Celtic Roots

Hesperus | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 9, 1999)
• Original Release Date: February 9, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Maggie's Music
• ASIN: B00000I12Z
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,455 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #21 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > International Folk
  • #90 in Music > Indie Music > World Music > Europe

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On Celtic Roots, the early-music revivalists Hesperus perform a selection of English, Irish, and Scottish tunes drawn from the earliest printed sources, some of which date back to the 17th century. Hesperus eschew modern instruments to play this ancient music, favoring instead period instruments like lutes, recorders, theorbos, and violas da gamba as well as the now standard harps and violins. Their performances are historically informed but there is nothing stuffy or academic about the way they play. They attack the dance tunes with a vigor that would pass muster in the rowdiest pub session and play the slow airs with deep emotion. A lot of the music will be familiar to fans of Celtic music even if the instruments used to play it are not. Hesperus have performed a valuable service in reminding us that tunes like "Soldier's Joy," "Haste to the Wedding," and "Cary Owen" are a vital link to the past. --Michael Simmons

Product Description

Musicians featured are Hesperus members:Tina Chancey - Treble (track # 6) and bass violas da gamba, fiddle (track # 1, 21) & recorder;Grant Herried - Lute, theorbo, early guitars and recorder;Scott Reiss - Recorders, whistle & hammered dulcimer;With special guests Bonnie Rideout - Scottish fiddle (Track # 3, 9, 14, 16, 17, 20 & 21);William Taylor - Wire harp (clarsach), Gothic "bray" harp;Philippe Varlet - Irish fiddle (Track #1, 7 & 12).Celtic Roots presents music of Ireland, Scotland and America from its earliest sources on traditional and early music instruments.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No other word but quiet., May 10, 2000

By 

Anna Bierne - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celtic Roots (Audio CD)

This C.D. is very good but a word of warning- it is very quiet. If you want a rollicking C.D. full of Gaelic jig then you probably wont want this.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique!, June 15, 2000

By 

Pernille Søgaard (Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celtic Roots (Audio CD)

It's quiet. But nevertheless it has a lot of ambience. I have ben searching for an album like this for a long time, and I am very happy to have found it at last. It's an exceptionaly beautiful album.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous music, March 3, 2004

By 

Catherine S. Todd (Oxford NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celtic Roots (Audio CD)

This album is fantastic; I too have been "searching," without even really knowing it ~ in my heart and mind and soul ~ for a long time for music like this. The violas in particular really resonate and are featured along with all the other wonderful instruments. I need more! Hesperus, please do another album of the same style! I don't know where else to look for this music and I listen to it every day on my hour long ride in the car. I practically have it memorized; line by line heart and soul. Thank you so much.