Customer Reviews

Celtic Legends: Bard & Warrior

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this cd on a whim in a local bookstore, and much to my surpise it became my favorite cd. Still is. I use it regulary for excellent sleep and vivid dreams, always awaking refreshed. Several friends have spent the night at my house and been so enchanted by it, they have all bought their own copies. I could give no other cd so high a recommendation. Please don't miss the beauty and peace Dunning & Johnson have graced us with. As if it alone wasn't enought, the insight of Taliesin's tales was helpful in my research of the bards of olde. I can't wait for them to produce another masterpiece...Blessed Be!

In "Music of Celtic Legends: The Bard and the Warrior", lyrical and original compositions are tied together as a whole by recurring themes, which are reworked and rewoven throughout the compositions. Brian Dunning's soulful flutes and whistles soar above the creative keyboards of Jeff Johnson and the added guitar and percussion of other artists. While this is definitely New Age music in style, rather than Celtic, these ambient compositions all have a subtle purpose and yearning about them that evokes images of a quest--perhaps not a quest of fear and gratuitous violence, but of seeking, exploring, and allowing oneself to be awed by the beauty and wonder in the world, and all that one does not (yet) know. I imagine that this is music of a reflective protagonist or two, and that their journey through the wilderness is one of self discovery. These compositions were inspired by writings of Stephen R. Lawhead, historical fantasy author and collector of Celtic legends, and the insert contains vignettes written by Lawhead about Taliesin and CuChulainn, two central figures in the mythic tradition of the Celts. For more storytelling music in the adventurous vein, try also Johnson and Dunning's subsequent release, "Byzantium: The Book of Kells and St. Aidan's Journey", and Ed Van Fleet's "The Forgotten Tribe".

This CD will put you in a mellow mood in a heartbeat. This is not only my favorite album by Johnson and Dunning, it is also one of my all time favorite Celtic music CDs. If you like this CD, try any of the albums by Brian Dunning's group "Nightnoise". You'll not be disappointed. However, avoid 'Byzantium-The Book of Kells & St. Aidan's Journey" (the follow-up CD to this), it is no where near as good as Celtic Legends

I have been studying Taliesin and cuChulainn and this CD was listed in some reference work. I bought it nearly sight-unseen, and was astounded by the music I heard. It is haunting, uplifting, celebratory, and is in danger of being worn out from playing it so much! :) I highly recommend this CD for anyone with a love of Celtic music

I bought this CD on a whim, and I'm glad I did. It is the most original music i've heard and I love it to death! It is very relaxing and after I have memorized the CD note to note and I now use it to fall asleep to every night. I can't wait for another CD like this to be released. A must for every Celtic music fan!

If you are looking for one excellent collection of Celtic music for your library, then you have found it. This is music to both heal and inspire the soul. The blend of traditional instruments, human voice, and sounds from nature come close to perfection. If you close your eyes you can clearly see the various legendary themes covered:
1) The Bard and the Warrior,
2) The Dream of Taliesin,
3) Tylwyth Teg,
4) The Crossing,
5) The Fortunate Isle,
6) Lady Sovereignty,
7) CuChulainn's Last Battle,
8) The Raven Stone,
9) Way of the Warrior,
10) Isle of the Everliving,
11) Ancient Song.

A well-written and designed little booklet is included to retell the tales of Taliesin (the bard) and CuChulainn (the Warrior.) The tale of the Ancient Song is also included- of how the Celts of old believed that the world was upheld and sustained by a single all-embracing melody. After listening to this collection on a quiet evening, you will have no doubts that this is so.

I bought this CD, blindly, based on the reviews. I don't do that as a rule, however I am so glad I did. What a beautiful CD. The music virtually lifted me above what I heard in that I became infiltrated with it. Hauntingly beautiful!

It's not often that I pick up a CD simply based on its title, but this one I did, and I am far better off having done it. In short, this is some of the best contemporary Celtic music that I have ever heard, rivaling the best from the likes of Enya, Clannad, and Davy Spillane. There are haunting pipes, oboes, and whistles, and soothing strings, as well. But this is not a recording that one might be tempted to fall asleep listening to. It certainly makes for excellent background music, but the intricate melodies that Johnson and Dunning weave here make the listener want to sit up and drink in every note. If you even have a mild interest in Celtic music, buy this CD. You'll be hard pressed to find a better one.

I was extremely pleased with this CD. It was worth it just reading the two Celtic legends in the booklet, but the music is incredible. Anyone who likes Celtic music will enjoy the rich flute and keyboards in this collection. This music is a lot less electric than earlier works by Jeff Johnson. The beauty of the music is just overwelming. I look forward to their next collaboration sometime in 1999.

An excellent offering which merges a modern celtic sound with rich audio imagery of mythical fantasy world. Dunning's vibrant flute and Johnson's ability to merge eclectic instrumentation into a seemless whole make each track come to life, and tell a story of high-adventure.

I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed with a single track. This was one of those recordings I picked up on a whim, and has resided in my cd player ever since. Can't wait for another collaboration.