Albums most popular in the United States●Celtic

Tracks: 9 Release date: 2023-03-24 $9.99

Tracks: 13 Release date: 2008-01-01 $11.99

Tracks: 15 Release date: 1998-02-01 $9.99

Tracks: 14 Release date: 1996-01-01 $9.99

Comments

1. More than cradle songs - Please take the time to find the original liner notes. This album is so much more than baby songs. It captures the fragile nature of motherhood. Hope in it's purest form is expressed in these songs from eras when nothing was certain and the being a mother was a gift not an expectation.
2011-01-02

Tracks: 11 Release date: 2006-10-02 $9.99

Comments

1. Been an Iona fan for over years now. - I own almost every single cd this band has put out with the exception of the live ones. They are next on my list. There are a couple of other studio works that I have not been able to find here in the U.S. but they are available on their website. I am a little hesitant about making overseas purchases however. That's where ITunes will hopefully come into play. This is probably one of the most talented and anointed bands I have ever heard. They are also one of the most humble bands as well. This cd is just another masterpiece that is Iona! I put all of my Iona albums on shuffle and listen to them on ITunes through my ear buds at work while I am coding my projects. Very relaxing and they minister to me at the same time. This one is going into the mix tonight! LOVE this band!
2009-03-14

2. Good but not the Iona I love - I wrung my hands about whether to give it or stars. I _LOVE_ Iona to pieces. When I first started listening to this album, I thought they went rather far from their sound. Then, I found out they hadn't been in a studio for years. I knew about the band members doing solo albums or Dave & Troy doing some stuff together. I really really...REALLY like the solo/pair stuff. When I saw what they were doing as solo projects, this album then made sense. To be honest, I don't think it has the cohesion of their earlier work but, that's okay. (It's also less Christ centered than earlier stuff which, I feel, contributes to my perception it's less cohesive. That said, my all-time fav' Iona song is "Murlough Bay"!) This IS a "must have" but view it in light of the solo projects of its' members. This time, the sum of those solo projects exceeds the group effort. They're simply going in different directions, growing. This album has more of a Jon Anderson/YES feel than their earlier works. Mind, I love Yes' work too...it's just not quite what I expected. (All due respect to previous reviews - I understand their views as well.)
2007-10-25

Tracks: 12 Release date: 1992-08-14 $9.99

Tracks: 12 Release date: 1990-01-01 $9.99

Tracks: 14 Release date: 1999-01-01 $9.99

Comments

1. The Blood of Cu Chulainn - I almost cried when I heard The Blood of Cu Chulainn during The Boondock Saints (My favorite movie.) The fact that Itunes does not allow this song to be downloaded as a single forced me to do something I did not want to get into a habit of again, downloaded songs off the internet.
2006-02-04

2. Agreeing - I agree with the other people who have posted comments in this album. Although the other tracks on this may be good, it is unreasonable to ask someone to buy the entire album when all they might want is one or two songs. "The Blood of Cu Chulainn" is an amazing song and should be available for purchase individually.
2005-12-31

Tracks: 10 Release date: 2010-04-06 $9.90

Comments

1. I love every song, every album! - These guys are the best! If I go a long time without listening to their music, when I hear it again I feel like I'm coming home - every time. THEY ARE AWESOME to see in concert!!! I took my sister and my nephews and nieces to see them in our little ho-dunk (has since been remodeled) theater. It was an unforgettable experience. Everyone loved it.
2016-07-11

