Journey of the Celts

1. Passing of the Gael: The Great Hunger/Leaving the Holy Ground/Road to D

2. Farewell to Erin: Empty Fields/Kildare Memory/To Cross the Wide Atlanti

3. Their Spirit Unbroken: The Bailiff in Hell/The Irish Recruits

4. Ships Are Sailing: The Last Hornpipe/We're off to California

5. Fighting Race: Johnnies Gone for a Soldier/Paddys Lamentation/Minstrel

6. Music Box Memories: Blind Mary/Once I Loved a Lass/The Parting of Frien

7. Iron Paddies: Sullivan's Saloon/Reelin in the Pints

8. Distant Horizons: Shanandoah/The Western Plains/Bards and Cowboys/The I

9. Island of Tears

Tracks:

Mother's Heart
- Buon Giorno, Buena Gente
- O' Beautiful Earth
- Assisi
- Black is the Color
- Burning Bush
- Apples on the Tree
- Graceday
- Brimstone
- Holy Drone of the Valley
- All Shall Be Well

Album Description

Sweeping across the centuries, crossing the continents, rooted in Celtic, medieval, and Appalachian traditons, this is new music that evokes a sense of the past. From Italy to England, Ireland to America, and into the Southern Mountains, Lydia McCauley weaves a beautiful musical tapestry of her own journeys.

Customer Reviews:

Gently uplifting compositions by a sweet-voiced singer/songwriter.......2006-10-01

Weaving elements of folk, Celtic and world music into a rich, comforting tapestry of sound, vocalist and keyboardist Lydia McCauley offers an intimate musical journey through life, love and spirituality. Her voice is lovely - pure, honest and flushed with the soft warmth of a mother's lullaby--and her soothing vocals are featured in all but one of the songs on this album. There's a warm wistfulness and sense of down-to-earth, motherly love about McCauley's lushly arranged music that is very appealing--great to relax to at the end of a hard day and to remind one of the important things in life. This debut album, with it's varied harmonies and mix of musical influences, is my favorite of her releases. Standout tracks on "Sabbath Day's Journey" include the moving and beautifully mournful "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair," the jaunty "Asissi," the Celtic-like "Buon Giorno, Buena Gente" with its changing tempos, and the contemplative "Brimstone," a song about the natural cycles of life, creativity and hope. In addition to accompanying herself expertly on piano and synthesizer, McCauley fleshes out the sound of her songs with the help of a sizeable number of acoustic instrumentalists: Phil Heaven on bowed strings and doumbek, David J. MacVittie on bouzouki, guitar, sitar and doumbek, Frank Olsen on bass and bass guitar, Larry Knechtel on piano, Paul Englesbert on concertina and penny whistle, Frank Jackson on recorders, Jud Sherwood on drums, and co-producer Kurt Scherer on bells and (?) Garden Weasel. (I'm sure there's a story behind that, but it doesn't appear in the liner notes!). Lydia McCauley's next release is the hypnotic "Entrances," followed by "The Beauty of the Earth." If you enjoy her gentle, sonorous compositions, you will also like the work of harpist Lisa Lynne, harpist Thomas Loefke, singer Susan McKeown, guitarist Richard Searles, and the acoustic Celtic groups Orion and Orison.

Lydia's Music is Evocative.......1999-11-27

Sabbath Day's Journey is indeed a journey. One of spirit and grace and feeling, which are reflections of Lydia herself and her band. The first selection, Mother's Heart is a touching, lyrical piece. Her Celtic and Appalachian roots blend beautifully to produce the music of her soul and the ability to express feeling. Black is the Color is a haunting piece. Lydia's music displays the spectrum of spiritual to playful. It gets regular airplay on KSER. I have given this CD as gifts and will do so again. Lydia's music is reminiscent of Loreen McKennitt's. It is music to be enjoyed over and over. The many layers of its sound and meaning come through more with each listen!

Fresh breeze outside, warm fire in........1999-10-24

First, check out the eclectic folk instrumentation: not just viola, guitar and sitar, but also the doumbek, bouzouki and the Garden Weasel (it makes a nice percussive sound not found elsewhere). Then, listen to the clear vocals of Lydia McCauley. Lydia and her band sweep in with a debut album from Brimstone Music that deserves to be heard. Lydia has written or adapted songs that call from the heart to the heart, like a fresh breeze outside, warm fire in. Drawing from her Appalachian background, she sings an achingly lovely, simple rendition of the folk song "Black is the Color." Her own songs of the Pacific Northwest, such as "Grace Day," call out for deeper intimacy: "Forgiveness is a healing of a wound between us both." Drawing inspiration from spiritual soulmates Francis of Assisi and Julian of Norwich, she creates songs around ancient words, such as these from Julian: "All shall be well, all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well." Around that one sentence she and the band have made a swirling temple of song to end the album. The music is similar to that of Loreena McKennitt, but Lydia has more in her collection than Loreena's signature Celtic harp and high notes. Lydia's music stretches the concepts of journeys. Her journeys in this album dance between spiritual and secular lyrics, European and American music, and the inward and outward self. An excellent first CD, Sabbath Day's Journey is finding its way to an audience of thoughtful music lovers around the country.

