NOEL BRIDGEMAN - Snare Drums
ELAINE CLARK - Orchestra Director
DAVID LEONARD - Performer
FRANK GALLAGHER - Fiddle, Viola, Human Whistle
IVAN GILLILAND - Guitar, Mandolin
BRENDAN MONAGHAN - Percussion, Pipe, Human Whistle
RORY MCCARRON - Percussion
ROY ARBUCKLE - Percussion
ALISON HOOD - Cello
BRONA CAHILL - Violin
CATHERINE MARY Clancy - Harp
LOUIS RODEN - Violin
JOACHIM ROEWER - Viola
RACHEL WALKER - Viola
GILLIAN WILLIAMS - Violin
KATHY ALDOUS - Violin
MARK JENKINS - Bass
DERMOT BYRNE - Accordion
GERRY CULLEN - Background Vocals
FRAN MCPHAIL - Background Vocals
PHIL CALLERY - Background Vocals
TONY HARRIS - Engineer
DAVE SLEVIN - Assistant Engineer
DAVE GOLD - Arranger
RAY STAFF - Mastering
JOANNE SAVIO - Photography
JANET DEMATTEIS - Art Direction
Phil Coulter's Highland Cathedral collects more of his lush Celtic
fusion pieces, which blend traditional instruments such as uilleann
pipes, whistles, piano, accordion, and strings with
contemporary-sounding synths. "Our Island Barque," "Going Home," and
"The Enchanted Glen" define the album's lilting, relaxing feel, and
Aoife's delicate vocals on "If These Stones Could Speak" and the title
track add another soothing, ethereal dimension to Highland Cathedral,
an album that will please Coulter fans as well as anyone fond of
atmospheric, new age-inspired Celtic music.
Pop songwriter and Irish instrumentalist Phil Coulter melds the
traditional and contemporary on his American debut, Highland Cathedral.
Filled mostly with light, airy piano tinkling, this music soothes with
simple melodies while recalling the Celtic tradition. Soft uilleann
pipes and whistles swoop in and out of Coulter's piano, and his
occasional use of harp, violin, accordion, and cello add a new
dimension (albeit unexciting yet interesting) to the music. Coulter is
also unafraid of the synthesizer, which on such songs as the title
track, "Tranquility," and "If These Stones Could Speak," creates a
lush, timeless feel akin to the music of Enya and one that works well.
In fact, Aoife (pronounced "ee-fah"), a protégé of Maire
Brennan, Enya's sister, contributes a crystal soprano to select tracks
and these songs are definite highlights. Not for the listener looking
to push listening boundaries, but rather for those plainly in love with
pleasant New Age Celtic music, Highland Cathedral well satisfies.
If these stones could speak
What a tale they'd tell
Of the heroes and chiefs of Tyrconnell,
Of the battles fought,
The wonders wrought
And the glories of Red Hugh O' Donnell.
For within these Castle walls,
In the Tower, in the Halls,
The spirit of O'Donnell will live on.
On the wind you'll hear the voices calling,
"O'Donnell"
In the trees, when dead of night is falling,
"O'Donnell"
In the ocean's roar,
In the Gap of Barnesmore,
In the hills of Donegal.
And they say his ghost still walk the Tower,
"O'Donnell".
And recalls Tyrconnell's finest hour,
"O'Donnell"
Riding far and wide,
With O'Neill there at his side,
In the glory days.
You will hear from Fanad to Falcarragh,
"O'Donnell"
In Gweedore, The Rosses and Gweebarra
"O'Donnell"
Now the Castle stands
Proudly back in Irish hands,
He's at peace again
Red Hugh O'Donnell is home again.
OUR ISLAND BARQUE
Our island barque will carry us
To our heavenly harbor
Through troubled waters deliver us
To our heavenly Father
Sail on, sail on our island barque
Through trial and tribulation
Sail on, sail on our island barque
To our heavenly destination
As we paddle through God's ocean
We are pilgrims following His plan.
Every wave and wind and ocean
He controls in the hollow of his hand,*
And there to watch over us
Is Peter, the fisherman
Our island barque will carry us
To our heavenly harbor
Through troubled waters deliver us
To our heavenly Father
Sail on, sail on our island barque
Through trial and tribulation
Sail on sail on our island barque
To our heavenly destination