Customer Reviews

Celtic Minstrel

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

 

 

This CD is the best for de-stressing. I just received James Galway's Celtic Minstrel tunes and can't get enough of the beautiful guitar, cello, flute, violin, keyboard & percussion combinations.

Most of his songs provide for relaxingly slow and soft versions of the Irish classics we have come to love. However, some really 'pick up' with the Chieftains adding to Galway's flute with exciting bagpipes or marching snare drums. And though I was only slightly disappointed with his rendition of "Danny Boy", the CD continues to be my most-listened to.

I love this CD and will listen to it over and over! A lot of flute music including some of Galway's other works are nice but sound like showing off of how fast and difficult it is. This CD sounds so natural you can imagine yourself actually being in Ireland listening to it. The pieces with the Chieftans lilt in the air with the beautiful traditional melodies. Even the well-known "Danny Boy" is played with an original feel that doesn't leave you thinking you've heard this a million times before. Galway fan, flute lover or Celtic aficianado - you'll enjoy this!

Celtic Minstrel is a wonderful CD. We bought it after hearing another of James Galway's works, and have truly enjoyed this one. It is beautiful, calming, and fun to relax to.

I must have almost all of James Galway's CD's but he is best playing the music from home.

This isn't James Galway's most virtuosic CD, but it is still absolutely beautiful and magic...about .1% percent of the time it's a little dull, but the other 99.9% is truly beautiful. I think my favorite thing about this CD is its utter peacefulness and the fluttery, angelic sound of the flute. The Irish classics on this CD don't just have flute accompaniment; there are many other instruments that combine to really make this an "Irish" album. In particular, I really enjoyed the drums, the pipes (can't get enough of them!!!) and the alto flute (slightly more mellow-sounding than the usual flute). Favorites of mine on this CD include a very "soulful" renedition of "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" and "Carrickfergus." OK, so you may not like this CD if you're a huge fan of rap music (or anything equally "anti-relaxation"...but Irish music fans, this one's for you.

I bought this disc for my wife who loves James Galway. She is in raptures over it and claims it to one of the most beautiful discs Sir Jame Galway has produced

I like relaxing music. I really do.
And I like flute music. And Celtic music.
But I am baffled why anyone would think highly of this CD.
The best tracks (some - like "Over the Sea to Skye") are like some of Enya's sleepier recordings. The worst tracks (many - like "The Minstrel Boy" and "Danny Boy") are like New Age elevator music. There is a difference between music that is relaxing and music that is mindless drivel. On this CD you get both.
The only saving grace is James Galway's virtuosity but the choice of songs and the way they are orchestrated is poor. I listened to this CD twice and now am trying to find a way to dispose of it. Not recommended.
A much better CD of similar virtuosity but great music is Chris Norman, "Man with the Wooden Flute." And James Galway has probably produced better CD's than this.