Customer Reviews

Songs of the British Isles

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a 24 yr old canadian woman, mother and daughter. For as long as I can remember I have listen to Nana's songs, her words touching my heart even as a small child. I have heard many of Nana's songs and have even been lucky enough to see her live in concert but this album is one of my 2 favorites. I am now lucky enough to be able to share this album and such songs as ..I give my love a cherry.. with my own daughter and I hope it reaches her like it it does with people all over the world. Love, Hope, and Peace will never grow old.

I have the original LP recording of this CD reissue, and judging from Nana's youthful voice, these songs were recorded some time ago. The crystal clear bell-like beauty of her voice is most appropriate for these well-loved British folk songs. In particular,her renditions of Danny Boy, O Waly Waly and the Ash Grove are simply exquisite, whilst In An English Country Garden and Spinning Wheel are infectiously happy.

I encountered this album babysitting as a teenager (but never bought it... the earnings went to university fees!). Now that I have children of my own, I find myself trying to sing the songs as I remember them (especially The Ash Grove, All Through the Night, and An Eriskay Love Lilt). Having now found it at amazon.com, I'm ordering it in order to learn the words as lullabies, and to teach my children these sometimes lively, sometimes haunting classics of English musical folklore. Nana Mouskouri's beautiful voice is very peaceful to listen to, and her slight accent interfers only mildly with the "Britishness" of the songs.

I love British Isles traditional music. This collection is one of the BEST out there. Her accent might seem strange at first as she is Greek by birth, but the feeling she brings to the music helps one overlook it. Her rendition of "Skye Boat Song" might lead you to believe the tragedies had happened to HER people and within HER generation. Her voice lilts over the notes as you picture Charles Stewart, pretender to the throne skimming over the shining waves while fleeing to the Isle of Skye. I'm not sure how she does with the language but Suo Gan, the famous Welsh lullaby, is quite lovely. These songs all have a history and I wonder if she researched them first so she'd be able to better interpret them . Melodically, she has a much higher voice than Jean Redpath, a Scotch traditional musician, and lacks the accent as previously mentioned but her voice is so extremely pleasing that even more lamenting themes, such as Skye Boat, come off as being uplifting. It's an older recording but since I've discovered it, it has become one of my essentials.

This is a specual CD performed by Nana Mouskouri, our loved Greek singer, many years ago in 1976. As the titkle says, these are old songs from the British isles but they are remarkable in her voice. I recommend "She moved through the air", "I gave my love a cherry", "All through the night" and the beautiful Lullaby "Suo gan".

No much in common between Greek Nana and the British Isles, you'll say. Yet, the particular (exquisite for some) colour of her voice turns out to be surprisingly Celtic-like and becoming. This is a must for the Mouskouri fans who benefit from her quite decent pronounciation... in English too!

I purchased this album as a gift for a friend and loved it so much that I am now going to order for me. Nana's voice has the charming accent that you actually forget about when she is singing-especially Danny Boy. Only discovered Nana several years ago but her voice is one of the best around-it doesn't matter what language she uses.

Nana-music to rest with. Her softly voice on these CD is great!!! Soft and humble - as Nana. But willing for love and respect for the real english-irish-scottic-songs.Listening - REST AND TAKE YOUR WINGS to see Nanas land of the calm peace of nature. I love it!!!

I bought this CD for historical research reasons- I needed to hear one of the English folk songs. The wonderful surprise is the enchanting voice of Nana Mouskouri, and I realized I did remember her from that ancient past. An unforgettable voice. Now I must buy more of her other albums!

Nana-music to rest with. Her softly voice on these CD is great!!! Soft and humble - as Nana. But willing for love and respect for the real english-irish-scottic-songs.Listening - REST AND TAKE YOUR WINGS to see Nanas land of the calm peace of nature. I love it!!!