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Secret Garden Once In A Red Moon NewAgemp3 320h33tschon55

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Secret Garden - Once In A Red Moon
Audio CD: March 26, 2002
Label: Decca
Bitrate: 320 kbps

A mature and at times moving work, Once in a Red Moon fortifies Secret Garden's stature as a marquee New Age act. The duo of Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and pianist-composer Rolf Lovland here refine their specialty of making classical/contemporary/Celtic mini-epics in small orchestral and choral settings. Moreover, each piece elicits reflection, celebration, or atonement with the divine. Red Moon's mood of melancholy is stronger than usual--"Invitation" and "Fairytale" are the disc's only propulsive tracks--though there's an undercurrent of lamentation and reverence. Highlights include the gospel-fueled, Josh Groban-like "You Raise Me Up," sung by Brian Kennedy ( Riverdance ) and fittingly conducted by Steven Mercurio ( musical director for Andrea Bocelli ). And a riveting, slow-building plea for peace, "Elegie," features the voices of Anuna and a forceful, concluding piano chord--a composite of 66 C chords submitted by fans worldwide in response to an online invitation from the group. ~ Terry Wood

One of the major things that Rolf Lovland and Fionnuala Sherry, Secret Garden's principle talent, have to their credit, they do not seem to be afraid to tamper with their tried formula for success and Once in a Red Moon may be the group's greatest example of this. The two, in many instances on this album, have taken themselves out of the forefront. For example, on previous releases the Sherry's violin and Loveland would be at the front of every track. This is no longer the case. The orchestra that was often used on previous albums has been taken out of the background leading to a much smoother and polished sound.
First, let me state that I never thought that there was anything wrong with the sound that the group had perfected in the three previous releases, see my reviews of the previous albums...nothing but 5 stars will do. On a first listen, this album really gave me a mixed reaction. What happened to the old sound? After having the album for several months now...got it in Norway...the new is at least on par with what has come before from this group, if not arguably better.

Once in a Red Moon is definitely, as stated in Amazon's review, a lot darker, as was the case with Songs from a Secret Garden. There are a few upbeat songs...Invitation, my personal favorite on the album, and Fairytale. The title track for some reason has a feel of Arabian Nights to it. Gates of Dawn and Greenwaves are both sung by the thankfully returning Karen Matheson are both beautiful songs with an inescapable Celtic flare...GofD is also slightly upbeat. The two songs that are really the most notable though, are You Raise Me Up and Elegie. You Raise Me Up is the best vocal song the group has ever done on any of their albums. It is just simply as majestically inspirational song and lyrically sound song I've heard. Elegie, on the other hand, is probably the darkest and for lack of a better word, strangest song they have ever done. Presented as a song for peace, something oddly fitting for our times closes the album.

In closing, for fans of the old albums, there is plenty of the violin and keyboarding. However, instead of stagnating, Secret Garden has done something that is very rare in "New Age" music, and that is innovate and experiment...see Enya...I love Enya, but there is always room grow as an artist. There are plenty of great surprises on this album while still not completely straying from what got them to this point. Think of the last three albums pretty much as three parts of the same book. Well, Once in a Red Moon is book two, with plenty left over from the old but a stays away from being just another more of the same, type of release. It's been two years since our last visit to The Secret Garden...it's great to be back. ~ Timothy Slomka

Personnel:
Rolf Lovland - arranger, piano, harmonium, background vocals
Fionnuala Sherry - violin
Also: Karen Matheson, Julian Lloyd Webber, Julian Lloyd Webber

DETAILED Track Listings:
01 Awakening (Lovland) 3:55
Artists: Elaine Clark Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: Steven Mercurio) Hans Fredrik Jacobsen Asa Jinder RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: Steven Mercurio) Secret Garden

02 You Raise Me Up (Lovland, Graham) 4:59
Artists: Anúna (Conducted by: Michael McGlynn) Tracey Campbell-Nation Elaine Clark Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: Steven Mercurio) Brian Kennedy London Community Gospel Choir Liam O'Flynn RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: Steven Mercurio) Bjørn Ole Rasch Secret Garden

03 Silent Wings (Lovland) 3:39
Artists: Kjetil Bjerkestrand Per Elias Drabløs Noel Eccles Simon Emes Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Hans Fredrik Jacobsen Andrea Marlish Des Moore RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Secret Garden Threse Timoney

04 Greenwaves (Lovland, Callaway) 4:43
Artists: Kjetil Bjerkestrand Per Elias Drabløs Noel Eccles Simon Emes Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Hans Fredrik Jacobsen Rolf Kristensen Marian Lisland Andrea Marlish Karen Matheson Des Moore Mick O'Brien RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Secret Garden Threse Timoney

05 Invitation (Lovland) 3:56
Artists: Kjetil Bjerkestrand Stephen Cooney Per Elias Drabløs Noel Eccles Simon Emes Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Hans Fredrik Jacobsen Asa Jinder Mick O'Brien RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Bjørn Ole Rasch Secret Garden Threse Timoney

06 Duo (Lovland) 3:57
Artists: Elaine Clark Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: Steven Mercurio) Julian Lloyd Webber RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: Steven Mercurio) Secret Garden

07 Belonging (Lovland) 3:55
Artists: Kjetil Bjerkestrand Per Elias Drabløs Noel Eccles Simon Emes Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Hans Fredrik Jacobsen Asa Jinder Laoise Kelly Rolf Kristensen Des Moore RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Secret Garden Threse Timoney

08 Gates of Dawn (Lovland, Graham) 4:26
Artists: Anúna (Conducted by: Michael McGlynn) Stephen Cooney Per Elias Drabløs Noel Eccles Simon Emes Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Hans Fredrik Jacobsen Asa Jinder Marian Lisland Karen Matheson RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Bjørn Ole Rasch Secret Garden Threse Timoney

09 The Promise (Lovland) 3:18
Artists: Elaine Clark Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: Steven Mercurio) RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: Steven Mercurio) Secret Garden

10 Fairytale (Lovland) 3:24
Artists: Stephen Cooney Per Elias Drabløs Noel Eccles Simon Emes Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Hans Fredrik Jacobsen Asa Jinder Laoise Kelly RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Bjørn Ole Rasch Secret Garden Threse Timoney

11 Once in a Red Moon (Lovland) 4:59
Artists: Kjetil Bjerkestrand Elaine Clark John Finucane Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Des Moore RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Secret Garden

12 Elegie (Lovland) 5:35
Artists: Anúna (Conducted by: Michael McGlynn) Kjetil Bjerkestrand Per Elias Drabløs Noel Eccles Simon Emes Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Hans Fredrik Jacobsen Asa Jinder Laoise Kelly Des Moore RTE Concert Orchestra (Conducted by: John Tate) Secret Garden Threse Timoney

Secret Garden - Once In A Red Moon Tracks:
01 Awakening
02 You Raise Me Up
03 Silent Wings
04 Greenwaves
05 Invitation
06 Duo
07 Belonging
08 Gates of Dawn
09 The Promise
10 Fairytale
11 Once in a Red Moon
12 Elegie

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