Music

Cecile Corbel – Sweet Amaryllis

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Cécile Corbel
“Sweet Amaryllis” (John Wilbye/Corbel)
Original music video (c) Bran Music 2012
from the album “SongBook vol.3”

Cecile Corbel on tour!

Do you ever get this impulse of being stuck in one song and finding your self playing it again and again? I know it isn’t what normal people do because what happens is when a song ends you move to the next track. Today, I found myself getting stuck in this one song by Breton musician Cecile Corbel. The song is called Mary and there is this stanza that goes:

Mary was a sailor
But she is drowned to die
She sleeps under the sea
Mary ever on her way

Kind of morbid don’t you think? But the music of Brittany has always been steeped in stories of seafarers. This song made me go to her website and I saw her new video called Sweet Amaryllis taken from the new album Songbook 3. I am impressed by her knack for powerful melodies and tight vocal harmonies. This is a kind of music that artists like Moya Brennan and  fellow Breton Nolwenn Leroy make. Very catchy and haunting at the same time. Need I say that her videos are always appealing ? She is on tour right now and more can be found in http://www.cecile-corbel.com

Harp Music, Good Mood!

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Scott Hoye takes harp music to the next level!

I think  these days the harp has been overlooked in much of Celtic music. Chicago based harpist/singer/composer Scott Hoye has added charm and elegance to this instrument making it fresh as a ripe fruit ready to be plucked for your sonic hunger. He weaves his personal style to traditional tunes  to create something new out of the old.

As for the singing, this man can sing! Right now the rain is falling as I write this piece. His music is a perfect companion to that mood. You should try this: make yourself hot chocolate with bread and butter. Find a great spot by your window. Look at the glistening leaves under the gray sky.. and smell that wet scent of the earth rising along with other organic scents. Close your eyes occasionally to the sound of harp music. You will be in a good mood later. I am at peace oh yes! Feeling calm now.

http://www.reverbnation.com/scotthoye

Blurb about Scott Hoye:

Scott was a founding member of the Celtic ensemble The Spriggans, as well as the progressive rock band Seranati. His repertoire includes traditional and original tunes on Celtic harp, vocals, whistles, and percussion. Scott gathers inspiration from traditional sources of Irish, Scottish, other Celtic, folk, and world music, while mixing them together with contemporary sounds to create a new, sonic brew.

Lúnasa: A Band with Consistently Beautiful Artwork?

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Mirror mirror on the wall, who has the best album cover of them all?

I believe that every topic merits an article. The little conversation that I had with Christi and Connie inspired this piece. It has something to do with the post Christi made of the Irish band Lúnasa. Through the years this band made amazing recordings of top notch traditional interpretations that got them into the global spotlight.

They have a new album out called Lá Nua’. As always we expect nothing but amazing music . However something has been overlooked in forum discussions as well as reviews from other Celtic magazines. It is the amazing album artworks. My first Lúnasa album was Otherworld(1999). The impressionistic photography and dashes of blue and green colors are really eye-catching.  There are albums out there that sound really great but the artwork don’t really give justice to the music.  To see more of the band’s album artwork just visit the photogallery section of the official site.

Deirdre Shannon, The voice of Goddess Erin.

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Deirdre Shannon Photo by B.Doherty
In this photo:
Deirdre Shannon http://www.deirdreshannon.com

Nothing beats waking up to a great voice of Deirdre Shannon!

Well well well, at last it is official. This site will now become http://www.celticmusicfan.com. Hahaha I am basking at the thought of it all. For two years I dreamed and now  it is going to be my official baby with the help of my two angelic Celtic warriors who are my best pals for life. What would I do without them? Anyway I am so happy and so overwhelmed that I am afraid I might not be able to write an article because of this…joking!

It is a nice warm Sunday. So how are you folks doing? I spent the whole day listening to Celtic music and I was not aware that myspace actually transmits all the songs I listened to online so you can’t imagine the shock I felt upon looking at my twitter widget. I apologize to my followers who were bombarded by such updates. Perhaps it was too early for some of you to get such insistent notice.

Morning is best when it is greeted by a calm, relaxed state. And yes, meditative music helps. I am not one of those who start the day by playing dance music. I’d rather wake up to the Gregorian chants at 5 am than the sound of techno.  That will wait until the evening.

Now this lass I am presenting here looks familiar doesn’t she? That is because you must have seen her already in shows like Lord of the dance, Celtic Tenors and The Canadian Tenors.   Deirdre Shannon’s career blossomed in the mid- 90s when she joined the Celtic choir Anuna.

She has  pure and beautiful soprano that comes with a crossover appeal. Not too high brow classical nor sweet  bright and popsy. Just the right combination. I think people remembered her as the Goddess Erin in Lord of the Dance. I have to tell you I can listen to her for hours and never get tired.

There are few artists who can be naturally beautiful both inside and out. Deirdre is one of them. She doesn’t have to try. Her beauty shines forth sans make up. And yes that voice can make you forget she is a human being.

She has a new album out:

Deirdre’s highly anticipated album – Anamceol – is available for purchase through CD Baby, be sure to click on “Deirdre’s Shop”!  

In this her second album, Irish singer Deirdre Shannon shares unique treasures from her country’s rich musical heritage. This collection of songs, reminiscent of a time almost forgotten, leads you through a rich tapestry of Celtic life. Deirdre guides you on a journey of love, nature and mythology, to a place where your heart is consoled. She brings you music for the soul. Anamċeol.

The Indianapolis Ceili Band

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Do you ever get that feeling when you have  a lot of things to tell but you just have no choice but to it back and tell them bits by bits? That is what I feel with hundreds of bands I want to recommend but I have to take it easy because we can’t fit everything I  one page.

Today I am highlighting the Indianapolis Ceili Band.  The musicians in this group make music for the purpose of performing the songs in ceilis and also to show what it means to be American and Irish. Expect members to be just musicians and not a bunch of Celtic Woman or Celtic Thunder wannabes. Just guys performing together for the love of music.

Their album Every Wednesday Night is out. Now if you are curious to listen to sample tracks you can actually hear them for free through their official site’s music page . I heard few tracks and they are magnificent! You should check them out.

Members:   

Fiddles:
Maggie Davis
Samantha Stelting
Flutes:
Alberta Lathan
Dmitri Alano

Concertina:
Ed Delaney

Accordion:
Dianna Davis

Tenor Banjo:
Mario Joven

Keyboards:
Robyn Ton

Percussion:
Chris Deis

Visit their facebook band site

See also Ennis Clare Irish Band