enchanted by his performances. They are drawn to the emotional portrait that Patrick paints with each piece, romantic, melancholy or jubilant. Although Patrick is a delightful storyteller with words, these instrumental works tell their own stories, requiring nothing more than Patrick's fingernails deftly plucking the brass strings of his beautifully crafted harp. The harp he plays is a re-creation of the ancient Celtic instrument, lovingly crafted by master harp builder Jay Witcher of Houlton, Maine, who has made it his life's work to allow the sound of the great instrument to live again.

Patrick Ball pays his greatest tribute to the legendary Turlough O'Carolan, a blind, itinerant harper who wandered the Irish countryside at the turn of the eighteenth century, playing for wealthy landowners. O'Carolan was witty, a prolific composer and a genius on the Celtic harp. It is little wonder that Patrick Ball has included O'Carolan's brilliant tunes in each of his first four volumes.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars O'Carolan himself could not do better........2007-01-24

I have been going to see Patrick Ball's live performances every chance I get since 1995. In between I console myself with his wonderful CD's. Of all of them, though, I think I play this one the most, partly because of the "O'Carolan's Farewell to Music" track. Those of you who have been lucky enough to see Patrick's one-man show of that title will not need to ask why. I have other recordings of that track, but for me they are flickering candles compared to the sun of Patrick Ball's performance. O'Carolan himself could not do it better.

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful, peaceful, and precise.......2004-12-20

If I tell you this is the most relaxing music I know, you may get the wrong impression. This is no newage mush, but intricate Baroque compositions played flawlessly on an instrument with such a blissfully sweet tone that it's no wonder angels are depicted with harps. All the same, when I was stressed out in graduate school I used to play this tape every night to drive away care, and more recently, I've found it just the thing for getting my baby to settle down to sleep. The tones of the harp cascade light bright drops of water over the surface of your mind and float you to a more peaceful place. This music is like magic.

5 out of 5 stars Awesomely Beautiful.......2002-02-19

... If Turlough O'Carolan is reembodied these days I wouldn't be surprised if he was Patrick Ball. Patrick seems to have been born to play this music in this age.I played it at the office where I work and even the rock/jazz/blues-liking people liked it. It's a great bridge to lead people from the latter grade of sound (I'm definitely prejudiced in this regard) to the realms of really beautiful music. For budget-minded people: in my opinion, save your money re Vol. 2; I prefered Vol. 1 about infinitely (regarding the selections, not the artist's playing of them). I haven't heard Vol. 3 or Vol. 4.

4 out of 5 stars Very good.......1998-07-30

This was a disgustingly good CD. :) If you like gentle instrumental music, you may well like this. It's equally good to listen attentively to or to have in the background.

5 out of 5 stars An eye-opener.......1998-05-22

This was Ball's first recording, so his technique is sometimes a little rough around the edges. But what music! Even if you've heard these tunes on the Celtic harp before (e.g., as recorded by the masterful Derek Bell of the Chieftains), this album is a revelation: the wire-strung harp gives the tunes a clarity and luminescence that a gut-strung harp never can, no matter who plays it. The arrangements show off not only the nuances of the tunes themselves, but the amazing range of the harp (on a good stereo, the low notes will rattle your windows). And the tunes are well balanced between cheerful and melancholy -- "Carolan's Farewell to Music," reputedly the last tune the composer wrote, always reduces me to a puddle. (I was once chowing down in a sushi bar when this track came on the stereo, and I nearly choked on my negi-hamachi.)

Rock Music:

  1. The Prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor
  2. The Rough Guide to Celtic Music
  3. The Rough Guide to the Music of Senegal and Gambia
  4. Throat Singing (Eskimo, Inuit Music)
  5. Toxu [Extra tracks] [Import]
  6. Tropicália Essentials
  7. Ulisses [Import]
  8. Utopie d'Occase [Import]
  9. Varekai [Import]
  10. Voyage Voyage [Import]

Rock Music

rock music

Recommended Music:

Moon Harbour Flights, Vol. 2

The Piano Music of Leos Janacek

Three Day Rain

Greatest Songs, Vol. 2

The Newton Boys: Music From The Motion Picture [Soundtrack]

Their Greatest Hits [Import]

Unmasked

This Old Skin [CD-single] [Import]

The Orange Tree: Irish & French Canadian Roots

The Treasure of Faith: Hymns by Hans Adolph Brorson

The UA Years: 1969-1974

The Very Best of Macedonia

Tequila Sunrise [CD-single] [Explicit Lyrics]

Joseph Haydn: Paris Symphonies Nos. 82, 83, 84

Organic Vibes