Castles of Gold

Frank McCourt

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 12, 2002)
• Original Release Date: March 12, 2002
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Green Linnet
• ASIN: B000062TCI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #129,473 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. The Stories They Brought/Our Ship Is Ready To Sail Away

2. Preparing To Leave/Thousands Are Sailing

3. The Goodbye/Greenfields Of Amerikay

4. To Be Left Behind/A Stor A Chroi

5. Becoming An American/Castles Of Gold

6. The Arrival/Stormy Seas/The Highlander

7. The Immigrant's Return/The Hill Of Knocknashee/The Busy Bee

Disc: 2

1. Storymy Seas/The Highlander

2. Thousands Are Sailing

3. Our Ship Is Ready To Sail Away

4. An Sean Bheann-Bhocht/The Old Woman's Reel

5. The Exile

6. The Hill Of Knocknashee/The Busy Bee

7. A Stor Mo Chroi

8. Droimeann Donn Dilis

9. Greenfields Of Amerikay

10. Castles Of Gold

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Storytelling and music have been intertwined branches of Irish culture since the days of the bards, which is probably why the mix of story and song on Castles of Gold fits together so smoothly. Musician, composer and arranger Pan Morigan and playwright Katerie Morin convey the tale of the Irish immigration to America through a well-chosen collection of traditional songs, sensitively written originals, and spoken word recitations based on Morin's family's memories about their emigration from Ireland. The stories are read by Roma Downey, star of Touched by an Angel, and Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes and 'Tis. Morigan herself sings the songs backed by an all-star band of Irish musicians, including fiddler Liz Carroll, accordionist John Whelan, and uilleann piper Jerry O'Sullivan. The sound is decidedly contemporary Celtic, with percussively strummed acoustic guitars and exotic percussion, but it effectively evokes the mix of excitement and sorrow the original emigrants must have felt as they set off to America for a new life, perhaps never to see their families again. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pan Morrigan's voice is the best!, August 27, 2002

By	Micala SIDORE (Northampton, MA United States) - See all my reviews

Of all the characteristics that make this CD extraordinary, I find myself responding to the powerful sound of Pan Morrigan's voice the most. She has a very insightful and rich way of interpreting the music; her range is remarkable. I want to hear her sing more, I want to hear more of her repertoire.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart warming stories and music about Ireland, March 16, 2002

By	Murray Boutilier "group_leader" (Old Saybrook, Ct. USA) - See all my reviews

Excellent mixture of tales and music of Irish immigration. Katerie Morin's stories from her famlies past reminded me of my own Irish roots. Sitting around my grandmothers living room on Sunday afternoon captured by the tales of Ireland was as real today as it was those many years ago. This album is the most significant work on Irish heritage in decades.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars truly exquisite music & writing on the Irish-Amer experience, November 5, 2004

By	Robert J. Crawford (Balmette Talloires, France) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

There is genius in this work, the product of several unique minds in collaboration. Not only is the music utterly splendid, but the reading is sensationally good. This can be a teaching aid, a pass time, or a literary experience. There are few works that I know that equal the brilliance, subtlety and candor of this exceptional work. Welland, who put it together, is a truly great artist. Truly truly great. (OK, I knew her in my youth, and here she embodies the potential I saw better than I could have imagined possible.) It is an inspiration to independent art and following your own path, which she HAS DONE.

Warmly recommended.