Celtic Music From Wales

Amazon.com
Irish and Scottish music have permeated American culture to such a degree that certain tunes have become standards ("Auld Lang Syne," "Molly Malone"). But there are four other Celtic nations, and the lesser-known folk traditions of Cornwall, Isle of Man, Brittany, and Wales are equally exciting. Ffynnon (pronounced "FUN-on") are a Welsh neo-folk group that performs tunes from several homelands in the original languages. Instrumental accompaniment is usually centered on acoustic piano, not unlike the stately fiddle combos of Cape Breton, while the prominently placed six-string bass lines recall the early Clannad. Singer Lynne Denman has a cool, untroubled mezzo-soprano, and her jazzy phrasing mines unexpected dimensions and undercurrents from the simplest melodies. Highlights include "Felton Lonnin," wherein a mother anxiously awaits the return of her son at nightfall, and "Pais Dinograd," a nursery-rhyme counting lullaby, but each of the 16 songs has a lot to offer. --Christina Roden

Tracks:

Cabalgata
A Thousand Curses On Love
Wet Is The Night
Abercairney House
An Dro
My Dark Haired Maid From Cornaig
Rondes
Sir Festus Burke
Laride A Huit Temps
The White Houses Of Sheildaig
The Bedding Of The Bride
Laride A Six Temps
Clanranald
The Fyket
An Occasional Song
Galician Dance
The Haggis
No Surrender
Tavern On The Moor

Album Description

In this recording, the masterful guitar work of Richard Searles is applied to traditional music of the Celtic world: Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Brittany, and Galicia. The sounds of Classical Guitar join with those of Recorders, Hurdy Gurdy, Concertina, Harpsichord, Percussion and other instruments on an imaginative journey into the heart of the Gaels.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2002-12-19

We have been using this music for years during our roleplaying sessions and I have to say that it is perhaps the best music for any fantasy roleplaying game. The atmosphere it creates is perfect for high magic, LOTR-style, games.

Amazing!!!!!.......2002-01-10

From the first time I heard this CD, I loved it!!!! I find it very relaxing. From one music lover to the next, I highly recommend this CD!!!!!!!!

Beautiful!.......2000-11-30

I bought this CD when it first came out and love it as much now as the first time I heard it playing in a small shop. It's pure and clear with lighthearted melodies and beautiful arrangements reminiscent of ancient times. Pleasing to the ear and the spirit.

Average customer rating:

calming uplifting "traditional" music

Celtic Voyage
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Gourd Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dream Of The Manatee
Oktober County: Contemporary, Ancient And...
The Waltz of the Whippoorwill
Autumn In the Valley

ASIN: B00000I0CY
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Tracks:

Citi Na GCumman - William Coulter and Friends
Breton Dances - Danny Carnahan With Robin Petrie
All Through The Night - Kim Robertson
Rose In The Heather/Tom Billy's Jig - William Coulter and Friends
The Faerie Queene - Shelly Phillips And Friends
Rowing From Isla To Uist - Barry Phillips
The Flowing Tide/The Gypsies/The Roaring Hornpipe - Deby Benton Grosjean
Between Deighre And Breo - Martin Simpson/Shelly Phillips/Barry Phillips
Quiet Land Of Erin - Kim Robertson
Sliabh Russel/Come West Along The Road - William Coulter and Friends
Lament For Owen Roe O'Neil/Foggy Dew - Neal Hellman And Friends
St. Patrick's Day/Over The Moor To Maggie - William Coulter/Todd Denman/Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh/Barry Phillips
The Butterfly - Shelly Phillips/Barry Phillips/William Coulter/Anne Cleveland
Separation Of Body And Soul - Neal Hellman/Shelly Phillips/Barry Phillips
Chanter's Tune - Shelly Phillips And Friends

Album Description

Some of today's leading Celtic performers have contributed to this exciting collection of instrumental music from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and Wales. This 15-track release, which features 6 new tracks and nine previously recorded compositions covers centuries of Gaelic history and scores of musical styles.

The musical mix includes the fiddling magic of such renowned artists as Alasdair Fraser, Martin Hayes, and Deby Benton Grosjean. Also featured are such noted musicians as Seamus Egan, Paul Machlis, and Kevin Burke as well as Gourd Music recording artists William Coulter, Barry and Shelley Phillips, Danny Carnahan and Robin Petrie, Martin Simpson, Kim Robertson, Orison, and Neal Hellman.

Celtic Voyage features exquisite airs such as Cití na gCumman, All Through the Night, Between Deighre and Breo, and The Quiet Land of Erin alongside such uptempo dance pieces as The Rose in the Heather/Tom Billy's Jig, The Flowing Tide/The Gypsies/The Roaring Hornpipe, Sliabh Russel/Come West along the Road, St. Patrick's Day/Over the Moor to Maggie, and Breton Dances. Also featured are a number of compositions by legendary harper Turlough O'Carolan, including The Faerie Queene, Separation of Body and Soul, and The Lament for Owen Roe O'Neil. Along with many longstanding favorites, Celtic Voyage delivers some rarely heard gems, among them, Chanter's Tune, Rowing from Isla to Uist, and The Butterfly.

