Ancestral Crossing

Scott Hartley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2001)
• Original Release Date: January 1, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: First Light Music
• ASIN: B000059RX7
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,811 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

About the Artist Keyboardist Scott Hartley says his new album, Ancestral Crossing, is “a celebration of life and adventure,” a musical portrait of his forebear’s travels from England and Ireland to America, and later journeys by his relatives and himself across the continent coast-to-coast. The recording, Hartley’s second album on the First Light Music label, equally stresses Scott’s love of both acoustic and synthesized instrumental music. A trained synthesist and sound designer who has worked at top companies in the “tech industry,” Scott purposely plays acoustic piano (either a Steinway or a Seiler) on every tune on this album and even adds alto saxophone on one piece. In addition, even though Hartley contributes various synthesized sounds (including drums, bass and strings) to Ancestral Crossing, he also brought in other musicians to perform acoustically and add to the ensemble sound -- violinist Charlie Bisharat (John Tesh, Jim Matheos), flutist Peter Gordon (also on pennywhistle and recorder, he has played with Suzanne Ciani), cellist Melissa Hasin (John Tesh), saxophonist Farzin (a recording artist himself), acoustic guitarist Brian Donovan (who co-engineered the album and co-wrote one song), and vocalist Elizabeth Egan Everett (various rock bands and opened for The Cure). Hartley co-produced the album with Michael Stern (he also engineered), who is well-known in Hollywood recording circles for engineering many top TV shows and major films. He attended Indiana University Southeast in New Albany for two years majoring in piano and classical performance. “I decided I didn’t want to only play compositions that were 300 years old. I started getting in to synthesizers and technology, and I began writing my own music.” Hartley switched to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston for three years and got his Bachelors of Music Degree in Music Synthesis. His musical influences at that time were Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Wendy Carlos, Yanni, David Lanz and Michael Jones. "The most important thing on my Ancestral Crossing album was to take the listener and make them experience a journey. Part of the fun of traveling as well as listening to new music is that you never know what’s going to happen next. Thematically the album traces my ancestors’ travels from the old world all the way to America and across the continent, which is the heritage of so many Americans because that’s the way our country developed. But I also hope the music expresses the more universal feelings of any journey taken.”

Product Description

A celebration of life and adventure. This Celtic inspired instrumental journey features piano, violin, cello, voice, guitar and flute. Everyone has an ancestral heritage rooted deep in the soul. Hartley's new album pay homage to the Crossing so many made long ago.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beauty And Power, February 2, 2001

By 

Brian Donovan (Sherman Oaks, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancestral Crossing (Audio CD)

Ancestral Crossing captures a musical space that will transform your state of mind. Each track spreads the seeds of Scott's unique compositional style under a lush bed of instruments that blossom around his piano centerpiece. Scott has such a soft touch and yet such a firm pressence to his playing that one just cannot bear to turn their ear away. It's both captivating AND timeless. Congratulations Scott, on a true masterpiece of beauty and power.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Achievement, March 21, 2001

By 

Suzanne Bell-Doucet (Hollywood, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancestral Crossing (Audio CD)

Hartley's second album shows a young, multitalented artist, with equal ability to perform on the piano and keyboards, composing melodic, but modern instrumental music and the quality of writing incredibly beautiful arrangements. Top musicians, such as violonist Charlie Bisharat from Shadowfax, Farzin (Saxophone) and Melissa Hasin (Cello) team up on this album with Scott Hartley to make this a gem of the New Age genre. Bringing into his diverse musical styles spiritual depth and metaphysical overtones, Scott Hartley represents a new generation of New Age musicians that lead this genre from classical crossover, smooth Jazz and Folk to a broader platform and further the understanding and acceptance of this kind of music.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Uplifting Journey, January 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Ancestral Crossing (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful uplifting album. Great for travel, or while your cooking, taking a walk or just relaxing! Beautifully recorded and excellent instrumental playing. One of the best instrumental New Age Albums out there.