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The Sounding Board by R J Lannan |
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This is the test id. |
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| Spirit of the Celtic Violin |
| By Arlene Faith |
| Label: Wood Stone Music |
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| Spirit of the Celtic Violin tracks |
1. East of River Shannon
2. Summer's End
3. Night Amongst Elves
4. Come The Morning
5. Jacky Tar
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6. Return To Me
7. Ravens' Danse
8. If I Had A Boat
9. Keeper of the Grove
10. Moonlight on the Mistletoe
11. Fields of Yarrow
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Imbibe Deeply |
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Celtic violinist Arlene Faith believes that music is nourishment for the spirit. As far as I am concerned, she is preaching to the choir. Her eleven-track album, Spirit of the Celtic Violin, one of a trilogy, is proof that she has a strong belief. Her album combines traditional, Celtic and improvisational melodies that are superb examples of mixed Irish culture. The songs feature the strength of the violin and the support of the flute and light orchestra. Think Phil Coulter, but with a violin instead of piano. Listeners who like Ronan Hardiman (Riverdance) and Patrick Cassidy (Deirdre of the Sorrows) will certainly like Arlene's music. Beginning her music studies at age seven, Arlene's music permeates every facet of her life. Her repertoire ranges from classical to country to Celtic and she has recorded for and with some of the biggest names in the Nashville scene. Her music has been in feature films and she has her own music publishing company.
Somewhere in the north if Ireland is an ancient well that promises the gift of knowledge. A mere mortal, Sinann opened that well and out sprung the River Shannon and it made her a goddess. East of the River Shannon, the opening tune of Arlene's album is a bit melancholy and I have to wonder why. Then I realized that Sinann had to surrender her life as a mortal and say goodbye to fen and fern. Arlene's violin is sweet and evocative as it sings of the passing of mortality.
Summer's End had a Patrick Cassidy (his Famine Remembrance album) feel to the melody and I mean that in a complementary way. It is almost a depressing trek to the storehouses as the fields are picked clean of their meager harvest and prayers are sent aloft for a short winter. The music is rather intense with the duality of flute and violin marching side by side on the dusty road. It was, of course, one of my favorites.
A dulcet tune with weeping violin, Return to Me sounded like a Gypsy tune with Celtic roots. It is the sound of two hearts longing for just one more glimpse, one more caress and perhaps one last smile before duty of service separate the lovers. It is a song for every man and every woman who offers her country, her family and her love the supreme sacrifice. This song would have been suitable three hundred years ago and it will be appropriate three hundred years from now.
By far one of my favorite tunes on Spirit of the Celtic Violin is an evocative number called Moonlight on the Mistletoe. Mistletoe has been the mysterious icon of Druids and the popular symbol of lovers for centuries. Arlene’s song heightens the vignette of silver rays of light that illuminate the shadowy outline for the magical plant growing high in the oak trees. For some it wards off evil of all kinds and for others it allows a kiss that perhaps would otherwise go unrequited.
With the sounds of carefree birds in the background, Fields of Yarrow closes the album as if we were walking out of the village with the promise of a swift return. As we walk down tree-shaded roads, the vista of tiny white flowers in the distant field greets our glance. Yarrow has been long known as a healing herb, but it has other uses. A love struck heart might recite this poem with tender anticipation:
"Good night, fair yarrow,
Thrice good night to thee,
I hope before tomorrow
My true love to see."
Arlene Faith's fanciful music is generated by herself on violin, Gene Rabbai on keyboards, Julie Mavity-Hudson on flute, Russell Kortright on guitar and bass, Ron de la Vega on cello, John Mock on pennywhistle, Wendy Windsor- Hashiguchi on dulcimer, and John Gardner on percussions. How eight people can fill a spirit so deeply with warmth, emotion and sheer joy is beyond me. Nevertheless, I have witnessed it myself. Highly recommended.
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Rating: Very Good  |
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- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 8/29/2010 |
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