loreena mckennitt

Loreena McKennitt Releases New Traditional Album

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 5 Comments

Irish-Canadian singer Loreena McKennitt has once again opened another chapter in her  recording career. The Wind that Shakes the Barley is an old Irish hymn reminiscent of the ‘troubles’. According to Quinlan Road, this is a trip back to her roots that shaped her first recording venture with “Elemental’ in 1985.

As a fan of Ms McKennitt, I am excited to hear this news which I originally got from Unity, the official Enya forum.

Read more here: http://www.quinlanroad.com/newsandviews/currentupdates.asp?id=913

Tracks:

  1. AS I ROVED OUT
  2. ON A BRIGHT MAY MORNING
  3. BRIAN BORUS MARCH
  4. DOWN BY THE SALLY GARDENS
  5. THE STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN
  6. THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY
  7. THE DEATH OF QUEEN JANE
  8. THE EMIGRATION TUNES
  9. THE PARTING GLASS

Oh Muse Where Art Thou?

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 8 Comments

Today’s writing gives tribute to the muses in flesh and blood and beyond. Do you remember that very first person in your life that made you take on a journey, maybe not physically but rather spiritually or aesthetically? Ever since then have you been following the beat of your personal drum? A lot of people took different courses in their lives when they’re hit by something. Maybe they realized  it is a wrong career choice or they’re just expected to be that way. I studied Psychology to be a Guidance Counselor but here I am now toying with aesthetics and spreading the muses of notes.

On the pic: Cecile Corbel

On the pic: Cecile Corbel

Enya studied music to be a piano teacher. But  meeting  Nicky and Roma Ryan made her embark on a musical journey that literally too years starting in 1982. She made that decision, lived with it and never looked back ever since. Have you made the same decision based on gut feeling, or is it conviction? Sometimes we make decisions in life that would be considered crazy . But then again who knows? I guess when you listen to your soul, you will now what it tells you. Especially when you get financial and artistic success out of it.

On the picture: Jenne Lennon

On the picture: Jenne Lennon

Loreena McKennitt, studied to be a veterinarian. But the call of Celtic music was strong in her blood that she had to follow it. It wasn’t easy because she had to market her recordings at that time and eventually own her own record label(Quinlan Road) which was a rare feat for a woman in those days. Have you ever tried to do things your way no matter how financially hard it is?  Did that voice inside you said that you have to go on no matter what because it is something you must do to stay sane? I will take this quote from Brian Tracy: The depth of your belief and the strength of your conviction determines the power of your personality.

Cecile Corbel studied to be an Archeologist. Right now she has two albums out. There are lots ands lots of musicians out there who continue to create wonderful music . Those of you who read my interviews here realize that a real musical career is not an easy road. Sure there are popular acts out there who are younger and sell millions of records-but until when and to what extent? We know what celebrity lifestyle does to people. Family value is not the only reason that make sane people. Experience as well as the company of good people also contribute to this. This applies to all of us no matter what careers we choose. We have to love what we’re doing in order for things to follow. And we have to make sure that we are surrounded by people who have our best interest in life.

Personally, I think music is supposed to be a vehicle of healing other than just a means of expression. I love all kinds of music.  There are those that come and go. You know the kind that you love the first time you hear it but grows stale with late. Then there are those that just grows on you and you don’t mind listening to again and again. You can fake production . But you can’t fake passion.The time and energy a musician put on the record to ensure that it is ripe for the world , is also the time it takes for the record to stay in everyone’s ear.

