Search - Mychael Danna, Jeff Danna :: Celtic Romance

Not as good as Celtic Tale, but still good

Brianna Neal | 01/31/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While I admire the Danna brother's work, I don't think they do as well when they attempt to write music for voices than when they are writing instrumentals. I find myself listening to the instrumental sections more often than the vocal pieces. The pseudo-Gregorian chants are fine (they aren't in Latin, which I don't have a problem with, but it sounds strange to hear this kind of music in English). I think my main problem as far as the singers are concerned is with the female singer's voice, she doesn't seem to support her high notes very well and her voice thins out. Her enunciation is also a little strange (and I'm not referring to the song in Gaelic, which is the only one I don't think makes her voice sound strange). I understand that they were attempting to make her sound like an angel but I have heard very beautiful voices singing at a lower key; her voice, to me, takes some getting used to. The woman who sings on Celtic tale would have been a better pick. My biggest problem of all, however, is with the story included by John Stuart Dick. I found the poetic fragment and read it, and I honestly don't understand where he gets his interpretation of events from that fragment. It's completely off. Making Curithir a son of Cu Chulainn doesn't seem right to me, especially since I have yet to find any Irish texts that state Cu Chulainn had any children. He attempts to make the story pseudo-Celtic but it doesn't read like any of the Irish stories I've ever read. I have never heard of this guy and have failed to turn up any books written by him, so I don't know what his credentials are. In all, though, I would recommend the CD but don't bother with the story."

Rich and evocative!

Brianna Neal | USA | 12/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"More musical storytelling by the Danna brothers, their talented instrumental soloists, soprano vocalist, a full orchestra, and the Ritual Choir of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Toronto. With all of that, the music of "The Legend of Liadain and Curithir" remains surprisingly intimate and accessible, ever varying in form and instrumentation. The Dannas continue the tradition of their earlier release, "A Celtic Tale: The Legend of Deirdre", interweaving engaging, Celtic-inspired melodies with lush accompaniments to evoke moods from celebration to sorrow, mystery to bold adventure. There's no narrated version for this release--just the wonderful music. Other similarly compelling "soundtracks" to historical and fantasy legends include David and Diane Arkenstone's "Avalon: A Celtic Legend" and "Music Inspired by Middle Earth", and Jeff Johnson and Brian Dunning's "Byzantium: The Book of Kells and St. Aidan's Journey", and "Music of Celtic Legends: The Bard and the Warrior". Buy all six and put them on a multi-CD mixer for hours of inspiring journeys through time and imagination!"

Have a tissue at the ready?

Brianna Neal | 09/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This story is as Celtic as it gets! It has it all: The Church, Vikings, Pilgrims, dreams, rain, horses, death, lost love, and tragedy (of course). I just stumbled onto this CD a few weeks ago. It has enchanted me ever since. If you do have this CD in your possession, do this...listen to it al the way through, then read the story in the case, then listen to it again. This work is to cry for!"