Customer Reviews

Highland Cathedral

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Take soft piano and string renditions of melodic tunes. Add a smattering of traditional music like 'Flow Gently Sweet Afton' and 'Over the Sea to Skye.' Mix with the occasional skirl of bagpipes and the fine voice of Aife ni Fhearraigh. Put Phil Coulter at the helm and in short order you have Highland Cathedral an album that can best be described as Celtic New Age - if you need to describe it at all.

Enya, of course, owns this market segment, and will probably own it forever. But once you leave her own ingenious ability to write beautiful music and sing it just as well, the drop off to second best is a bit steep. Phil Coulter is perhaps the best of them, although his style is more or less one step removed from Celtic film music, it's always the kind of listening that invites you to sit bake and take a weight of your shoulders.

Occasionally, he shows some daring, but for the most part he is theme and variations of traditional sounds. And, perhaps, a bit too much them and not enough variation. Even so, I like Highland Cathedral, and probably always shall. Like most of my generation, I am a secret Celt. Entranced by legends, and music and sounds that always seem a bit better than the ones to which I am heir.

And this suits me fine, whether it is that martial bagpipes of 'Highland Cathedral,' the easy familiarity of 'The Flowers of the Forest,' or the beautiful singing on 'If these Stones Could Speak' or 'Our Island Barque.' While this music will never move mountins, it can still move the listener a bit closer to comfort and peace. No small accomplishment.

I have had this cd for about a month now and I never get tired of listening to it. It is relaxing without being boring. I love the way Phil Coulter gives a discription about each song giving you a background of how he wrote it and what it represents. My husband loves his music and even my four year old grandson loves the "drum song" (you will know which one I am refering to when you hear all of the beautiful sounds of all kinds of drums as the focal point put together with the music. I highly recommend this to people who like Enya, Yanni, John Tesh, etc.

This is as good as it gets. Mr. Coulter is in touch with the stars of the heavens, and his music speaks with nostalgia of a world he knows well, remembers fondly, and wishes to introduce to us. Just buy it - you will love it.

Highland Cathedral represents my first exposure to Phil Coulter's music. I find this album to be a wonderful blend of the modern and the traditional, the personal and the universal, the meditative and the motivational. Phil Coulter manages to use a variety of musical vehicles to deliver transcendent music including solo piano, Celtic and Scottish melodies, enchanting vocals, and textured harmonies. The album is simply beautiful, full of songs that inspire and elevate the soul. If you like contemplative, new age, or Celtic music, then you'll surely appreciate Highland Cathedral.

Highland Cathedral

This is a hauntingly beauticul musical experience. I have given it as gifts to family and friends, and plan to do so again this holiday season.

I have enjoyed the "Celtic Thunder" music since I first saw them on PBS. I noticed that a lot of the music that they preform is written by Phil Coulter, so on a wim I ordered this and one other one of his. It is a wonderful CD and I have it loaded in the CD player right along with my a few of my other favorite CD's that I have playing a lot in the background all day long. This seems to be a combination of traditional highland tunes like "Over the sea to skye", and equally wonderful tunes that he has written himself, like "The gathering bealtaine". This man is a true treasure.

I could listen to Coulter's music all day. Wonderful composer and arrangements. Never stop. We believe in you.

Highland Cathedral takes you to a gentler,greener place. Not just for the Irish, but for the peaceful spirit in all of us. A great stress reliever but not a sleeping pill. Listening to this is like dreaming wide awake.

Strong music with a glorious theme. Okay to listen to once in a while. Not something you would play over and over.

I enjoy listening to Celtic music and I'm a big fan of Celtic Thunder. Phil Coulter is very involved with that show so purchasing one of his CD's was natural for me. The title song was always a favorite of mine, that was the reason for picking this perticular CD. From start to finish, I was thrilled with the music. If you enjoy listening to celtic music, I definitely would recommend this CD and any other involving Phil Coulter. The man is a genius. Keep writing those songs Phil,especially for Celtic Thunder.