Search - Connemara :: Beyond Horizon

A Spirited Mystic Journey into the Celtic Realms

DRSTONE@prodigy.net | Downey, Southern California | 09/15/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Connemara is an East Coast Celtic Group based out of Maryland and Washington D.C.'s large Celtic Music scene and consists of the team of Vocalist/Guitarist Grace Griffith and Fiddler/Arranger Cathy Palmer. On this (their second recording & first CD release), they are joined by a number of musicians which includes harpist Tracie Brown and guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Zan McLeod, who also produced this album. It is a mystic and evocotive journey into the Celtic Realms, and sure to please anyone who loves heartfelt music. The album moves from dreamy airs and laments, to rousing jigs, reels and strathspeys and leaves you wanting more. The album opens with the beautiful "Gloomy Winter's Now Away", by Scottish poet Robert Tannahill, a rarely recorded gem which in this example leaves you breathless. Other pieces to note which features Grace's beautifully ethereal and unique voice include the Robert Burns poem "My Heart's in the Highlands", which truely makes you want to be there, the Dougie Maclean song "The Emigrant", Clannad's "The Poison Glen", here featuring only Grace and Zan, and a rousing version of "Free and Easy", about the famous female Irish pirate Grace O'Malley. Harpist Tracie Brown's shining moment comes with the O'Carolan piece "Separation of the Soul and Body" and from the Bunting manuscript of the Ancient Music of Ireland-"Get Up Early." Cathy Palmer's instumentals include "Dance on Daddy's Shoes/Christina's Jig/Speed the Plow" and a beautiful version of the Scottish strathspey "Fiddler, Play the Light" here arranged as a slow air. All in all this is a beautiful album by one of America's best, but lesser know Celtic groups, and will please the listeners of Celtic, World and New Age Music. (Also see review of "Connemara-Siren Song")"

I'd Add This if You're Building a Celtic Music Collection

bethtexas | United States | 11/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Grace Griffith sings, it sounds like a lullaby. Her voice is as pleasant as a breeze blowing by. This is a modern Celtic album - more Scottish-styled than Irish I would say. It includes mainly ballads and gentle jigs. It even includes a Loreeena McKennitt piece, All Souls Night, which was very dangerous because nobody can do it like Loreena! But they pulled off the piece in the style of the group's personality - breezy and pretty. And it worked.But my favorite song on the album was My Heart's in the Highlands because it exemplifies what's really neat about this CD. It's a lovely ballad that just flows along and lets you feel the cool mountain breeze in your hair. Like the rest of the album, it's simple and pretty and really transports you to Celtic Isles. This is a pretty CD to add to your Celtic music collection."