Customer Reviews

Celtic Harp, Vol. 2: From A Distant Time

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For his second album, Ball chose a selection of familiar and less familiar tunes from the British Isles, ranging from contemporary compositions in the folk manner to traditional Irish and Welsh melodies and British folk ballads. Although some of the material suffers from over-familiarity, the performances are always impassioned, and the wire-strung harp gives the tunes a new lease on life: you'll feel you never REALLY heard "Greensleeves" before! I tend to prefer the O'Carolan tunes, for which Ball seems to have a natural affinity. (I was once listening to this tape on a Walkman while doing my laundry, and found myself dancing around the laundromat to "John O'Connor," to the astonishment of the other patrons.) But, all in all, the album is a pleasure.

This album (and many other Patrick Ball harp pieces) is a wonderful mood-setter for an artist or writer. Some songs are mellow while others are more lively without being agitating or frenetic. This is some of the best music to meditate by and it will set you in a good, calm attitude. The quality of sound is excellent and professional. Best of all - no synthesizers that plague "new age" music. Just beautiful, clear harp from talented hands.

This is absolutley one of my favorite cds! Unfortunately, someone else is now enjoying it. Since it is such a favorite, it is most always in my cd changer in the car. We traded that vehicle in last year and forgot to get the cds out! We called the dealer the next day and he said there weren't any cds in the changer. Someone got a good deal on some excellent music!

Patrick Ball, renowned Celtic harp player, has filled this CD with wonderful, soothing music. I would highly recommend anything he has produced to those who enjoy the pleasure of music produced on the Celtic harp.