A number of Billboard top-charting world and new age releases by Narada, Windham Hill, and Hearts of Space feature Gourd Music compositions. Now you can hear the music straight from the source in this colorful showcase of Celtic music.

Customer Reviews:

calming uplifting "traditional" music.......2006-01-27

This is a great CD to listen to as background music or to veg out with headphones on. It is calming and soft and the arrangements of traditional music are very catchy and quite good. The contributing musicians are fantastic. I own other Celtic CDs and I must say this is one of my favorites. I never tire of the variety and engaging compositions. Highly recommend. If you are not a Celitic music fan, this could make you one.

Average customer rating:

Another branch of Celtic beauty
Enjoyable Celtic Music from Wales for the Whole Family
Mixture of old tunes a child might enjoy...

Celtic Music From Wales
Ffynnon
Manufacturer: Green Linnet
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Traditional Songs of Wales
The Rough Guide to the Music of Wales
Favourite Welsh Choirs
Teach Yourself Welsh Complete Course Audiopackage
A History of Wales

ASIN: B00006JYAT
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Tracks:

Y Gwydd
Brothen
Y Rhaeadr
Felton Lonnin
Ty Crwn
Goshawk
Pais Dinograd
Cwcw Fach
Beth yw'r Haf
Dacw Nghariad
Chwaer Mari
Le Petit Cardonier
Lys Ifor Hael
Chwarae
Aros Mae
Galw

Amazon.com

Irish and Scottish music have permeated American culture to such a degree that certain tunes have become standards ("Auld Lang Syne," "Molly Malone"). But there are four other Celtic nations, and the lesser-known folk traditions of Cornwall, Isle of Man, Brittany, and Wales are equally exciting. Ffynnon (pronounced "FUN-on") are a Welsh neo-folk group that performs tunes from several homelands in the original languages. Instrumental accompaniment is usually centered on acoustic piano, not unlike the stately fiddle combos of Cape Breton, while the prominently placed six-string bass lines recall the early Clannad. Singer Lynne Denman has a cool, untroubled mezzo-soprano, and her jazzy phrasing mines unexpected dimensions and undercurrents from the simplest melodies. Highlights include "Felton Lonnin," wherein a mother anxiously awaits the return of her son at nightfall, and "Pais Dinograd," a nursery-rhyme counting lullaby, but each of the 16 songs has a lot to offer. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews:

Another branch of Celtic beauty.......2003-07-17

A fine album by this three-piece Welsh folk group... For a trio, they make a large, lush, expansive sound, not the least of which comes from the sweet singing of Lynne Denman and Stacey Blythe, whose vocals fall well into the "pretty Celtic female voices" category, ala early Enya and the like, but with a fair amount of traditionalist grit. This is pretty-sounding stuff, with most of the songs from older, traditional sources, and a few songs that are more modern. Amazing how all those extra Welsh consonants and vowels just melt away when the language is spoke out loud, or -- in this case -- sung in a lovely voice.

Enjoyable Celtic Music from Wales for the Whole Family.......2003-02-23

ffynnon, pronounced 'FUN-ON' in Welsh means 'well spring', is the debut Green Linnet album that makes up the voice and instrumental talents of Lynne Denman, Stacey Blythe and David Reid. Lynne Denman's jazzy ethereal vocals provides a traditional sound for modern Wales. She also lends her instrumental talent on the bodhrán. Stacey Blythe plays keyboard, accordion, cello, piano and voice. David Reid plays six-string bass guitar, keyboard and vocals. Reid is active in the London jazz scene.

The group performs songs that are rooted in ancient tradition, new modern rhythms and soundscapes of the Celts.
The Discography includes:
Y Gwydd (The Loom), reflects on the nature of life and death at the edge of night (end of the living cycle).
Brothen, a calling song to the Brothen to the farmyard. Each creature has a name.
Y Rhaeadr (The Waterfall), is an instrumental. If you close your eyes and listen. You can see the waterfall flowing.
Felton Lonnin (Felton Lane), a mother looking out for the child she expects to return home with the cattle.
Ty Crwn (Roundhouse), a jig.
The Goshawk, a Scottish ballad song.
Pais Dinogad (Dinogad's Smock), a 6th c. nursery rhyme written in the British heroic poem 'Y Gododdin' the forerunner of 'Bye Baby Bunting'. The set of numbers in the lyrics is Cumbrian sheep counting. This would be a nice way to teach the little ones to learn counting.
Cwcw Fach (Little Cuckoo), the cuckoo the foolish of all birds is persuaded to come and nest in the lush green bushes of Dolgellau parish. It's a spring planting song.
Beth yw'r haf i mi? (What is the summer to me?) A sad love song (lament) of the forsaken lover.
Dacw 'nghariad (There is my love), a courting love song.
Chwaer Mari (Sister Mary), a stable-loft song tradtionally sung by farmhands.
Le petit cardonier (The little shoemaker), a traditional Breton dancing song.
Llys Ifor Hael (The Court of Ifor Hael), laments of generous times long ago now in ruins. From a poem by 17th c. poet Ievan Brydydd Hir.
Chwarae (Playing), tribute to 20th c. poet Waldo Williams. It describes children playing 'house' in the fields and 'going to town' in the storehouse.
Aros Mae (Staying), by 19th c. bard poet Ceiriog. Tells how things come and go like the wind and the flowers each year. But some remain the same like the language and the old songs.
Galw (Calling), a macaroni song sung part Welsh, part English. Modern song about traveling and longing for home again.

