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38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Beauty Of A Music CD, March 26, 2006
Mairead is, well, quite beautiful. Such a joy to watch her perform. As beautiful as she is, her real beauty lies in the beauty she creates; her music. Playing the fiddle, making music, is the love of her life. She's been quoted as saying she likes to move when she plays. If you've ever seen a Celtic Woman concert that statement has much more meaning. I think her movement is a fine example of the energy that can be created when heart, mind, and soul combine to produce music that seems only she can create. Her joy and energy has to be released. Movement or not, the end result is unmistakable - beautiful music.
I really do enjoy listening to her CD. It has the Irish feel and other styles and has a variety of music that will satisfy different tastes. "Raining Up" helps me to relax and energizes me at the same time. Some of her tunes can really put you in a reflective mood, so relaxing. Others will get you moving; you feel the beat and hear that fiddle, feel the energy, so uplifting. For those of you who never purchased a CD from a violinist or fiddler, simply play the music samples above. I know they are short samples but I believe you will like what you hear. You will have to be the judge of course. I'm very happy with my purchase.
My favorites: She has several lively tunes that pick you up, get you moving to the music. "Tri Fhidili" is my favorite here, it just begs you to get up and try an Irish dance. I love it.
To relax: "there is no night" - I can play this over and over. A soft, tender tune that puts me someplace else, very relaxing. The "2nd Movement" and "bovaglies plaid" are excellent as well.
Mairead is an expert musician. After listening to her "Raining Up" CD a few times you really appreciate her skills and taste of music she has acquired while playing this instrument since the age of six. She started piano at age four. Her Mom and Dad, her entire family, plays music-- an excellent environment for an aspiring musician in her early years as well as today. Heavily trained and practiced in the classical area including post graduate studies in both piano and fiddle, she is one of probably only a few that can separate and play different styles to perfection on her fiddle and combine elements of different styles in a very professional and pleasing way. Mairead gained a wealth of experience having played with so many well known musicians in a variety of music styles. She is also a former fiddle champion of Ireland.
I sometimes catch myself just smiling while listening. I can picture her with the same smile while playing. Yes, a joy to watch her play. But you don't need a video to see her. Just listen to her. You can see her in her music. It's quite beautiful.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great violinist, March 25, 2006
For over a period of time I have been looking at and listening to Celtic Woman online. I have been trying to determine if I want to purchase the CD.
Finally I broke down and bought it. I like Celtic music and figured it might be a good album to listen to.
I got the recording home and much to my surprise there was a woman on the CD that played a very lively Celtic violin.
I found myself going to the songs on the CD where Mairead played the violin. Her style of play intirgued me, to the point where it haunted me. The songs that stand out in my mind include: Raining Up, Finan's Isle,The setting sun, Blue lights within the blue suite (all three movements). Mairead plays with a passion and a poignancy that makes you think the voilin is expressing itself through her. At times the violin seems to be crying. To me it brings back Celtic music they way it might have been played by her ancestors, hundreds of years ago. My own ancestory is Celtic which might be why I identify with this music
It should be a crime for a woman to be this beautiful and this talented at the same time. With that babyface and that long blonde hair, she simply melts me everytime I watch her perform. She is constantly moving as she plays, she is a ball of energy that never stops. I looked online to find out if she has any previous solo efforts and was glad to find that she did infact have a solo CD out. I have never been so excited about a violinist before. She is a virtuoso violinist, and she plays with passion that few have.
I put the CD on and was not able to stop listening to it.
What you have here is an outstanding Celtic violinist performing some outstanding music.
She comes at you with a variety of music. The songs range from slow to very fast. The one thing the songs all have in common is that they are very good. And she is a master musician. This is the first time I have bought a CD by a violinist, and I cant wait for her to release a second solo CD or for Celtic Woman to release a new CD.
What you hear is a Celtic violinst that will not only haunt you but she will make Celtic music a treat to listen to. It doesnt get any better than this....ENJOY
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect CD for Violin enthusiast, January 16, 2006
This is one of the CD's I own wherein I'd listen to it from the first track to the last, because I just love all the songs in it. "There is no Night" and "Within the Blue Suite 1,2,3" are my personal favorites. When I play this CD in my car or when I'm at home, I feel so relaxed because the music is just so enchanting. I may not be a music expert, but I sure know a good album, and this is one of my best albums in my collection.
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