Average customer rating:

A complex, richly voiced journey from the old world to the new
Wonderfully evocative!! A Must
GREAT STUFF!!
A superb, 47 minute compilation of ethnic music

Journey of the Celts
Will Millar , and Paul Horn
Manufacturer: Chacra Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

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General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005ND0G
Release Date: 2002-02-19

Tracks:

Passing Of The Gael
Farewell To Erin
Their Spirit Unbroken
Ships Are Sailing
A Fighting Race
Music Box Memories
Iron Paddies
Distant Horizons
Island Of Tears

Customer Reviews:

A complex, richly voiced journey from the old world to the new.......2006-10-01

Will Millar, of Irish Rovers fame, created this musical saga about the flight of the Irish to America during the potato famine of the mid-1800s. Suitably wistful and sentimental, spiced with dashes of jaunty spirit, and flavored with more than a touch of the cinematic, Millar's suite blends arrangements of traditional tunes with his own, original compositions. Featuring Millar on Irish whistle and Paul Horn on flute, the pieces are grouped into topical sections and flow from one to another like chapters in a story. I especially like the sad, weighty opening section, the fusion of American and Irish influences in some of the pieces, and the lively, traditional jigs scattered throughout the album. Although the moods vary, and the musical styles range from traditional pub music to jazz to modern, orchestrated film-score, the consistently lush, stylish, multi-layered arrangements tie all the selections together. The roster of instrumentalists involved in this production is as long and far-ranging as the migration that inspired the project: Will Millar, on whistle, percussion, mandolin, banjo and lute, and New Age flutist Paul Horn are joined by Daniel Lapp on fiddle, coronet and Fluegel horn, guitarists David Sinclair and Dennis Donnelly, harpist Mary Murphy, hammered dulcimer player Rosemary Beland, pianist David Walker, conga player Charlie Wade, piper Bill Poppy, accordion player Sandy Jasper, cellist Ellen Himmer, and Neil Burnett on harp, low whistles and Irish flute. For other well-orchestrated Irish music, try Joanie Madden's "Song of the Irish Whistle I and II," and "Two Horizons" by Moya Brennan. And for more traditional American fare, you might enjoy "A Song of Home: An American Musical Journey" by James Galway, Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, "ForeignLander" by Lydia McCauley, "American Angels" by Anonymous 4, or anything by the group Simple Gifts.

Wonderfully evocative!! A Must.......2003-05-17

This CD was sent to me as part of my work for Rambles, a Celtic Web-magazine where I am on staff. We are sent a list and we pick by title - books and music - that we will review. I selected this by name only, so you can imagine my surprise at finding how beautiful, haunting....well words do little justice to Will Millar and Paul Horn's masterpiece.

This marvellous compilation of songs follows the Irish people at the time of the Great Hunger, the potato famine that killed so many in Ireland, and sent many more overseas trying to find a new life. It was a terrible time, a time of uncertainty, touched with fleeting moments of joy, and all these emotions are captured with the subtle work of these gentleman. They fall back heavily on traditional Celtic music, without going over old ground. It is a stunning work that weaves moods and nuances, the sorrow, the fear, the hopes.

The history is never to be forgotten, and this amazing album spins a potent magic that serves those memories well.

Anyone who enjoys Celtic music such as Leahy, Clannad or even more traditional works will want this for their collection and play it often.

Pure Celtic Magic!

GREAT STUFF!!.......2003-04-27

I just got home from picking this up at a local music store, and all I have to say is WOW! I don't want to go into a song-by-song description here, but I will tell you this. This collection of tunes, done largely with the usual Celtic instruments (Harp, fiddle, flute, bodhran drum, Uilleann pipes, etc) does a PERFECT job of exploring the spirit of the Irish people. Piano, didjeridoo and other instruments appear as well, but they do not distract. In fact they fit nicely, and they show how the Irish culture musically influenced other ones throughout the centuries. Tenderness, sorrow, joyousness, melancholy beauty, ethereal loveliness, and the adventure-loving determination of a people determined to survive despite incredible hardships. It's all here. This is one of the BEST instrumental Irish music CD's I have heard in YEARS. Pick it up, and you just might grow to love it as much as I do. Peace, and God bless you and yours, always.

