Faces of the Harp: Celtic & Contemporary

Various Artists - New Age | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 22, 1997)
• Original Release Date: April 22, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada Media Productions
• ASIN: B000005P6C
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,441 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Austin's Planxty - Dennis Doyle

2. The Tipsy Elk - Thomas Loefke

3. Dance Of The Lambs - Kim Robertson

4. Saguaro - L. Riley & M. MacBean

5. The Castlebay Scrap/Stuarts Rant - Sileas

6. Dialogue With A Brook - Sylvia Woods

7. Bennachie Sunrise/Willie's Trip To Toronto - Sedrenn

8. Waterdance/Gay-feather - K.L. Waldren and C. Kreitlow

9. Memories Of That Isle - Derek Bell

10. Eclipse - Ani Williams

11. Blessing Way - Julia Haines

12. The Mushrooms Of Fagernes - Northern Lights

13. Bas Alastruim/McAllistruim's March - A. Heymann & A. Kinnaird

14. The Wedding Of Psyche And Eros - Judith Pintar

15. Spring - R. Lee with A. Rigby

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! Don't pass this one by!, May 25, 2003

By 

Brianna Neal (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Faces of the Harp: Celtic & Contemporary (Audio CD)

Both soothing and invigorating, this is a lush, rich and varied compilation of selections from some of the best harp players and composers in the business! No matter how many times I put this recording on, listening to it is always a treat; because the harps and musical styles featured are so varied, it seems that there's always something new. The artists playing on this recording are many: Dennis Doyle, Thomas Loefke, Kim Robertson, Sylvia Woods, Derek Bell, Ani Williams, Julia Haines, Judith Pintar, and quite a number of harp duos: Laurie Riley and Michael MacBean, Sileas, Sedrenn, Katie LaRaye Waldren and Candace Kreitlow, Northern Lights, Alison Heymann and Alison Kinnaird, and Andy Rigby with Riley Lee. Styles range from traditional Celtic to modern and jazz, North and South American, New Age, and even Japanese, featuring both solo and ensemble harp playing, as well as harp duets and pairings with other instruments such as shakuhachi and hammered dulcimer. I passed on buying this CD several years ago in a bookstore after reading a review that said all those harps on one recording were "cloying". Recently, after coming across it again, I decided to give it a chance and I'm very glad I did; it's become one of the favorites in my collection! Certainly, if you don't like the sound of harp music, you shouldn't buy this or any other harp CD. But if you do, this one is a top pick! You won't be disappointed. Also recommended with equal enthusiasm are "Harpestry: A Contemporary Collection" and "Celtic Harpestry: A Contemporary Collection", both from Imaginary Road Records.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Harp Revisited, August 30, 2003

By 

Lenore Van Camp (San Diego, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Faces of the Harp: Celtic & Contemporary (Audio CD)

The unbelievable artistry and beauty in this album gives the harp a new sound, reclaiming for this marvelous instrument, too often relegated to the background, a position in the limelight it rightfully deserves.

I'd heard before the harp used in folkloric Mexican, Peruvian and Celtic music, and there are some of these foreign accents brought into this mix. As the title suggests, much of the music has undeniable Celtic strains, but, with the artful addition of other foreign flavors, the sound created by these artists is new, fresh, vital, full of crystal and fire.

My overall impression is awe at the talent brought together into a single CD. Every single selection is so beautiful that it's difficult, almost unfair, to single out any one piece. I'll just say that Spring, the last selection, a hauntingly beautiful, magical combination of Japanese bamboo flute and Southamerican harp, is truly worth waiting for. What a value!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the very best harp CD's out there, March 27, 2001

By 

John Wheeler (King David's Harp, Inc., Houston, TX.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Faces of the Harp: Celtic & Contemporary (Audio CD)

I bought this CD out of curiosity while visiting Wherehouse Music recently. I'd heard other great recordings by Narada, especially of Celtic music, but had yet to see or hear a recording strictly of harp music. Having heard and purchased both "Harpestry" and "Celtic Harpestry" by Imaginary Road Records, I was looking forward to measuring this album against them.

I must say, I'm astonished. If anything, this album has just as much class and beauty as, and even more panache than, the Imaginary Road recordings (which is saying a lot) -- not surprising, since many of the same artists perform on this recording. (I know or or have heard of most of them through our common membership in the International Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsmen; they are among the most renowned harpers in the world.) The variety of moods and attitudes (and even of spiritualities) on this recording ought to supply something for everyone; and unlike some albums of this genre, each artist is given but one selection to play, ensuring that as many artists as possible get to perform.

By all means, get this album. Restfulness it certainly has (after all, this is harp music); but there is also great vigor, *joie de vivre*, moodiness and even mystery here. It's good to know that the bardic and prophetic art of harping is alive and well in this modern, electronic, guitar-driven age.