[.ca] Songs From A Secret Garden

From Amazon.com:
Picture a square with Clannad, pianist David Lanz, Mannheim Steamroller, and the musicians of Riverdance at its corners. Somewhere within those stylistic borders you will encounter the European duo Secret Garden. The popular twosome--Irish violinist Fionnuala (fi-NOO-la) Sherry and Norwegian pianist/keyboardist Rolf Lovland--have attracted a sizable following with their heart-touching specialty: a wistful, violin-rooted, pop-folk-classical melange that often strikes the ear as a film score in search of some delicate romantic tale. Songs from a Secret Garden is the duo's debut recording from 1995, and it principally offers a series of pensive dialogues between Sherry's stately violin and Lovland's subdued piano, yielding equal measures of sweetness and melancholy. Whistles, pipes, percussion, strings, and ethereal voices serve as embellishments. At times you may sense you're being serenaded by strolling musicians with a heavy sentimental streak; at other times you may feel genuinely moved--perhaps by something as lovely as the reverential "Sigma" and its sublime, Gregorian-like choral passages. Only one uptempo tune, "The Rap," surfaces here; a few others would have been welcomed. And yes, this is the disc where you will find "Heartstrings," the composition that once smote Barbra Streisand's heart. She eventually acquired the rights to the piece, inserted lyrics, renamed it "I've Dreamed of You" (found on A Love Like Ours), and sang it to James Brolin during the couple's 1998 wedding. --Terry Wood

Thanks For The Introduction To Mehdi:
I've always enjoyed Secret Garden and this album is no exception, but while reading some of the customer recommendations posted on this page I discovered an artist by the name of Mehdi (pronounced meddie). After some investigation I found his site (SoothingMusic.Com) and listened to the samples...I also downloaded some of the free MP3 downloads that are available on Amazon.com. I was instantly blown away by the quality of this music and so I gave it a try and now that I have listened to his CDs several times I really must say that although I'm still a Secret Garden fan I find Mehdi to be a tad more interesting. I have them both in my multi-disc CD player and love the way they compliment each other. I highly recommend that you give this artist a try or atleast just go listen to the samples, I have a feeling you'll be glad you did.

It's no "Secret" that this is a wonderful album.:
Most may call this new age, but celtic and even classical might apply too. It reminds me alot of Loreena McKennitts "Book Of Secrets", and also a little of "Enya/Clannad". Some tracks are instrumentals, and those that are not include the most angelic vocals. "Fionnuala Sherry" also plays violin just as well as she sings. Overall it's a very peaceful release from "Secret Garden", and a perfect album to end your day with, or maybe even start it.

MidWest Review:
I was given this CD as gift and I shall be eternally grateful. Never have I been so spellbound with music before as I was upon hearing the beautiful music and voice that burst forth from my player. Each song filled my home with peace and unseen beauty, almost as if each note played had a life of its own. Mysterious, yet peaceful I sat and let this wonderous music sooth my soul. Highly recommended.

Expected More:
Overall I could have made a less desirable purchase I guess, but the CD was less than what I expected. After hearing two tracks from the CD on the radio, I expected the entire CD to be similar.....it wasn't. If waffling between this CD and another choice, I'd recommend the other choice.

Disappointing:
I really had looked forward to this disc, having heard a couple tracks off an online radio station. Unfortunately, track three is pretty much the strongest one, and while a few of the others are tolerable, the disc has rarely made it back into my player. I think it's just too out there for me to enjoy.

• Nocturne
• Pastorale
• Song from a Secret Garden
• Sigma
• Papillon
• Serenade to Spring
• Atlantia
• Heartstrings
• Adagio
• Rap
• Chaconne
• Cantoluna
• Ode to Simplicity