Secret Garden - White Stones

Two factors account for the broad-based popularity of Secret Garden (the duo of Norwegian keyboardist Rolf Lovland and Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry). One: the twosome's attractive, smartly conceived mix of compatible elements including light classical, urbane New Age, and well-mannered contemporary Celtic. Two: the pair's ability to persuasively present this formula with poise and (crucially) fetching good looks in a concert film, which in 1999 enjoyed broad exposure on American public television. (The performance, A Night with Secret Garden, is available on DVD.) White Stones is Lovland and Sherry's second collaboration, and, despite a few side trips into weighty sentimentality (e.g., the heart-clutching earnestness of "First Day of Spring"), it nicely conveys the pair's simple yet endearing children-of-the-cosmos spirit. Highlights here include the disc's energized, Celtic-influenced tunes ("Steps," "Moving," "Escape") and an infectious, regal charmer ("Celebration") Lovland composed in honor of the Queen of Norway's 60th birthday. Accompanied on nearly every piece by a small orchestra or Celtic instrumentalists, Sherry's violin sometimes evokes moods of melancholy that seem better suited for a two-hanky, movie-of-the-week film score. Yet a piece such as "Hymn to Hope" shows she can also elegantly trigger deeper feelings of longing and anticipation that can linger for hours. Overall, a worthwhile listen. --Terry Wood Amazon.com

White Stone -soup for the soul

I highly reccommend this. Most enjoyable during my hectic day working excel spread sheets. Good focus tool. Enjoy it.VBS October 19, 2007

Pleasant, romantic music for the soul

As a fan of "Secret Garden" I have enjoyed this CD for weeks now. I fall asleep to it almost every night. It is not my very favorite, prefering the turn of the century one, but I do alternate listening to both. I am looking forward to a new album, as the recently purchsed one has mostly repeats on it.
Talented musicians, composers and singers make this CD incredibly enjoyable and I do say I love it. June 27, 2007

Excellent Work

This is by far my favorite Secret Garden CD and their only all instumental CD. I prefer the allegro selections , despite the fact that they consider them to be filler material . The musicianship is first rate and you would never know that the individual songs were recorded in pieces , unless you visited their website . This CD has , what the Grateful Dead refered to as , the X factor . Everything on each selection flows together as if all of the musicians were in the same studio doing it live . Fionnuala Sherry dominates the entire work as the featured artist , but certainly doesn't overpower the rest of the fine musicians involved . I find it remarkable that this CD has never received a major award . April 15, 2007

Classic, beautiful music by Secret Garden - INCREDIBLE

Secret Garden is the best discovery of my life as far as music goes. The violin is so soft and beautiful, and the singing is ethereal. I cannot get enough of this group! I highly recommend White Stones. I love Irish music and they have a lot of songs that have the Irish Celtic sound, and I just cannot say enough good things about this CD. July 10, 2006

White Stones

Excellent orchestrations, with use of specific instruments to bring out various emotions in the listener. Excellent up front or as background music, or even for meditation. I like driving in the mountains or desert listening to any of Secret Garden's great music.
Dr. Ronaldo Fritz September 26, 2005

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