Customer Reviews

There Was a Lady: The Voice of Celtic Women

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

 

 

Warning: This CD can be habit forming! These beautifully performed jewels of Celtic music will run through your head long after the CD player stops. Beginning with Mary Dillon's version of "Willie Taylor," the light-hearted song of the murder of an untrue lover, and ending with her haunting--almost eerie--rendition of "Dark Iniseoghain," the CD explores the depth and breadth of Celtic music. Dance reels are intermingled with beautiful ballads such as "There Was a Lady" and the Robert Burns song "Green Grow the Rushes Oh!" Perhaps the track that best embodies the intricate passions of the Celt, however, is Mairin Fahy's powerful performance of "Suil a Run," which is at once a toe-tapper and a heart-wrencher. But the most moving performance is Cathie Ryan's offering, "Roison Dubh." Her voice is so richly resonant that you may not notice at first that she is singing unaccompanied. This was without a doubt one of the best gifts that I have ever received. I consider it a MUST for everyone who loves Celtic culture.

This is a wonderful CD! I received it as a gift several years ago, and it still remains one of my absolute favorites today (I actually need to buy a new copy, because mine is starting to wear out).

It is a compilation of many well-known (and some not so well-known) female singers. Some of the standouts songs are Aoife Clancy's soothing "Green Grow the Rushes Oh," Triona Ni Dhomhnail's heartwarming "There was a Lady," and Mary Dillon's enchanting and mournful "Dark Iniseoghain."

I would highly recommend this CD to anyone with a love (or an interest in) traditional Irish music, as there is not a track on it that I dislike. It is truly outstanding!

I own a few cds of Celtic music, and this is by far the best--it is not 'easy listening' like other, more instrumental stuff. Each song says something (even if it's in a language you do not actually speak) and you have to Listen, not put in for background music. It is not 'fusion' celtic-techno even if it is not exactly folklore. Each song carries with it a certain authenticity that is nonetheless tempered by the present... you gotta have it!

My daughter picked this up at a Celtic Festival and I listened to it with her on the way back. It became a favorite of mine instantly so I bought a copy for myself. It is a compilation of female artists, which gives it varying styles while retaining a degree of continuity. I know that is a general statement, but for me it has a perfect blend of ethereal sound (without getting dull) and liveliness (without getting noisy). I enjoy every track and recommend it as a gift.

It reminds me of Celtic Circle which is a favorite of mine. A variation of artists each with a different way of singing a particular song with their unique music to support it.

I have quite a collection of Celtic music by various artist. Each one is unique in its own way.

This is a good CD, but not one of my most favourites. While some of the songs featured are excellent, some were not what I had hoped I might find. I own over 50 Celtic music CDs, and use them as I write and edit poetry, and found this one to be one of the ones I choose less often. Some Celtic music touches the soul, and I found that this music attempted to reach out, but sadly was not what I had hoped to discover. My personal preferences lean towards the more ethereal songs in Celtic music.