The Blossom and The Rain

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Harpist Carol Thompson renders traditional Irish airs with a delicate grace and poise that evokes the gentility of the 19th century. With nimble, emotive fingers, she creates a charming, contemplative Celtic mood using her unique "downward roll" style, which opens the harp to a lush, chiming interpretation rather than adhering to the classical school. The atmosphere is both delightful and hushed, bright and melancholy, and Thompson's selection of material quietly pays tribute to the Irish, Scottish, and Welsh folk traditions despite it sounding aristocratic at times. Her renditions of "Derry Air" (better known as "Danny Boy") and "An Chuilfhoinn," or "The Coolin" air, cast an enchanting fairylike spell as refreshing as a drink of water from a mountain spring. One bar of "Down by the Salley Gardens" and Celtic-music lovers will recognize this beautiful air, full of a quaint magic and intimate romance that's sprinkled throughout this exquisite collection. --Karen K. Hugg

Tracks:

Chief Sitting In The Rain/College Hornpipe
Blackberry Mull
Appalachia Waltz
Old Country Fairy Tale
F.C.'s Jig
Poem For Carlita
Limerock
Caprice For Three
Vistas
Olympic Reel (Medley)

Customer Reviews:

Kaleidoscope of multi-hued sound that enchants.......2005-01-07

Playing Time - 73:50 -- Recorded live at Spivey Hall at Clayton College & State University in Morrow, Georgia, "Crossing Bridges" features violinist Mark O'Connor's Appalachia Waltz Trio, which also features violist Carol Cook and cellist Natalie Haas. The CD's booklet provides this quote from O'Connor - "I always think that music should elevate the spirit, stimulate the intellect and strengthen the heart." If those criteria define his goal, then the consummate pro and his two sidekicks easily succeed. This album of largely original material offers much in the realms of vitality, reasoning and emotion.

His rise to fame has been noteworthy. I remember when O'Connor, originally from Seattle, was just a young pup in the 70s drawing a large crowd in jam sessions with mentor Benny Thomasson at the National Old-Time Fiddlers Contest in Weiser, Idaho. In fact, he could identify specific classical composers at age three. He began playing guitar at six and violin at eleven. Before he had fiddled for a year, Mark had won second place at Weiser. At age 12, he was on the Grand Ole Opry. By 14, he'd won various fiddle and guitar championships, and the Winfield, Ks. guitar contest rules were changed to require that contestants wait at least five years before they could win again. He did. Touring with Dan Crary, The David Grisman Quintet, and The Dregs followed. In 1983, he embarked on a solo career and journey that has him "crossing bridges" into many musical genres.

In 1991, Mark & The New Nashville Cats (featuring Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, and Steve Wariner) won the CMA "Vocal Event of the Year" Award. Mark O'Connor also won the CMA "Musician of the Year " Award consecutively from 1991-1996. He toured with Marty Stuart and Travis Tritt in 1993. In more recent times, he has focused primarily on classical music. He wrote his first violin concerto in 2000. His 2002 Nashville concert with Chris Thile, Bryan Sutton and Bryon House was captured on his excellent "Thirty Year Retrospective" album (OMAC Records 5). The "Bowtie" track from this album has been nominated for a Grammy in the Country Instrumental category.

Now, O'Connor, Cook and Haas unite to recreate, with expert technical proficiency, the original 1995 "Appalachia Waltz" repertoire and some fine new material in the same tradition. The original two "Appalachia Waltz" CDs and tours featured violinist O'Connor, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and bassist Edgar Meyer. Yo-Yo Ma made a solo version of the title track his signature piece perfect for an encore.

Compared to the original sound with violin, cello and bass, the new trio's sound is more airy, fluid and light. No one should question the credential of Cook and Haas. Cook was a a member of Scott Yoo's great ensemble, Metamorphosen. She's also a champion Scottish fiddler and made her debut with the Edinburgh Symphony at age 16. Haas studied at Julliard under cello legend Fred Sherry. She also loves Scottish folk music. The album's 15-minute closer "Olympic Reel" medley is textbook string pyrotechnics. Some other technically impressive tracks include "Chief Sitting in the Rain/College Hornpipe," "F.C.'s Jig" and "Limerock." All in all, the generous 74-minute album gives us a kaleidoscope of multi-hued sound that enchants us from the first measure to the last. The sheet music is available on Mark's website. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