The combination of the trio's talents with traditional songs add new mixes to create an alluring modern appeal. All songs are Welsh unless stated otherwise. Visit their website ...and find out more about them. This album would be nice for the whole family to learn about the Welsh language, it's culture and some history thrown in the liner notes.

Mixture of old tunes a child might enjoy..........2002-12-07

If you've ever tried to pronounce Welsh names or read road signs in Wales, you've probably wondered about this curious language. One great feature of this CD is that it is exactly what it purports to be Celtic Music from Wales with vocalizations mostly in Welsh although a few of the songs are sung in a French dialect from Brittany (English translations are provided in the insert). These pleasant tunes are sometimes lively, mostly soothing, and always clearly articulated.

Some of the words and tunes are very old. In `Dinogad's Smock' from the Y Gododdin, the singer counts chickens in 6th Century Welsh....'Un, dau, tri pedwar, pump, chwech, saith, wyth; and 12th Century Cumbria Welsh.. "Yan, tan, tether, pedder, pimp, hither, sether, hother..." Some pieces such as `Cwew Fach' where the singers try to persuade a cockoo to nest, or `Mae gen i chwaer Mari (I have a sister Mary) are undated. Some songs are more recent and incorporate the words of 20th century voices such as Waldo Williams the Pembrokeshire poet..."Pan fydd yr haul yn twynni A'r gwynt heb chwythun'n gry" or "When the sun shines And the wind utters not a cry..." Lynne Denman, Stacey Blythe and Dave Reid provide vocals and instrumentation which includes bodhran, accordion, and 6-string bass guitar. Light hearted music that children might be able to learn, especially the chicken counting song.

Celtic for Kids
Average customer rating:

A Masterpiece in Celtic Music

Delightful!!

Celtic for Kids
Barbary Grant
Manufacturer: Changeling Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0000C1HKM
Release Date: 2002-06-01

Tracks:

Donal Hunchback
Is Trua Gan Peata Mhaoir Agam (I Wish I Had the Shepherd's Lamb)
Arrane Ny Niee (Washing Song)
Wee Cooper O' Fife
John Rowdy's
Milking Croons
The Leprechaun
Brochan Lom / Tailor's Thimble
Ushag Veg Ruy (Little Red Bird)
An MaidrRuadh (Little Red Fox)
Kildare Fancy
Frog in the Well
Bh(O My Little Boat)
Yr Hen Wr Mwyn (Gentle Old Man)
Dance to Your Daddy / Maids of Mt. Cisco
Thugamar F an Samhradh Linn (We Have Brought the Summer In)
Haigh Didil Dum

Album Description

Described by Parents' Choice as "a dream-time album filled with story songs about times long ago, mischievous and gentle little animals and magical worlds of faerie", Celtic for Kids is a delightful collection of traditional music from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man. Recorded by Irish harper and singer Barbary Grant, this Celtic playground also features fiddle, flute, uilleann pipes (played by Eric Rigler of Braveheart and Titanic fame), cello, and pennywhistle.

Celtic for Kids is full of imaginative surprises. The Milking Croons on Track 6 include a field recording of actual milking sounds (courtesy of Valentine the cow). Dance to Your Daddy on Track 15 features a 12-year-old step dancer and Barbary's own year-old twins giggle their way onto the Manx Washing Song on Track 3.

Ten of the eighteen tracks are performed in their native languages including songs in Irish, Scots Gaelic, Manx, and Welsh. English lyrics and translations are provided in the liner notes.

Ellipsis Arts will feature Track 6, the Manx Ushag Veg Ruy (Little Red Bird), on their upcoming Celtic Dreams CD. A Parents' Choice Award-winner for 2002, this albums' lively yet gentle spirit will appeal to children of all ages and to the young at heart.

Customer Reviews:

A Masterpiece in Celtic Music.......2007-01-10

I love celtic music in general, and this is an exceptionally beautiful collection of songs. I especially like that many of the songs are sung in their native language, and the general variaty in the pace of the songs. Barbary's voice and harp are quite enchanting, and many of the songs are fun to listen to and sing, particularly Ushag Veg Ruy, The Leprechaun, and Donal Hunchback.

Delightful!!.......2003-09-19

Whenever I listen to this recordng, I can't help but smile and tap my toes. There is a very nice variety of instrumentation and, of course, Barbary's singing is beautiful and evocative.