Seal Maiden: A Celtic Musical

Karan Casey | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 4, 2000)
• Original Release Date: July 4, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Music Little People
• ASIN: B00004TZYF
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,268 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. We're Going Sailing

2. Dialogue

3. The Cradle Song

4. Dialogue

5. The Silkie Song

6. Dialogue

7. The Seasons

8. Dialogue

9. The Wriggly Eels

10. The Waves Down in the Ocean

11. Port Na Bpucal

12. The Song of the Seal

13. Dialogue

14. Taim Cortha Bheith Im' Aonar Im' Lui

15. Dialogue

16. Seoithin

17. Maidin Aiseach

18. Dialogue

19. The Loony Moon

20. We're Going Sailing (Reprise)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Using such traditional Irish instruments as uilleann pipes, the low whistle, the concertina, and the violin, as well as some of the purest, sweetest voices to be heard on a children's recording in recent memory, Seal Maiden: A Celtic Musical relates a mystical tale. Despite her mother's warnings, a playful seal pup frolics too close to the shore, magically molts her sealskin, and turns into a human. The Seal Maiden's humanness leaves her heartsick and discontented; she misses her mother and can't shrug off an atavistic affinity for biting off eels' heads and devouring them whole, as well as other strictly-for-the-seals behavior. Eventually, though, she marries and has a son. When he discovers his own hidden sealskin, he becomes her gateway back to the sea and the slippery, song-filled life she left behind. If this Emerald Isle legend sounds familiar, that's probably because it was recently given silver-screen treatment in John Sayles's The Secret of Roan Inish. Narrator and lead singer Karan Casey (of the traditional Irish group Solas) is enchanting, especially on "The Song of the Seal" and "Seoithin." Musicians Martin Hayes (violin) and Dennis Cahill (guitar) display near-magical heart-melting powers on "Port Na bPucal," which captures the Celtic spirit beautifully. And then there's this album's intended audience--kids--to consider. Children ages 6 and up will be left spellbound by the Seal Maiden's fantastic saga, and those under 6 will be lulled into sweet dreams by its gentle-voiced, exceptionally talented singers, whose far-off land of salty waves and endless possibilities they evoke so gracefully. --Tammy La Gorce

From Parents' Choice®

Irish singer Karan Casey, formerly with Ireland's noted group Solas, performs a retelling of the myth that inspired the moving family film, "The Secret of Roan Inish." Casey tells and sings of a Silkie, a seal maiden who shed her skin, was trapped in human form, married and had a son. Born in a seal-skin "with the ocean in his heart-beat," the little boy is destined to discover his own dual nature and help his mother find her long lost home, too.

A host of other singers and musicians bring the fantasy to life with Celtic instruments and the haunting, dancing sound of traditional Celtic music-you won't easily forget the lovely song that begins and ends the tale, "We're Going Sailing." A 2000 Parents' Choice® Silver Honor.

Reviewed by Lynne Heffley, Parents' Choice® 2000

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relaxing and enjoyable, August 6, 2000

By 

R. L. Dehais "rlbdhome" (Portland, ME USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Seal Maiden: A Celtic Musical (Audio CD)

I purchased this CD when looking for a story on tape to listen to in the car on a long trip with my two children. They listened intently and keep asking to listen to it over and over again. The music, and Karen Casey's voice, are very soothing. The story of the Seal Maiden is entertaining and engaging. There is just the right mix of narration and music to hold my children's attention, and at the same time, it is enjoyable for the adults to listen to as well. My children have memorized all the songs and keep singing them long after the CD is over.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly beautiful., July 26, 2003

By 

James Heckman "Celtic music fan" (Halifax, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seal Maiden: A Celtic Musical (Audio CD)

SealMaiden is supposed to be for children, but for adult fans of female Celtic music, it is an experience of extraordinary beauty. This is my favorite genre of music, and I have a strong collection of some of the best Celtic and other folk performers in the world. In other words, I have a lot to compare it to. Having said this, I don't know if I've ever been as hypnotized by the sheer melodic beauty of the music as in this album. And the alternating narrative, for those capable of enchantment, weaves a spellbinding tale of the silkie legend. With an extremely competitive music collection, I seldom listen to a CD all the way through, but I have done so many times with this CD. I could go into details, such as the beauty of Karan Casey's voice, the quality of the narrative text by Marina Carr, the superb instrumentation, but enough said. This album is an undiscovered jewel, a mixture of mesmerizing musical beauty and a magical world for the imagination.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great CD, March 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Seal Maiden: A Celtic Musical (Audio CD)

I gave this CD to my one-year old nephew and he loves it!!! The stories are beautiful and thoughtful. I recently saw Karan Casey in concert and she was amazing. If you like this CD, check out her adult music.