From strength to strength.......2004-12-03

If you know Mark O'Connor's work, it's probably enough to say that this is up to his usual standard of musicianship. The other striking thing about him is his knack for finding superb collaborators, whether they be giants who inspired him (as in his CD "Heroes") or newer arrivals on the scene, like the young cellist Natalie Haas. She takes on (for instance) Appalachia Waltz, a work which Yo-Yo Ma had all but canonized, and comes through with an inspired performance. I recently heard her play with Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser, and it's clear to me that she has a brilliant future ahead of her. As for Carol Cook, this is the first performance of hers I've heard, but it won't be the last. She disproves all the bad press violists get. By the way, this CD does include Amazing Grace, contrary to what a previous reviewer wrote. But by some glitch it's just added on as part of the tenth and last track and is not acknowledged either on the list of tracks or in the notes (which are otherwise very thorough).

Excellent music from a trio of truly gifted musicians.......2004-11-12

I was fortunate enough to catch a performance of this trio in Columbus, GA this past February, and ever since that day I have waited for this CD to come out. Mark O'Connor is a violin/fiddle virtuoso, Carol Cook can coax mezmerizing sounds out of a viola, and the amazing Natalie Haas can make you hear cello in a whole different light. Only two things keep this from being a five-star recording. First, you can never capture the beauty of a live performance on a CD. Second, they should have included the chilling rendition of 'Amazing Grace' that they do in concert. (NOTE: As highlighted by a later reviewer, this track is indeed included as a 'hidden' track at the end. My comments on the piece still stand). At the show I attended that was one piece through which the audience sat transfixed. When the last notes faded, there were several moments of stunned silence, followed by a collective 'WOW' from all assembled there. Still, it's a great listen...give it a try and you won't be sorry.

Roger Quilter: Complete Folk-Song Arrangements; Complete Part-Songs for Women's Voices

Average customer rating:

Quilter deserves better...

Roger Quilter: Complete Folk-Song Arrangements; Complete Part-Songs for Women's Voices

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Roger Quilter: O Mistress Mine; To Daisies; Julia's Hair; Go, Lovely Rose
English Song Series 1

ASIN: B0007XHL0M
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Tracks:

Drink To Me Only - David Wilson-Johnson
Over The Mountains
My Lady Greensleeves
Little Moth
Love Calls Through The Summer Night
If Love Should Pass Me By
The Rose Of Tralee - Philip Langridge
Believe me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms - David Wilson-Johnson
Oh! 'Tis Sweet To Think - David Wilson-Johnson
Come Lady-Day
The Starlings
To A Harebell By A Graveside
It Was A Lover And His Lass
Ye Banks And Braes
Charlie Is My Darling
Ca' The Yowes To The Knowes
Where Go The Boats?
Windy Nights
Summer Sunset
Le Pauvre Laboureur - David Wilson-Johnson
L'Amour De Moi - David Wilson-Johnson
Joli Mois De Mai - David Wilson-Johnson
Daisies After The Rain (Solo Version)
My Heart Adorn'd With Thee
The Passing Bell
Blossom-Time
Daisies After The Rain (Duet Version)
Weep You No More
I Gotta Robe - David Wilson-Johnson
'Tis St. Valentine's Day
What Will You Do My Love - Philip Langridge
The Jolly Miller
Barbara Allen
Three Poor Mariners - David Wilson-Johnson
Since First I Saw Your Face - David Wilson-Johnson
The Ash Grove

Customer Reviews:

Quilter deserves better..........2005-11-10

Was this recording of Quilter songs (Complete Folk-Song Arrangements and Complete Part-Songs for Women's Voices) a vanity project for soprano Amanda Pitt? It is hard to explain in any other terms, for her voice is not pleasant to hear. It is a pinched, badly produced, squally sound - the sort of standard one would expect in a not very gifted singing student. Why Naxos permitted this travesty of a recording under their label is a mystery.

The majority of the songs on this CD are sung by the aforesaid Amanda Pitt (soprano). The other singers in this project are of a better standard - in the case of Philip Langridge, beautiful to listen to. This recording is not worthy of his excellent career and lovely tenor voice. The other two singers - mezzo Joanne Thomas and baritone David Wilson-Johnson - are not bad, either, although the mezzo doesn't get a single solo. The lack of a solo for Ms Thomas is glaringly evident when compared to the ten (10) solos which Ms Pitt sings. (10 out of 21 solos - definitely an unfair ratio. Of these ten solos, several could have been given to the mezzo to sing - they were certainly not beyond the average mezzo range.)