Tracks: 16 Release date: 2013-12-16 $9.99

Tracks: 21 Release date: 2006-02-21 $9.99

Tracks: 12 Release date: 2011-07-15 $9.99

Tracks: 21 Release date: 2023-03-17 $11.99

Tracks: 14 Release date: 1995-01-05 $9.99

Tracks: 11 Release date: 1996-12-31 $9.99

Tracks: 18 Release date: 1997-01-27 $9.99

Tracks: 23 Release date: 2013-02-26 $9.99

Tracks: 14 Release date: 2022-02-24 $9.99

Tracks: 16 Release date: 2012-02-16 $9.99

Tracks: 15 Release date: 2006-12-31 $9.99

Tracks: 20 Release date: 2022-03-09 $7.99

Tracks: 11 Release date: 1999-01-01 $9.99

Tracks: 12 Release date: 2013-06-18 $9.99

Comments

1. From MainlyPiano - " Years in a Moment" is the much-anticipated new release from Fiona Joy Hawkins. From the stunning cover artwork to the very last note of the music, this album could stand as Hawkins’ magnum opus. Fiona told me last year that she felt that this was her best work to date. As much as I love Blue Dream, I would have to agree. The project was created as an answer to the question of musical “globalisation” with Hawkins performing on a hand-made Stuart and Sons piano (an Australian company that respects traditional piano building while embracing innovation) with an impressive list of supporting artists playing an assortment of ancient musical instruments from all over the world. Most of the twelve tracks are new music, but a few old favorites appear with new arrangements. The album was produced by the team of Will Ackerman, Corin Nelsen, and Hawkins, and was recorded and engineered by Nelsen at Imaginary Road Studios. " Years in a Moment" begins with “ Years,” a piece that combines spoken word (Fiona), Gaelic vocals (Heather Rankin), and a fascinating combination of instruments that includes piano, Irish whistles, wooden flute, Spanish laud, electric guitar, bass guitar, Irish bodhran, and cello. The voices are ethereal yet earthy, as are the instruments. Calm yet magical, it sets the tone for the rest of the album. The languid and sensual “Naked Love” features piano, violin, Mongolian morin khuur, throat singing, Chinese bawu, Hopi drum, Romanian bells, obsidian chimes, and Japanese Kubota. Eclectic, no? “The Journey,” a favorite, includes Charlie Bisharat on violin as well as wordless vocals, Egyptian water bottle(!!!) and electric upright bass guitar. A bit more uptempo than the previous tracks, it expresses movement and anticipation. “Earthbound” is the only piano solo, and what a fluid, beautiful piece it is - I love the sound of that piano!!! The smooth and elegant “Gliding” has appeared previously, but the instrumentation is somewhat different on this recording - another beauty! The instrumentation becomes even more exotic on the sensuous “Tango in Wednesday”: Hungarian tarogato, Turkish oud, Columbian tiple, African djun djun, tubano, doumbek, tam-tam, deer toenails(!!!),African cabasa, Tibetan tingsha bell, Middle Eastern riq, etc. I know what a few of those are, but only a few! As incongruous as the mix sounds, it’s an incredible combination that works beautifully! “Running On Joy” has appeared before with slightly different titles, but this delightful burst of musical energy is always distinctive with the sound of the Australian didgeridoo. “Flight of the Albatross” appeared on Hawkins’ second album and has gone through a variety of incarnations over the years. It’s still one of my favorites and appears here as “Ancient Albatross.” The piano really sings on this one! “Captured Freedom” has a much simpler instrumentation with piano, violin, and Irish whistle - a rather unusual but very effective combination. The whistle really brings out feelings of longing - lovely! “Forgiveness” closes the album with a gentle but very evocative duet for Chinese bawu and piano - another unusual but very effective pairing. Fiona Joy Hawkins makes it clear on " Years In a Moment" why she has become an artist with an international following. Very highly recommended!
2013-07-07

2. Review excerpt from Music and Media Focus - With the press release for her latest album, “ Years In A Moment,” heralding it as “her most epic and significant album,” I was of course very much looking forward to it. And after hearing it in detail, I have to say that it definitely lives up to that lofty accolade. “ Years in a Moment” was recorded using a unique contemporary piano crafted in Australia along with ancient instruments from around the world. Fiona’s concept is to bring instruments and their distinctive sounds from villages across the globe to explore the hidden musical treasures of cultures in a modern musical setting. The album is eclectic, acoustic, beautifully produced, and spans genres with influences of new age, jazz, classical, and world music, with the distinctly Celtic flavour of her ancestors. In addition to piano, Fiona also adds vocals on the album and has often been told that she sounds like an “Australian Enya.” A number of the songs begin with solo piano before being joined by other instruments and I appreciated that it provided a contrast and an opportunity to experience Fiona’s playing and melodic sensibilities on their own before flowing into a collective musical pool. Reading the list of accompanists and instruments on the various songs, it might seem like the tracks could be rather busy, but everything is expertly mixed with just the right amount of subtlety to allow Fiona’s graceful piano to shine, while still providing melodic and textural support. “ Years In A Moment” is a masterful mélange of superlative musical performance, stunning contemporary composition, and widely diversified cultural influences. Preceded by a string of award winning and critically acclaimed recordings, Fiona Joy Hawkins has outdone herself with this release and continues to set the bar ever higher in the unfolding of her creative potential.
2013-07-01

Tracks: 16 Release date: 2010-12-31 $5.99

Tracks: 15 Release date: 2015-12-04 $10.99

Tracks: 12 Release date: 2008-01-15 $9.99

Tracks: 11 Release date: 2006-02-20 $9.99

Tracks: 13 Release date: 2017-02-17 $9.99

Tracks: 12 Release date: 2005-02-28 $11.99

Tracks: 15 Release date: 2014-03-17 $9.99

Comments

1. The Most Soothing Album - I had a copy of this CD nearly ten years ago that I always used to fall asleep to. It was soothing and beautiful. I lost the CD and was disappointed. I thought of it many times over the years, but I didn't know the name of it. I was in my parents' garage today and found the CD case, but no CD. On the off chance, I looked it up on iTunes and found it!! Not only that, but the iTunes album has three extra songs! I am over the moon!
2016-11-01

