Customer Reviews

The Celtic Circle

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Celtic Circle is a wonderful blend of traditional Celtic melodies and Celtic inspired new age. Disk 1 is by far my favorite with songs from undisputed celtic masters: Loreena McKennitt, The Chieftans and Clannad. The other songs on the first disk fill in and compliment each other. It's a great choice to put in the CD player and hit "Play". I challenge anyone listen to "The Shores of the Swilly" or "Angel" and not be moved by the lyrics and music.

Disk 2 isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination either.

This 2 CD set compilation conjures up mystic Celtic landscapes of lush green hillsides & valleys as far as the eye can see and sharp ledged cliffs ... where the ocean purrs and roars against the stoney and sandy beach. Imagine the lone cry of a seagull or a flock of birds flying in a V-formation overhead ...The music on this CD washes over you in waves ... sometimes soft vocals, other times high energy fast paced passionate music. It resembles sitting by the ocean listening to the tide wash in and out. It leaves you peaceful and satisfied after having had a busy, fulfilling day. Kick up your feet and relax, let the energy take you where it will ...

Track #1 by Loreena McKennitt sets the mood, her beautiful haunting voice fills a void with heart-felt and soul-searching vocalizations. [It is included on her CD "Book of Secrets" which is a jewel.] Amazingly, the music on this CD is from recent films (of which I only saw one) however, the lineup of musicians and singers is among the finest & best in the Celtic genre. Among these are: the Chieftains, Clannad, Maire Brennan, music by Phil Coulter with vocals by Sinead O'Connor, David Arkenstone (well known for New Age inspired American Indian & Celtic styles), Capercaille and the phenomenal Vangelis.

My absolute favorites are the Gaelic songs which create an other-worldy spiritual feeling in the listener ... CD 1, Maire Brennan singing "Eirigh Suas A Stoirin" and CD 2, Mary mcLaughlin in her rendition of "Caoineadh Na Mara/Amen (LAment to the Sea). Braveheart Trilogy by James Horner and "I Will Find You" by Clannad from Last of the Mohicans is very inspiring. "The Keening of the Three Marys" by William Coulter is highly spiritual and touches the heart. Overall, if Celtic music is a favorite, or you liked the music in these films, this CD will not disappoint the buyer. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

This is one of the most recent Celtic CDs I've bought. CD 1 in my opinion is the best of the two CD set. I find myself listening to it more often then the second one. My favorite track would have to be "The Mystic's Dream (The Mists of Avalon)"- Loreena McKennitt. There is just something about the song that makes me listen to it over and over without tiring of it.

This CD introduced me to Loreena McKennitt and now I find myself seeking to purchase one of her CDs.

I'm not sure I understand the harshness of the editorial for this CD. I was pleased to have stumbled across it and find most all of the tracks pleasing. CD #1 is the best arrangement and it is better than filling your CD player with celtic and hitting random. For anyone new to celtic many of the arrangements are slow and with only a hint of celtic undertones but overall a nice cold weather, hot tea type of CD. This is worth the money if you want a relaxing celtic sound that you can put on.

CD 1
1. The Mystic's Dream (From the movie 'The Mists of Avalon') - Loreena McKennitt
2. Runaway - The Corrs
3. Factory Girl - The Chieftains featuring Sinead O'Connor
4. I Will Find You (Theme from 'The Last of the Mohicans') - Clannad
5. Eirigh Suas A Stoirin - Maire Brennan
6. The Fellowship of the Rings Suite (Composition from the movie 'The Lord of the Rings') - Howard Shore
7. The Shores of the Swilly - Phil Coulter featuring Sinead O'Connor
8. Angel (From the movie 'City of Angels') - Sarah McLachlan
9. The Rose of Tralee - Nightnoise
10. cuChulainn's Last Battle - Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning
11. Our Farewell - Within Temptation
12. Evangeline - Karen Matheson
13. She Moved Through the Fair - Anuna
14. Keening of the Three Marys - William Coulter
15. The Dragon's Breath - David Arkenstone
16. 12 O'Clock - Vangelis

CD 2
1. May It Be (song composed and made famous by Enya) - Ryan & Rzchel O'Donnell
2. Skellig - Loreena McKennitt
3. Theme from Harry's Game - Clannad
4. Braveheart Trilogy (composition from the movie 'Braveheart') - James Horner
5. Ailein Duinn (from the movie 'Rob Roy') - Capercaillie
6. Who Wants to Live Forever - Dune
7. Elysium - Elysia
8. Circle of Joy - Lisa Lynne
9. Caoineadh Na Mara / Amen (Lament of the Sea) - Mary McLaughlin
10. Turn of the Century - Steve Howe & Anne Haslam
11. Sleeping Sun - Nightwish
12. Ar Galon Digorr - Annie Ebrel & Gilles Le Bigot featuring Davy Spillane
13. Women of Ireland (Man Nah Eireann) - Kate Bush
14. In a Lifetime - Clannad & Bono
15. Brian Boru - Alan Stivell
16. Hedwig's Theme (composition from the movie 'Harry Potter') - John Williams

"The Celtic Circle" is a very unique and uplifting cd that has a wide range of Celtic music artists. This is a two cd set that is best listened to when you are trying to increase you sense of peacefulness and calm because both cds contain many songs that are relaxing to the soul. The music does sound very mystical and healing because you are treated to such good musical tracks such as "Elysium" by Elysia and May It Be by Ryan & Rachel O'Donnel (although I also enjoy the version of "May It Be" sung by Enya as well). My personal musical tracks on this cd are:

"The Mytic's Dream" by Loreena McKennitt
"Runaway: by The Corrs
"Circle of Joy" by Lisa Lynne
"In a Lifetime" by Clannad & Bono of U2

The Celtic Circle: Legendary Music from a Mystic World is also going to be most likely enjoyed by many people who like to listen to music by Enya, Celtic Woman, New Age,the Pure Moods cd collections, and/or music with European influences.

I bought this CD for one track on the #2 disc, Lisa Lynne's sprightly harp tune, "Circle of Joy" which I happened to hear playing on a recent visit to Borders. I hate to buy an album for one track, but sometimes that's the only way to get it, and I was so taken with this one. I did find two more tracks that I liked: on disc #1 cu`Chulainn's Last Battle" by Jeff Johnson and Brian Dunning, and on disc #2 Alan Stivell's "Brian Boru". I own several Loreena McKennitt CDs, but the selections on this album are not among my favorites. I never did care for Sarah McLachlin. Most of the vocal selections, in fact, I could have done without. I don't see how some of the selections on this album even merit the designation "Celtic". Nevertheless, I am happy with it because I can listen to "Circle of Joy" whenever I want to.

To lunp this with songs about Irish strugles is terrible. If it was under New Age it would be an ok cd set.Enya is NOT celtic by the way.

It was an ok combination, though who wanted singing? not i said the fly, take out some of the songs like Factory Girl (irritated me a bit) and put in more howard shore and leeh types and ill be good

Danke