Celtic Woman [Manhattan]

• Artist: Various Artists
• Rating:
• Release Date: March 01, 2005
• Type: Collection (various artists)
• Genre: Celtic

Review

Manhattan Records' release of Celtic Woman is a compilation/collaboration between five unknown vocalists, introduced only by their first names (Chloë, Lisa, Órla, Méav, and Máiréad), who take turns chirping Irish ballads as heard through a dramatic, lush new age filter. Via reverb-heavy and thick keyboard atmospherics, the singers cover contemporary ground, such as Enya's "Orinoco Flow," to traditional melodies like "Danny Boy" and "Ave Maria." While each vocalist brings a separate lovely timbre to the table, each song shares a similar theatrical arrangement and plodding tempo that smoothes over any subtleties that might distinguish track from track, therefore fitting well sonically side by side, but leaving the listener yearning for a bit more dynamic. Overall Celtic Woman is a decent set of well-performed vocal pop, but ultimately more a soothing background soundtrack than anything memorable. ~ Gregory McIntosh, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Last Rose of Summer (Intro)/Walking in the Air	Traditional	Chlöe, Órla ?	(4:22)
May It Be	Roma Ryan	Lisa	(3:47)
Isle of Inisfree	Traditional	Méav	(3:28)
Danny Boy	Frederic E. Weatherly	Mairead, Celtic Woman	(3:26)
One World			(3:49)
Ave Maria	Traditional	Méav, Chlöe	(2:56)
Send Me a Song		Lisa	(4:23)
Siúil a Rún (Walk My Love)	Traditional	Órla ?	(3:16)
Orinoco Flow	Enya, Roma Ryan	Celtic Woman	(3:32)
Someday	Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz	Chlöe	(4:22)
She Moved Thru' the Fair	Traditional	Mairead	(3:30)
Nella Fantasia	Ennio Morricone, Chiara Ferrau	Chlöe	(3:42)
The Butterfly	Traditional	Lisa	(3:02)
Harry's Game	Paul Brennan	Órla ?	(2:32)
The Soft Goodbye			(3:59)
You Raise Me Up	Rolf Loveland	Celtic Woman	(4:34)
The Ashoken Farewell/The Contradiction [Live][*]	Traditional	Lisa	(4:10)
Sí Do Mhaimeo Í (The Wealthy Widow)	Traditional	Méav	(2:13)

Credits

Andrew Boland (Percussion), Andrew Boland (Engineer), Andrew Boland (Mixing), Robbie Casserly (Percussion), Robbie Casserly (Bodhran), Joe Gastwirt (Mastering), Eoghan O'Neill (Bass), Ray Fean (Percussion), David Agnew (Oboe), David Downes (Arranger), David Downes (Celeste), David Downes (Composer), David Downes (Harpsichord), David Downes (Keyboards), David Downes (Whistle (Human)), David Downes (Producer), David Downes (Orchestration), David Downes (Musical Direction), David Downes (Low Whistle), David Downes (Music Direction), Des Moore (Guitar), Alan Smale (Concert Master), Mairead Nesbitt (Arranger), Andreja Malir (Harp), Irish Film Orchestra (Orchestra), Méav (Vocals), John Page (Conductor), Orla Fallon (Harp), Orla Fallon (Vocals), Tara Leigh Chiari (Marketing), Aontas Choral Group (Choir, Chorus), Rosemary Collier (Choir Director)