Tracks: 11 Release date: 2020-12-22 $9.99

Tracks: 11 Release date: 1999-09-21 $9.99

Tracks: 26 Release date: 2018-07-27 $9.99

Comments

1. Beyond tradition - By my count, Ronn McFarlane has recorded at least albums of Celtic music, both as a soloist and as a member of the Baltimore Consort. Scottish tunes of the th Century were often transcribed for lute (and McFarlane's recorded a good deal of it). This release presents McFarlane playing his own lute arrangements of Irish and Scottish tunes. And they work really well. The sound of the traditional Irish harp isn't that different than a lute. Both are plucked stringed instruments with a pleasingly soft attack and warm, intimate sound. McFarlane is a past master of his instrument (or instruments in this case). For this recording, he uses a -course lute. The instrument provides a wide tonal range, letting him change the character of the music by shifting registers. The tunes are grouped in sets, making the disc a series of small, self-contained suites (or dance sets). A fair number of works by Turlogh Carolan are included, which lay very well on the lute. The recorded sound is exceptionally fine. Sonos Luminus recorded in DXD at bit, .kHz. What does that mean? On a good playback system, you should hear all the fine detail of the instrument, including overtones. McFarlane's playing is impeccable, and lovingly delivered. This is music he knows intimately, and his performance shows it. I'd highly recommend this release to anyone who loves early music, Celtic traditional music, and exceptional playing in general. "The Celtic Lute" holds to Ronn McFarlane's high standards of musicianship and taste.
2019-06-09

Tracks: 16 Release date: 1998-12-31 $5.99

Tracks: 25 Release date: 2015-08-20 $9.99

Tracks: 11 Release date: 2004-03-01 $9.99

Tracks: 12 Release date: 2021-09-06 $8.99

Comments

1. Slántie Mhath! - This is the first all I’m I have ever purchased on iTunes. The Sidh has helped to inspire my fire performing career over the last years and in return, by helping to support the guys through obtaining Nigredo was clearing the most clear choice. Here’s to working with you guys from The Sidh in Europe. Salúti, Slántie Mhath & Huzzah! Phoenix of The Vulcan Knights
2021-11-02

Tracks: 11 Release date: 2017-02-24 $9.99

Comments

1. The album’s title comes - The album’s title comes from her rediscovery of the joys of painting (the cover and artwork feature her own creations), while the songs encompass themes ranging from environmental concerns to the ravages of conflict. Words like “haunting,” “majestic” and “ethereal” come all too easily when describing this – virtually uncategorisable – sound, but in Brennan’s case they are unavoidable. - Hot Press
2020-09-03

Tracks: 10 Release date: 1998-12-31 $11.99

Comments

1. Celtic Dreamtime - Absolutely beautiful music. Never heard anything like this. It's great for winding down on the way home from work, while reading a book, taking a bath, or falling asleep. It's beauty will blow you away. I listen to it several times a day to calm me down and open my mind. If your into Celtic music you will love this album.
2014-08-03

Tracks: 13 Release date: 2014-01-17 $11.99

Tracks: 12 Release date: 1991-01-01 $7.99

Comments

1. Both Comforting and Adventurous - I first had this album on a cassette. Something happened to it, so I bought another one. Then something happened to that one, so I bought it a third time on a CD only a few years ago. I think that one was stolen because my CDs never leave the house and I wouldn't have deliberately parted with it. Now I'm here tonight buying this for the FOURTH time! It's that good. In fact, all the Narada music from the years before they converted to World Music are both unusual and delightful at the same time. I love listening to this (and other Narada music) on rainy days and while in the car driving on long trips. It's a stark contrast to the psytrance genre I love, but this really calms the nerves without being corny. I just love it!
2019-02-10

Tracks: 10 Release date: 2014-01-01 $9.90

Tracks: 20 Release date: 2013-06-07 $9.99

Tracks: 13 Release date: 2007-05-07 $9.99

Comments

1. Great group, great cause! - These musicians are all volunteers for the Clanranald Trust in Scotland, which works to promote Scottish culture and history. The fact that they are so dedicated and talented all at once is fabulous. Check out DunCarron Medieval Village on Facebook and you'll see what I mean. out of !
2013-05-25

Tracks: 10 Release date: 2013-12-03 $11.99

Tracks: 14 Release date: 2000-01-01 $9.99

Tracks: 11 Release date: 1998-01-01 $9.99

Tracks: 16 Release date: 2007-10-10 $10.99

Tracks: 11 Release date: 2006-12-31 $9.99

Tracks: 14 Release date: 2001-12-31 $9.99