Secret Garden - Dreamcatcher

Dreamcatcher, not listed as a greatest-hits collection, is made up of previously recorded works. Secret Garden, Irish violinist Fionnuala (fi-NOO-la) Sherry, and Norwegian pianist/keyboardist Rolf Lovland, along with various guest musicians, always manage to surprise and execute their craft with a remarkable gracefulness of sound. Lush, rich, full-bodied, and passionate, Secret Garden stands eye-to-eye with other successful Celtic/world-music hybrids such as Loreena McKennitt and Clannad. Highlighted by the ethereal vocal styling of Gunnhild Tvinnereim ("Nocturne") and the tender laments of Karen Matheson ("Prayer"), Secret Garden weaves a mystical tapestry of classic Oriental notes, Irish flutes, deep bodhran, and bold violins. With the crystalline quality of pure water, Secret Garden descends over one's spirit in a tranquil waterfall of renewal, as demonstrated in "Sigma" and "Songs from a Secret Garden." "Elan," which originally appeared on the album Dawn of a New Century, reflects the fire that burns at the heart of Secret Garden. The song soars with a wild, sea-swept energy, a true soundscape of white-sand beach and blue sky. A bonus cut, "Last Present," closes out Dreamcatcher with a simple, balanced melody--poised and inspiring. Dreamcatcher, a collection of some of the best musical moments of Secret Garden, is a fine acknowledgement of an inventive group of musicians who are consistently setting a high and impressive standard in modern Celtic/New Age music. --Leslie R. Marini Amazon.com

Heart affecting album

This is a very special album; I feel the song "Prayer" very deep inside my heart. It is really prayer with great sound and outstanding performance. September 4, 2008

Soul-Expanding

During the summer of 2001, I rented a palm-covered, hillside palapa in a still-primitive Huatulco, Mexico. I was escaping years of teaching high school, and my only son's drug addiction. I listened to Dreamcatcher over and over while watching/hearing the Pacific surf crashing down below. Magical!! I must recommend this CD for anyone needing to "sit" with their emotions. This music speaks to, and recenters my spirit, to those things I can control. Just gorgeous! July 13, 2008

Enchanting !

I am a newcommer to Secret Garden with Dreamcatcher as my first purchase. When I previewed this CD online here on Amazon.com I was enchanted to its melodies and enjoyed several different influences this collection offered. I try not to over analyze as music can mean and feel differently to different souls based on life's trials and experiences. I will just encourage if you enjoy a more spiritually uplifting music than many of today's desensitised offerings please preview this collection here and decide for yourself. I give this collection a high recommendation. July 10, 2008

A beautiful experience

I first heard Secret Garden over ten years ago when they won the Eurovision Song Contest with the hauntingly beautiful 'Nocturne'. This is the loveliest composition that has ever been entered for this competition and it is also the first in this collection.
Secret Garden is the name of the duo which comprises the beautiful Fionnuala Sherry (who is an accomplished violinist) and the Norwegian Rolf Lovland who plays keyboards and composes. Fionnuala, as her name indicates, is Irish and this accounts for the Celtic sound and quality of the music. The songs are accompanied by some of the most talented musicians. While the sound is sometimes reminiscent of Enya or even the music that accompanies the Riverdance dancing troup, their sound is distinct. The music is a unique blend of melodic classical music with elements of Irish. At times there is a sound that almost appraoches the highest quality gospel music (and I mean this in a positive way). Thus there is a great variety of instrumentation; one can hear both the Irish National Symphony Orchestra (or on some tracks the RTE Concert Orchestra)yet also traditional Irish instruments like the bodhran (a kind of Irish tambourine/drum) and the Uilleann pipes (the charactersitic beautiful and mournful instrument heard on the title song of the film 'Titanic'). Though there is indeed a strong Irish/Celtic flavour, the melodies are something special and the sound is not raw or traditional.Fionnuala's style is her own combination of classical violin with Irish fiddle-playing. The way she plays is so moving and her timing is perfect.
I enjoyed all the pieces tremendously, yet like everyone else, I have my personal favourites. I love Nocturne (with the beautiful voice of Gunnhild Tvinnereim), this time sung in English -whereas the original performance in the Eurovision Song Contest was in Norwegian. The soft lullaby melody is similar to some of the songs sung by Sissel (who like Rolf also comes from Norway). Fionnuala perhaps has a different quality of voice but she also sings so sweetly on several tracks. I particularly liked 'Song From a Secret Garden', which will be immediately recongisable to most listeners. However, my favourite song is 'Sona' (Irish for 'happiness'). This beautifully constructed melody is sung in a gentle hush by Fionnuala with a soft chorus of male voices in the mystic Irish tongue. Although I bought this album mainly for 'Nocturne', it was this song, (i.e. 'Sona') that has stayed in my mind.
Alluding to the origin of the group's name, Rolf says wisely that he would not want to confine the music by placing it in any particular category. The dream one experiences is unique to the listener :"The idea of a 'secret garden' is that everyone has their own". March 30, 2008

Secret Garden has been a secret for TOO long!!

Secret Garden's Dreamcatcher weaves an ethereal pageant of wonder and joy. My initial thought was "It sounds like a movie soundtrack of some mysterious delightful romance." Liner notes say "People tell us that our music is 'visual' and 'evocative' It has been suggested it music to a film yet to be seen." Imagine that!
If you like Celtic music, you will love Secret Garden. January 20, 2007

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