16 zeitlose Harfenkompositionen aus Irland und England.
the project
The lilting, crystalline tone of the Celtic harp must be one of the
most joyful sounds in mankind's history. The harp originated a thousand
years ago in ancient Ireland; it shone through the age of the bards
and brought hope during long years of occupation and oppression. As
it is a challenging instrument to play well, nearly two centuries ago
the wire-strung Celtic harp was abandoned in favor of the easier to
play, more subdued gut-strung
neo-Irish harp. Patrick Ball
would not let that sweet voice fall silent. He brings to audiences world-wide
the ancient Celtic harp that "has always been loved and celebrated
by the Irish people for its mystical power to enchant them, to draw
them into realms beyond thought, and to refresh their spirit."
That is exactly what Patrick Ball accomplishes in these five sparkling
recordings. Listeners are enchanted by his performances. They are drawn
to the emotional portrait that Patrick paints with each piece, romantic,
melancholy or jubilant. Although Patrick is a delightful storyteller
with words, these instrumental works tell their own stories, requiring
nothing more than Patrick's fingernails deftly plucking the brass strings
of his beautifully crafted harp. The harp he plays is a re-creation
of the ancient Celtic instrument, lovingly crafted by master harp builder
Jay Witcher of Houlton, Maine, who has made it his life's work to allow
the sound of the great instrument to live again.
Patrick Ball pays his greatest tribute to the legendary Turlough
O'Carolan, a blind, itinerant harper who wandered the Irish countryside
at the turn of the eighteenth century, playing for wealthy landowners.
O'Carolan was witty, a prolific composer and a genius on the Celtic
harp. It is little wonder that Patrick Ball has included O'Carolan's
brilliant tunes in each of his first four volumes.
tracklist
1 |
Come Live With Me and Be My Love * (England) |
2'25" |
2 |
Greensleeves (England) |
2'52" |
3 |
The Blackthorn Stick * (Ireland) |
2'32" |
4 |
Down by the Sea * (Wales) |
2'26" |
5 |
John O'Connor ** (Ireland) |
1'59" |
6 |
The Grenadier and the Lady * (England) |
2'30" |
7 |
Londonderry Air * (Ireland) |
2'20" |
8 |
The Ram on Arthur's Mountain ***/Lullabye* (Wales)
|
4'52" |
9 |
Three Ravens * (England) |
2'55" |
10 |
The Road to Lisdoonvarna/The Lark on the Strand
* (Ireland) |
2'30" |
11 |
The Munster Cloak * (Ireland) |
1'44" |
12 |
The Star of the County Down * (Ireland) |
3'01" |
13 |
Ode to Whiskey ** (Ireland) |
1'35" |
14 |
Dr. John Hart ** (Ireland) |
2'55" |
15 |
Caitlin Triall ** (Ireland)Farewell * (The Hebrides) |
3'04" |
16 |
The Ash Grove * (Wales) |
3'59" |
|
Total Time: |
|
|
* Traditional ** Turlough O'Carolan *** Lawrence
(Contemporary) |
|