Celtic Music: Loreena McKennitt
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The Celtic roots run deep
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.
The Wind that Shakes the Barley
2010
Loreena McKennitt returns to her Celtic roots with a strong set of traditional tunes recorded at the historic 1832 Sharon Temple north of Toronto.
Track listing:
1. As I Roved Out
2. On a Bright May Morning
3. Brian Boru's March
4. Down By the Sally Gardens
5. The Star of the County Down
6. The Wind that Shakes the Barley
7. The Death of Queen Jane
8. The Emigration Tunes
9. The Parting Glass
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A Midwinter Night's Dream
2008
The CD blends the five songs on 1995's "A Winter Garden" with eight new songs inspired by favorites of the season.
Track listing:
1. Holly & The Ivy
2. Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle
3. The Seven Rejoices of Mary
4. Noël Nouvelet!
5. Good King Wenceslas
6. Coventry Carol [Live]
7. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen [Abdelli Version]
8. Snow
9. Breton Carol
10. Seeds of Love
11. Gloucestershire Wassail
12. Emmanuel
13. In the Bleak Midwinter
Midwinter Night's Dream CD from Amazon.com
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 & A Movable Musical Feast
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"
Loreena McKennitt: The Journey Begins
This is a 4-CD set featuring McKennitt's first three CDs Elemental, Parallel Dreams and The Visit 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)
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Elemental
1985
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. This is a remastered edition of the original recording.
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
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The edition sold in the UK includes a bonus DVD in PAL format.
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To Drive the Cold Winter Away
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. This is a remastered recording.
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
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Parallel Dreams
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
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The Visit
1992
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
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The Mask and Mirror
1994
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
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Winter Garden: Five Songs for the Season
1995
Track listing:
1. Conventry Carol
2. God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen
3. Good King Wenceslas
4. Snow
5. Seeds Of Love
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Book of Secrets
1997
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
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The Mummer's Dance
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.
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Live in Paris and Toronto
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
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An Ancient Muse
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)
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Loreena McKennitt: No Journey's End - DVD
2006

This half-hour documentary originally shown on PBS has excerpts of songs from Parallel Dreams, The Visit and The Mask and Mirror.
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Nights from the Alhambra - DVD & 2 CDs
2007
After nearly a decade away from the music scene, Loreena McKennitt returned right where she left off. This is a 2-CD set with a DVD of her performance in the Alhambra that was shown during PBS pledge drives.
Track listing:
1. The Mystic s Dream
2. She Moved Through The Fair
3. Stolen Child
4. The Mummer s Dance
5. Penelope s song ,Marco Polo
6. The Bonny Swans
7. Dante s Prayer
9. Caravansera
10. Bonny Portmore
11. Santiago
12. Raglan Road
13. All Souls Night
14. The Lady Of Shalott
15. The Old Ways
16. Never-Ending Road
17. Huron Beltane Fire Dance
18. Cymbeline .
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A Mediterranean Odyssey
2009
A Mediterranean Odyssey combines new live performances of audience favorites from her 2009 Mediterranean Tour with a collection of previously released studio recordings. Inspired by the tones, textures and rich cultural heritage of the Mediterranean, this latest release features virtuosic performances on authentic instruments including oud, lyra, bouzouki, harp and hurdy-gurdy alongside electric guitar, cello and percussion.
Track listing:
Disc: 1
1. Mystic Dream
2. Tango to Evora
3. The Gates of Istanbul
4. Penelope's Song
5. Marco Polo
6. Marrakesh Night Market
7. Santiago
8. Caravanserai
9. The Dark Night of the Soul
10. Sacred Shabbat
11. The Mummer's Dance [Single Version]
Disc: 2
1. The Gates of Istanbul
2. The Dark Night of the Soul
3. Marco Polo
4. Penelope's Song
5. Sacred Shabbat
6. Caravanserai
7. Santiago
8. Beneath a Phyrgian Sky
9. Tango to Evora
10. Full Circle
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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.
- Other Celtic music lenses by MobyD
- A lens to help you find similar lenses I've made.
Share your thoughts on Celtic Music: Loreena McKennitt
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GaelicForge
Jan 5, 2012 @ 2:45 pm | delete
- Loreena is my favorite celtic artist. I listen t her music while working in my shop. Thanks for the fine presentation of a fine performer.
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crstnblue
Oct 26, 2011 @ 5:16 pm | delete
- Celtic music is one of my favorites and was really glad to find here your lens about Loreena McKennitt - everytime when I'm listening to "The last unicorn" it's like going to the most remote and relaxing place in the world. Thanks for the lens!
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MissMerFaery
Feb 3, 2011 @ 2:43 pm | delete
- Came back now I have some wings... blessed by a MerAngel!
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MobyD
Feb 3, 2011 @ 4:04 pm | delete
- Thank you! I guess this shows your liking the lens is no fluke!
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MissMerFaery
Jan 5, 2011 @ 5:08 pm | delete
- Lovely presentation of Loreena's music. I love her songs, particularly those on The Book of Secrets. I also love her Christmas album too.
Although I love her music I didn't know much about her so I enjoyed reading this very much.
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JaguarJulie
Dec 19, 2010 @ 6:13 am | delete
- Ah, celtic music surely soothes my soul. Merry Christmas to you, my dear!
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vallain
Dec 18, 2010 @ 6:06 pm | delete
- What a lovely voice she has. Thanks for introducing me to another celtic artist.gi
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tembrooke
Nov 7, 2010 @ 3:11 pm | delete
- What a great lens! I love Loreena McKennitt -- she's an amazing talent.
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huvalbd
Nov 2, 2010 @ 7:05 am | delete
- Some people think of Celtic music only in terms of the theme music they hear when they watch Robin Hood on the telly, or the accompaniments for Irish dance. McKennitt's music is more varied and often haunting, even in the albums from before her tragedy. There is something about it that reaches me. I play it whenever I need to really get in the zone with my work--I end up in some other dimension, completely focused, at my most productive.
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Greekgeek
Sep 9, 2010 @ 4:18 am | delete
- I had no idea the reason her music stopped for so long is that she lost her fiancé and friends. How sad.
I'm glad she's finally found her voice again. There are long stretches of empty road through the middle of California, and most of all the dry desert road wending up to Joshua Tree, where Loreena's voice is indelibly imprinted on the landscape, because those were the tapes I was playing to keep myself awake in the dark night when I tended to drive out that way.
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CrypticFragments
Oct 13, 2008 @ 4:18 pm | delete
- 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!
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Aug 20, 2008 @ 2:22 pm | delete
- Wonderful! She is one of my very favorite people to listen to. Gorgeous voice and beautiful music always.
Sally
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by MobyD
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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