Celtic Music: Loreena McKennitt

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The Celtic roots run deep

Loreena McKennitt brings the qualities of a spiritual journey to Celtic music. Beginning with traditional Irish, Scottish and English music on harp, she has expanded into more of a world-music sound with influences from Spain, North Africa and the Middle East. She has developed a band that includes performers on a variety of traditional instruments from those areas plus synthesizers. No matter how far afield in space and time her music ranges, there's always Celtic music at its roots.

Photo credit: Richard Houghton, Copyright Quinlan Road, by courtesy of Karen Shook on behalf of Quinlan Road.

Following the Celts in wide-ranging travels and music 

Loreena McKennitt was born in Manitoba, Canada, where she first became interested in Celtic music. She moved to Stratford, Ontario in 1981 and still lives there when not touring and exploring. Her interest in the Celtic people, their history, and geographic spread over Europe and other lands began in 1991 and has fueled her musical journeys ever since.

She has acted and sung in, and composed music for, the Stratford Festival of Canada. The influence of Shakespeare is heard on many of her albums, and I've always felt that acting in Shakespeare's plays has affected her style of singing and phrasing. In listening to and watching Loreena McKennitt perform, it's clear that she is a woman of great talent, intellect and spirituality.

McKennitt's first recording, Elemental in 1985 features her voice and harp on mostly traditional music from Ireland, Scotland and England. Her next two albums continue to feature harp and traditional material, although by the third album her own music and lyrics have come increasingly forward.

The album that brought McKennitt to worldwide attention was 1992's The Visit. The music is still rooted mostly in Ireland, Scotland and England, but other influences are heard as well. There's still a fair amount of harp, but she plays a lot of keyboard as well. On her next two albums, The Mask and Mirror and The Book of Secrets there's only one track each with harp.

Those next two albums expand her sound into a wider range of the world, with influences ranging from Galicia in Spain to Morocco, eastern Europe, across the Caucausus and Siberia, and down to Greece and Turkey.

In 1998 Loreena suffered the loss of her fiance Ronald Rees, his brother Richard, and friend Gregory Cook in a boating accident. She founded the Cook-Rees Memorial Fund for Water Search and Safety, and profits from her album Live in Paris and Toronto went to the fund. This interest has led to her being appointed an Honorary Colonel of the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in December 2006. Her role is to act as a bridge between civilians and the military.

She didn't perform very much for the next few years. Her next studio album wasn't released until 2006. An Ancient Muse was followed in 2007 with Live from the Alhambra, a 2-CD and DVD set recorded in high definition at the Alhambra Palace in Spain.

Photo credit: Donna Griffiths, Copyright Quinlan Road, by courtesy of Karen Shook on behalf of Quinlan Road.

A Midwinter Night's Dream 

New in October 2008

A Midwinter Night's Dream

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 07/12/2009)Buy Now

Loreena McKennitt's latest release, "A Midwinter Night's Dream," came out in October 2008. The new CD blends the five songs on 1995's "A Winter Garden" with eight new songs inspired by favorites of the season.

A limited edition combination of the CD and the DVD "A Moveable Musical Feast," a look at her 2007 "An Ancient Muse" tour, is available from Amazon.com (US):
A Midwinter Night's Dream

Both editions are also available from Amazon.co.uk:
A Midwinter Night's Dream

A Midwinter Night's Dream & A Moveable Musical Feast

"The Seven Rejoices of Mary" 

From "A Midwinter Night's Dream"

Video posted to YouTube by Loreena McKennitt's label Quinlan Road. The tune is "The Star of the County Down."
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Loreena McKennitt: The Journey Begins 

The Journey Begins [4 CD]

Amazon Price: $39.98 (as of 07/12/2009)Buy Now

This is a 4-CD set featuring McKennitt's first three CDs plus a six-track rarities disc.

