Customer Reviews

Castellum Honesti: Celtic Music of Spain

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Castellum Honesti is surely a geat Cd, worth being bought. Maybe if you're looking for celtic music, you won't expect anyone to say, as I do, that this is my favourite celtic music group (and I have a lot of Irish, Scottish, Welsh or Breton CD's), but it is (maybe you should know that Galicia, in north-west Spain, is as green and foggy as Ireland, that bagpipe is the national instrument there, and that Milladoiro, whose members have a very solid background in folk and medieval music, plays delightfully melancholic songs -as well as some joyous tradicional dance songs-)

I would also recommend you to buy other Milladoiro CD's that I enjoy even better, as Galicia de Maeloc, Galicia no Pais das Maravillas or Solfafria - but any of their CD's is a sure buy.

The Galician roots band Milladoiro was founded in the late Seventies, but they really came to international attention in 1992 when they were signed to Green Linnet during the Celtic music fad of that time. CASTELLUM HONESTI was their first release on the label. To an extent, Milladoiro fit in well with Irish and Scottish bands, as the folk music of northwestern Spain has vague parallels with the islands. The opening "Maneo da Ulla/Foliada de Padrenda" has gentle harp and bagpipe.

But Green Linnet's sticker "Celtic Music from Spain" unfairly pigeonholes the band; their sound has a great variety and their inspirations are wide-ranging. "Milladoiro" is a gentle track similar to offerings on the Windham Hill label. "A Faruquinna" and "Muineira de Vilanova" have zesty percussion and wordless vocals entirely foreign to the British Isles. "Esta Noite Hai Unha Fia" and "Muneira de chantada" look back to Southern European musical traditions of the late Middle Ages.

This is rhythmically engaging, tuneful music that I think would appeal to any listener. Granted, it isn't the most mindblowing music every and some parts feel flimsy (the smooth production may be to blame), but I still put this disc one fairly often.

This is a brilliant CD. The first two tracks are among the best - rich, melodies hinting of Rodrigo's guitar music - yet played with harps, flutes, and other orchestral instruments. A few tracks seem standard Celtic, but most have that mixture of influeces that make this endlessly intriguing. A great find for those who think they have everything in music. For a mix of Portugal's music with Celtic flavors try the group's "Fadas De Estrano."

Hear the joy of the ages, the soul that flies in eternal dance. Incredibly honest.Thanks!