The rest of the album consists of duets - thirteen of them. Eleven of the thirteen duets are soprano/mezzo, and in spite of the mezzo's voice (from what one is permitted to hear of it) isn't bad, the duet performances are frankly awful, chiefly because of Ms Pitt. Even the superior quality of Philip Langridge's singing cannot save the two duets he sings with Amanda Pitt.

It's artistically an insulting and atrociously unbalanced distribution of material.

Look for the John Mark Ainsley/Lisa Milne recording of Quilter songs & arias. Admittedly, it doesn't include most of the duets on this CD, but oh, the sheer pleasure of hearing well-trained and lovely voices give Quilter a worthy treatment!

Average customer rating:

Beautiful, tranquil, soothing
a new favorite
As good as this music comes

The Blossom and The Rain
Cornelius Lyons , Brian (composer) Peters , Cornish Traditional , English Traditional , Irish Traditional , Scottish Traditional , and Carol Thompson
Manufacturer: Dorian Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

Atholl Highlanders, The
Foggy Dew, The
Wild Rose of the Mountain, The
Snowy-Breasted Pearl, The
Watching the Wheat
Southwind
Lament for Owen Rua
Blossom and the Rain, The
Cornish Dance
Celtic Wedding March
Derry Air, The
Scott's Lamentation
Musical Priest, The
Pull Down the Shade
Down by the Salley Gardens
Tobin's Favorite
Eileen a Roon
Eilionir a Riun
Coolin, The
Cailin O Chois tSiure Me
Lament for Staker Wallace

Amazon.com

Harpist Carol Thompson renders traditional Irish airs with a delicate grace and poise that evokes the gentility of the 19th century. With nimble, emotive fingers, she creates a charming, contemplative Celtic mood using her unique "downward roll" style, which opens the harp to a lush, chiming interpretation rather than adhering to the classical school. The atmosphere is both delightful and hushed, bright and melancholy, and Thompson's selection of material quietly pays tribute to the Irish, Scottish, and Welsh folk traditions despite it sounding aristocratic at times. Her renditions of "Derry Air" (better known as "Danny Boy") and "An Chuilfhoinn," or "The Coolin" air, cast an enchanting fairylike spell as refreshing as a drink of water from a mountain spring. One bar of "Down by the Salley Gardens" and Celtic-music lovers will recognize this beautiful air, full of a quaint magic and intimate romance that's sprinkled throughout this exquisite collection. --Karen K. Hugg

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful, tranquil, soothing.......2002-04-08

This cd fully lived up to my expectations. It is melodious and artistically executed. Even a baby would enjoy it as lullaby music! It reminds me of shimmering water...

a new favorite.......2000-06-23

The Lord has blessed Carol Thompson's fingers in unimaginable ways. I first fell in love with Mrs. Thompson's music on her previous recording, "Carolan's Welcome"; which has ever since been one of my most prized CDs. This new recording, "The Blossom and the Rain" is even better. Such beauty is rarely found. Splendor streams forth from every song. These songs are raised to life by Mrs. Thompson; A glowing, almost spiritual life. "The Wild Rose of the Mountain" and "Scot's Lamentation" are now two of my favorite tunes of all time. So is this disc. If you have the chance, buy it.

As good as this music comes.......2000-02-16

Perhaps some day Dorian Recordings will turn out a poor CD, but that is unlikely, considering one of their latest releases is yet another 5-star offering. It features harpist Carol Thompson and is titled (DOR-90273). This fifth entry in a series of such music by this artist gives us 21 selections, played on the Celtic harp, that last 67 minutes and are drawn from the traditional music of Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, and Wales. Personally I find it difficult on occasion to tell one from the other--except for the omnipresent "Derry Air" without the "Danny Boy" vocal part and the lovely "Salley Gardens"--and this can possibly become a problem for one who decides to sit down and give a close hearing. This is not because of the solo instrument, since I find similar programs with ensembles have a certain cloying effect that suggests the CD be heard a bit at a time the first time through and then as radiant ambient music thereafter.

By the way, Ms. Thompson was born in this country of Anglo-Welsh-Irish background (as the copywriter tells us). Part of her technique is to let her ornamentation come out of the melody rather than merely appending it, and to execute her chords with a "downward roll" rather than an upward as in classical harp playing.