Tracks on the 4th disc:
1. Caravanserai (NFTA LIVE)
2. The Bonny Swans (LIVE)
3. The Highway Man (LIVE)
4. Penelope's Song (Spanish Special Edition - Nights From The Alhambra)
5. The Mummers' Dance (Single Remix)
6. Dante's Prayer (Spanish-language version)

Order CD from Amazon.co.uk: The Journey Begins: Elemental/Parallel Dreams/The Visit plus the six-track bonus disc

Loreena McKennitt on Amazon 

MP3 downloads, where indicated, are available in the United States only.

If you wish to order from Amazon.co.uk, please click on the appropriate text link in each CD's description. Clicking on the graphic or title of the CD links you to Amazon's US site.

Elemental

Released in 1985. Most material is traditional. "Stolen Child" is a poem by William Butler Yeats. "Lullaby" is a poem by William Blake. McKennitt wrote the music for both.

Tracks:
1. Blacksmith
2. She Moved Through The Fair
3. Stolen Child
4. The Lark In The Clear Air
5. Carrighfergus
6. Kellswater
7. Banks Of Claudy
8. Come By The Hills
9. Lullaby

Order CD from Amazon.co.uk: Elemental: +DVD

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

To Drive the Cold Winter Away

Released in 1987. All material is traditional English, Irish, or Scottish except "Snow." Recordings were done in Annaghmakerrig, an artists' retreat in County Monaghan, Ireland, Glenstal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery outside Limerick, Ireland, and the Church of Our Lady, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Tracks:
1. In Praise Of Christmas
2. The Seasons
3. The King
4. Banquet Hall
5. Snow
6. Balulalow
7. Let Us The Infant Greet
8. The Wexford Carol
9. The Stockford Carol
10. Let All That Are To Mirth Inclined

Order CD from Amazon.co.uk: To Drive The Cold Winter Away

Amazon Price: $18.98 (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

Parallel Dreams

Released in 1989. A traditional-sounding album, much like her previous releases, although most music and lyrics are new, except on "Anachie Gordon" and "Standing Stones."

Tracks:
1. Samain Night
2. Moon Cradle
3. Huron 'Beltane' Fire Dance
4. Annachie Gordon
5. Standing Stones
6. Dickens' Dublin (The Palace)
7. Breaking The Silence
8. Ancient Pines

Order CD from Amazon.co.uk: Parallel Dreams: +DVD

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

The Visit

Released in 1992 on Warner Brothers. Music and lyrics on most tracks are by McKennitt, except "Bonny Portmore" with traditional music and lyrics. Lyrics on "The Lady of Shallott" are by Alfred Lord Tennyson, on "Greensleeves" by King Henry VIII, and on "Cymbeline" by William Shakespeare.

Tracks:
1. All Souls Night
2. Bonny Portmore
3. Between The Shadows (Persian Shadows)
4. The Lady Of Shalott
5. Greensleeves
6. Tango To Evora
7. Courtyard Lullaby
8. The Old Ways
9. Cymbeline

Order CD from Amazon.co.uk: The Visit

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

The Mask and Mirror

Released in 1994 on Warner Brothers. The influences of Ireland and England come together with those from Spain and its Moorish and Galician heritages, and Morocco.

Tracks:
1. Mystic Dream
2. The Bonny Swans
3. Dark Night Of The Soul
4. Marrakesh Night Market
5. Full Circle
6. Santiago
7. Ce He Mise Le Ulaingt?/The Two Trees
8. Prospero's Speech

Order CD from Amazon.co.uk: The Mask and the Mirror

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

More Loreena McKennitt on Amazon 

A Winter Garden: Five Songs For The Season

These five Winter tunes were recorded in July 1995.

Tracks:
1. Conventry Carol
2. God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen
3. Good King Wenceslas
4. Snow
5. Seeds Of Love

Order CD from Amazon.co.uk: To Drive The Cold Winter Away

Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

The Book of Secrets

Released in 1997, with all music and most of the lyrics, except for "The Highwayman," by McKennitt. Much of the album is inspired by her interest in the wanderings of her Celtic ancestors.

