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Format: 
Release Date: 26-10-1998
Label: Celestial Harmonies
Catalog Number: 13065-2
Barcode: 13711306521
Musical Style: Celtic Folk
Track Listing:
| Disc 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castle Kelly [03:56] | 7 | Buttonhole [03:58] |
| 2 | She Moved Through The Fair (Ta Me Mo Shui/ Samhradh Samhradh) [06:34] | 8 | Limerick's Lamentation (Brian Boru's March) [06:30] |
| 3 | May Morning Dew (Morrison's Jig) [05:12] | 9 | Carolan's Cup [03:36] |
| 4 | Fairy Queen [05:14] | 10 | L'heritiere de Keroulez (The Pretty Maid Milking Her Cow) [05:30] |
| 5 | Arran Boat Song [04:55] | 11 | Farewell To The Land Of Mist [02:10] |
| 6 | Twisting Of The Rope [02:29] | ||
Description:
In 1983, Patrick Ball released the first record in his Celtic Harp series. Now, ten years and five releases later, he has completed his most personal work to date. Fiona is a collection of traditional songs that includes some of the most beautiful and haunting tunes of the Celtic world - and is named after Patrick Ball's new daughter, Fiona. For many years, the Celtic harp, with its unique resonance and clear, bell–like sound was an important part of Celtic life, especially in Ireland and in France's Celtic province, Brittany. The few harps which survived into the 20th century, did so as museum pieces and their incredibly large and varied repertoire began to sink into obscurity, too. Naturally, as musicians and listeners have rediscovered the beauty of these instruments, the old songs and laments have been rediscovered as well. On Fiona, Ball includes two of Ireland's most enduring and memorable folk songs: She Moved Through the Fair, an oft recorded classic which can now finally be heard in its original form and Brian Boru's March, an ancient tune marking the brief unification of Ireland in the 11th century. Traditional songs from Scotland and Brittany also appear, along with a work by Turlough O'Carolan, whose popular music has been a feature of each of Patrick Ball's six recordings for Celestial Harmonies/Fortuna. Ball's wire–strung harp is the focus of this recording, but the traditional Irish pipes, whistles and fiddle provide an occasional complement on several pieces.
Biography:
Patrick Ball is one of the premier celtic harp players in the world and a captivating storyteller in the Celtic tradition. He has recorded nine instrumental and three spoken word albums which have sold well over one–half million copies internationally and won national awards in both the music and spoken word categories. His critically acclaimed solo musical theater piece, O’Carolan’s Farewell to Music, brings to the stage the legendary life, the turbulent times and the glorious music of Ireland’s most celebrated and beloved musician, Turlough O’Carolan. Patrick Ball is “a rare artist,” for in playing the ancient, legendary brass–strung harp of Ireland with its crystalline, bell–like voice and in telling the marvelous old tales of wit and enchantment, he not only carries on two of the richest traditions of Celtic culture, but blends them in concert to create “a richly theatrical and hauntingly beautiful” performance.
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