So have you sat down today and thought about what you really want in your life? If you have then amen to that. Who knows? One day you might become that strange and exciting voice  we will be hearing. Or the creator of that music that we will always love.
***

Celtic Music News

Here are updates you might want to check out:

Margeson on the music: Live Ireland’s one and only Celtic music journalist.

http://my.liveireland.com/profiles/blogs/margeson-on-the-music-sept-09

Celtic Grove : What’s new and what’s hot in Celtic radio

http://www.celticgrove.com/webplayer/flexAmp.html

Vinyl Collector’s Treat

/ mrbaxteria2008 / Leave a comment

My friend Vinyl Collector from Unity was kind in contributing his stuff to this site. He collects all formats and right now he has a lot of vinyl records in his growing library. After catching up with him , we able to provide these photos . As a vinyl collector myself this is such a visual treat

According to him:

I’ve been collecting vinyl records probably since 1985 and I was around 15 years old.

How many records in my library? Well I’ve sized it down some, so I would say over 500 records just guessing.

Right now I have 4 turtables in my collection. Two of them made by Dual Germany, one made by Releastic, and one made by Sharp, that plays both sides of the record without having to turn the record over.

I love Enya, and Loreena McKennitt, Clannad, Chicane who did the Moya Saltwater track, The Chieftains, and Nightnoise an Irish group, just to name a few.

Thank’s VC

You can click on each picture for a larger version:

LoreenaTheMaskAndMirror

The Mask And Mirror Germany vinyl full Album

LoreenaTheMummersDanceremixversionv

The Mummers Dance single remix version 7″ vinyl (USA/Canada edition) The other side of it has a short version of The Mystics Dream.

LoreenaMummersDanceItalianPromo

The Mummers Dance Italian promo 7″ vinyl with full length album version. Other side has Enya Only If song

LoreenaAllSoulsNightSpainpromovinyl

All Souls Night Spain promo 7″ vinyl. Same song both sides. Gold coloured cover.

LoreenaAllSoulsNightGermanyvinyl

All Souls Night Germany 7″ vinyl. Has Bonny Portmore on other side. Cover is different than the Spain one.

MummersDanceThroughIreland

And last…..A Mummers Dance Through Ireland CD compilation. Her newest CD only available through Quinlan Road…. limited edition of 1000 copies.

Well, that’s it folks. I wish one day I could showcase my own Celtic collection in vinyl.

The Swans of W. B. Yeats

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 3 Comments

I discovered W. B. Yeats in college and ever since his poetry is something I read from time to time when I want to feel good.There is this distinct sadness in his poetry that is so beautiful. Here’s one taken from the collection of the same title.

THE WILD SWANS AT COOLE

THE trees are in their autumn beauty,
The woodland paths are dry,
Under the October twilight the water
Mirrors a still sky;
Upon the brimming water among the stones
Are nine-and-fifty Swans.

The nineteenth autumn has come upon me
Since I first made my count;
I saw, before I had well finished,
All suddenly mount
And scatter wheeling in great broken rings
Upon their clamorous wings.

I have looked upon those brilliant creatures,
And now my heart is sore.
All’s changed since I, hearing at twilight,
The first time on this shore,
The bell-beat of their wings above my head,
Trod with a lighter tread.

Unwearied still, lover by lover,
They paddle in the cold
Companionable streams or climb the air;
Their hearts have not grown old;
Passion or conquest, wander where they will,
Attend upon them still.

But now they drift on the still water,
Mysterious, beautiful;
Among what rushes will they build,
By what lake’s edge or pool
Delight men’s eyes when I awake some day
To find they have flown away?

 

And since we are in the subject of swans, then listen check this video by Loreena McKennitt called The Bonny Swans.

A Rare Loreena McKennitt LP Sold!

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 3 Comments

I want to thank my friend Vinyl Collector for the link to this Loreena McKennitt Mask and the Mirror vinyl sold at ebay.

Hi Rommel
mckennittlmaskmirrorlp
I noticed a Loreena Vinyl that had sold. Here vinyl is rare, and I’m not surprised at the price.

I have this one, but I bought mine directly from her Quinlan Road office alot cheaper. But they don’t have any vinyls left.

Here’s the one someone sold.

This is an impressive find. Vinyl Collector has a wide range of collection on his shelves in all genres. I asked him to be a featured guest next time . So let’s see if he agrees.