A superb, 47 minute compilation of ethnic music.......2001-11-12

In Journey Of The Celts, Will Millar and Paul Horn successfully collaborative to produce a superb, 47 minute compilation of ethnic music that portrays the dramatic story of the Irish exodus to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Featured are traditional Irish whistles, fiddle, harp, Uillean pipes and hammered dulcimer, along with banjo, guitar, cello, drums, flute, and a "Didjeridoo". Journey Of The Celts features Passing Of The Gael (7:27); Farewell To Erin (6:48); Their Spirit Unbroken (3:30); Ships Are Sailing (3:44); A Fighting Race (5:37); Music Box Memories (4:57); Iron Paddies (4:08); Distant Horizons (7:00); and Island Of Tears (3:36).

Average customer rating:

Beautiful, meaningful music
Giddy
Wonderful. Just wonderful.

Sound the Deep Waters
Izolda
Manufacturer: Folk Nouveau Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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International Folk | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000A5BWR
Release Date: 2003-06-30

Tracks:

Sun-warmed
Sound the Deep Waters
Gaia Speaks
Understanding
Seeds of Change
Two to Tango
Leap of Faith
Scarborough Faire
Moldovanka
Solstice Morn
Honmesick for a Memory
Try Again

Album Description

The long-anticipated album contains 11 original and one traditional song. The original songs have myriad influences that encompass the worlds of art, the ancient Greeks and Celts, the country of her birth (Moldova), social activism, and a fierce love and commitment to the Earth. Scarborough Faire, a traditional song, is given here as introspection on lost and impossible love. Below is a list of songs.

Izolda sang lead and harmony vocals and highlighted her performances on guitar, violin, Native American flute and percussion. Other instrumentation on the CD includes: cello, mandolin, electric guitar, percussion, and recorder. It features: Diana McFadden, Jim Brewster, Diana Sunday, Luis Nasser, Janet Morton, Jeff Laramee, and Jeff Sieracki. This fantastic array of instruments was arranged to fuse in the style of music known as Folk Nouveau.

Folk Nouveau music combines the story-telling and instrumentation elements of folk music and the reverence for nature of the Art Nouveau movement with melodic influences that span the Earth. Izolda's songs feature this innovative approach to music and include: stunning vocals, guitar work that combines exciting rhythms and delicate finger-style expression, and original work on violin, which she began studying in Moldova when she was just five years old.

In addition to being a musician, Izolda is also an excellent photographer and the album also contains some of Izolda's photographs. Some of these are: the orchids that are the hallmark of all of her musical endeavors, gold leaves, and the back of the CD tray card which is an image of the Vernal Equinox sunset on Inch Strand on the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful, meaningful music.......2007-07-30

Sound the Deep Waters is an amazing album. The breadth of styles represented on this album and the sheer beauty of the melodies and harmonies speak to the artist's rare talent. The music and words are multidimensional, inspiring and thought-provoking. They are a celebration of life, love, creativity and hope as well as a call to responsibility for self and the world we live in. I have listened to this album numerous times and each time find new aspects to discover and love. I find that I turn to these songs both at times of sadness as well as of great happiness. Ultimately, this music makes a connection with the listener's mind and soul and gives one a renewed sense of strength and joy. I can't wait for Izolda's next album!

Giddy.......2007-07-30

This is the kind of CD you can listen to dozens of time and still get new meaning and feelings. I just completed a cross country trip with this CD and it helped both perk me up and made me think; it's been with me for meditation, celebration and relaxation. Izolda's voice is beautiful, her songs wonderfully written and expressed. Pick this up.

Wonderful. Just wonderful........2007-07-10

WOW! This woman has a voice! (which rivals Loreena McKinnett.) To call this music New Age/World just shows we can't pigeonhole all music into tidy little categories. Izolda sings life, love and joy with every breath and brings you along for the journey. The lyrics and melodies intertwine and weave a tapestry that take you into a world where Nature is smiling upon you. "Sun Warmed" and title track, "Sound the Deep Waters" for instance, lead you into a magical land of wild abandon and Woodland Folk.

There are a couple of heart-wrenching songs ("Leap of Faith" and "Understanding") as well as a Country-Western send-up ("Two to Tango") to keep the roller-coaster ride more dynamic. Many other treats on this disk. Plus, the cover of "Scarborough Faire" makes the hairs on my neck stand up. Just beautiful!

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music

Recommended Music:

Face to Face [Live]

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique Op. 14 (recorded 1988) / Saint-Saens: Concerto for cello in A minor, Op. 33 (recorded October 1, 1949)

Bach Trio Ensemble

Masada, Vol. 1 [Import]

Chaotech Odd Echo

Best of the Poet Trilogy [Import]

Confidentiel [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Blocked Numbers

Carry on Up the Charts-Best of [Import]

Berg: Chamber Concerto; Three Orchestral Pieces, Op. 6; Violin Concerto