Tracks:
1. Prologue
2. The Mummers' Dance
3. Skellig
4. Marco Polo
5. The Highway Man
6. La Serenissima
7. Night Ride Across The Caucasus
8. Dante's Prayer

Order CD from Amazon.co.uk: The Book of Secrets

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

The Mummers' Dance

Released in 1998. This CD single contains the single version and album version from The Book of Secrets, plus "The Mystic's Dream" from The Mask and Mirror.

Order CD from Amazon.co.uk: The Mummers' Dance

Amazon Price: (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

Live in Paris and Toronto

Released in 1999. Recorded at Salle Pleyel, Paris, France on April 19, 1998 and Massey Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada on May 3 and 4, 1998 as part of The Book of Secrets Tour.

Tracks:
Disc: 1
1. Prologue
2. The Mummers' Dance
3. Skellig
4. Marco Polo
5. The Highway Man
6. La Serenissima
7. Night Ride Across The Caucasus
8. Dante's Prayer
Disc: 2
1. The Mystic's Dream
2. Santiago
3. Bonny Portmore
4. Between The Shadows (Persian Shadows)
5. The Lady Of Shalott
6. The Bonny Swans
7. The Old Ways
8. All Souls Night
9. Cymbeline

Order CD from Amazon.co.uk: Live in Paris and Toronto

Amazon Price: $24.98 (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

An Ancient Muse

Released in 2006. Her first studio album in almost ten years continues her Celtic-rooted journeys.

Tracks:
1. Incantation
2. The Gates Of Istanbul
3. Caravanserai
4. The English Ladye And The Knight
5. Kecharitomene
6. Penelope's Song
7. Sacred Shabbat
8. Beneath A Phrygian Sky
9. Never-Ending Road (Amhrán Duit)

MP3: An Ancient Muse

Order CD from Amazon.co.uk: An Ancient Muse

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

Loreena McKennit: DVD and CD/DVD on Amazon 

No Journey's End

This half-hour documentary originally shown on PBS has excerpts of songs from Parallel Dreams, The Visit and The Mask and Mirror.

Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

Nights from the Alhambra - (Jewel 2 CD + DVD)

Released in 2007. Filmed in HDTV at the Alhambra Palace in Spain in September 2006.

Order CD/DVD from Amazon.co.uk: Nights From The Alhambra DVD+2CD [2007]

Amazon Price: $23.99 (as of 07/12/2009) Buy Now

Video: Loreena McKennitt on YouTube 

Loreena McKennitt - The Lady of Shalott (LIVE)

Live performance at Juno Awards. Just ... wondrous

Runtime: 4:14
528635 views
10 Comments:

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Loreena McKennitt Link List 

Quinlan Road - Loreena McKennitt's official website
Everything you need to know about Loreena and her music, performances, recordings, plus you can join the QR community for messages, tickets, special offers, etc. Be sure to check out "You Asked Us" in the "News & Views" section for information of what it's like to tour with a large ensemble, and other subjects.
The Celtic Journeys of Loreena McKennitt on NPR
From Weekend Edition on November 4, 2007. Liane Hansen talks with Loreena McKennitt. Three songs: "Bonny Portmore," "Stolen Child" and "Penelope's Song." The program is 17 minutes, 48 seconds long.
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CrypticFragments wrote...

I love her music but my fave is the Arabic influence on The Book of Secrets.
Please drop by Celtic Creations for more Celtic themed goodies!

ReplyPosted October 13, 2008

drsallywitt wrote...

Wonderful! She is one of my very favorite people to listen to. Gorgeous voice and beautiful music always.

Sally

ReplyPosted August 20, 2008

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I'm very interested in Celtic music and have created a series of lenses about performers. See Celtic Music: Lenses (named Lens of the Day on March 16,... (more)
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