Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman is composed of a group of incredibly-talented singers and musicians performing mostly traditional Irish music (some in Gaelic) yet the music is arranged with a more contemporary flair. Their CD’s have broken all sales records and have maintained the #1 position on the Billboard World Music Chart every week for over TWO years!
The majority of the large supporting staff are professing Christians; on their CDs/DVD and at every concert, the events contain at least 25% Christian songs, hymns and “spiritually uplifting” music. They performed several CHRISTmas Concerts in a Shinto Temple in Japan in 2008, to standing ovations. They were urged to come back!
This group, although I have never seen them “live”, has a special place in my heart. While preparing myself for the inevitable loss of my wife after months of watching her health deteriorate, the resurgence of Irish/Celtic music gave me something to lean on. And, when I first saw them on PBS, their style and radiance helped bring life back into me.
Irish music , if you have not noticed, is expressed in four basic “flavors” Suantraí (lullaby), Geantraí (happy song), Goltraí (lament) and Míleatach (militant) . Some of the songs that Celtic Woman sing in Gaelic sound so sweet and almost spiritual, yet if you look at the translated lyrics, the songs are really “funny”!
Google the lyrics to “Laschia Ch’io Pianga, a song that sounds like it came from the Hymnal, and you will see that it is a lament of “my cruel fate and lost freedom”. Same with Dúlaman and many other songs. Still, in their style and stage presentation, they could make us swoon to a nursery rhyme!
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They have world-wide acclaim and their album sales are toppling most existing chart records. They have performed at the White House for President George W. Bush, The Lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree (2009) as well as before the Queen of England, and at the Vatican for the Pope. They speak and sing in a number of languages besides English and Gaelic; including German, Italian, French and Latin. They are well received in the Orient as well as around the world. They are, and for the past five years have been on tour, primarily in the USA. Many in their audiences are “repeat”, and most travel many miles just to attend their concerts!
Here’s part of a review from the 10/28/09 Cincinnati Examiner:
“October 28, 2009 – New York – The Irish music phenomenon, Celtic Woman has earned international recognition for their heavenly melodies and magnificent live shows. The 5 member Irish female ensemble known for putting a modern twist on the Celtic sound is set to release their new CD and DVD, “Songs from the Heart” , through Manhattan Records on January 26th. Recorded live in HD in the lush Irish country setting of the majestic Powerscourt House & Gardens, the special will be featured on the DVD portion of “Songs from the Heart” and will air on PBS —
— In only four years, Celtic Woman has had CD and DVD sales topping 4 million, played 9 US tours, and performed for almost a million people. Their last three PBS specials have aired close to 14,000 times on 685 PBS stations across the country. “Celtic Woman – Songs from the Heart” marks the group’s 5th collaboration with PBS. As a testament to the group’s ability to cross musical and cultural boundaries, Celtic Woman were invited to perform on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars singing the Brendan Graham original “You Raise Me Up” for 23 million viewers. A true celebration of Ireland and Celtic Woman’s unforgettable signature style, ‘Songs from the Heart’ will touch fans of all ages and cultures.”
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On their current tour, which is a continuation of last year’s, “Isle of Hope“, and on their newest CD/DVD’s, they feature the song “O, America“, which was written by Brendan Graham and William Joseph Schwartz exclusively for Celtic Woman. Graham has also collaborated on other songs that are performed by the group on this and other albums, including “You Raise Me Up“, “Sing Out“, “The Blessing” (performed at many weddings), “The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun“, “Christmas Pipes“, “The Call“, and the feature song “Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears” on their latest album: “Songs From The Heart“.
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Check out their WEB site and sample some of the music and videos here:
Their CD’s and DVD’s are available from their WEB site as well as Amazon.com, and retail outlets like Walmart, Sam’s Club and others, and at a premium (donation) when the program is aired on your local PBS station.
