Search - Phil Coulter, James Galway :: Winter's Crossing

Very moving; dramatic; well orchestrated and played

Naomi Foflygen | Frederick, MD USA | 10/24/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Winter's Crossing is a dramatic presentation in musical form that depicts the story of a group of Irish who left their homeland in 1866 and came to America. It describes the heart wrenching separation of family members with somber music, and the coming together of different Celtic groups in tunes that begin tentatively and become lively and so full of emotion that it makes any listener want to join in the dance that was surely accompanying the players. The beautiful combination of melodies that form over one another in the Hymn For the Heartland is my favorite. Liam Neeson (Oscar Schindler) gives a dramatic reading of a contemporary letter that describes the separation at the dock of family members who know they will never see each other again. If you have heard the Legends CD by Phil Coulter and James Galway, and liked it, or if you like Celtic music, you will like this. Read the jacket to understand the background behind each of the songs."

WOW!

Mark Mahaffey | 06/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best CD I own. I love it! I play both flute and piano and hail my celtic ancestry. James Galway and Phil Coulter are masters! This recording is absolutely glorious, and deserves praise for its creativity, power, originality, beauty, and everything else about it. Incredible!"

Truly Special

Allyn | USA | 11/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Once in a while, you find a CD that really is "moving" and special. I knew that "Winter Crossing" was one of these CDs the moment I put it in my CD player and pressed "play.""Winter Crossing" is the "musical" story of Irish immigration. The fact that this CD is a "story" is one of its many unique aspects. Often, we listen to CDs that are simply a series of "pretty" or "cool" music, but these CDs aren't trying to tell us or show us something. Yet in "Winter's Crossing," it is apparent that by choosing certain songs in a chronological order, the makers of this CD were seeking to capture the many emotions-anticipation, anxiety, nostalgia, fear-of an Irish immigrant. Galway, Coulter, and their orchestra not only tried to capture these emotions and "make" us feel them as well, they succeeded in their attempt. "Winter's Crossing" opens with a haunting ballad, "Steal Away." Complete with "throaty" Irish pipes and soulful Irish voice, this song captures the feelings that many Irish must have had when they decided to leave their native country. Other moving "farewell" songs include the bagpipe/Irish pipe duet "Farewell to County Atrim," and the poignant narrative-set-to-music, "Thousands are Sailing." The next "phase" of "Winter's Crossing" shows the Irish experience on the actual journey (via ship) to America. Perhaps my favorite of these "journey" songs is "Gartan Mother's Lullabye," which uses the tones of Galway's calming, angelic flute to capture the sounds of a mother singing her baby to sleep amidst the squalor of the ship. The final "phase" of this CD deals shows us how the Irish adjusted to their new life in America. This final section opens with nostalgia (in the form of ballad "On the Shores of Amerikay") and ends with joy and triumph ("Appalachian Roundup")Galway, Coulter, and the orchestra involved in making this CD certainly deserve thanks for creating such a moving "work of art." When a piece of history is so wonderfully told, who needs the textbook?"