Search - Phil Coulter :: Highland Cathedral

Highland Cathedral
Phil Coulter
Highland Cathedral
Genres: Folk, International Music, New Age, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1

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...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Phil Coulter
Title: Highland Cathedral
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: RCA Victor
Original Release Date: 2/22/2000
Release Date: 2/22/2000
Genres: Folk, International Music, New Age, Pop
Styles: British & Celtic Folk, Celtic, Europe, Britain & Ireland, Celtic New Age
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
Other Editions: Highland Cathedral
UPC: 090266361526

Synopsis

Amazon.com
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. --Karen K. Hugg

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CD Reviews

Celtic Fantasies
Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 04/29/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Take soft piano and string renditions of melodic tunes. Add a smattering of traditional music like 'Flow Gently Sweet Afton' and 'Over the Sea to Skye.' Mix with the occasional skirl of bagpipes and the fine voice of Aife ni Fhearraigh. Put Phil Coulter at the helm and in short order you have Highland Cathedral an album that can best be described as Celtic New Age - if you need to describe it at all.Enya, of course, owns this market segment, and will probably own it forever. But once you leave her own ingenious ability to write beautiful music and sing it just as well, the drop off to second best is a bit steep. Phil Coulter is perhaps the best of them, although his style is more or less one step removed from Celtic film music, it's always the kind of listening that invites you to sit bake and take a weight of your shoulders.Occasionally, he shows some daring, but for the most part he is theme and variations of traditional sounds. And, perhaps, a bit too much them and not enough variation. Even so, I like Highland Cathedral, and probably always shall. Like most of my generation, I am a secret Celt. Entranced by legends, and music and sounds that always seem a bit better than the ones to which I am heir.And this suits me fine, whether it is that martial bagpipes of 'Highland Cathedral,' the easy familiarity of 'The Flowers of the Forest,' or the beautiful singing on 'If these Stones Could Speak' or 'Our Island Barque.' While this music will never move mountins, it can still move the listener a bit closer to comfort and peace. No small accomplishment."
Highland Cathedral by Phil Coulter
lost in a new world | NC United States | 02/19/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is as good as it gets. Mr. Coulter is in touch with the stars of the heavens, and his music speaks with nostalgia of a world he knows well, remembers fondly, and wishes to introduce to us. Just buy it - you will love it."
Beautiful and Uplifting Compositions
Aaron Blight | Westminster, Maryland United States | 11/20/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Highland Cathedral represents my first exposure to Phil Coulter's music. I find this album to be a wonderful blend of the modern and the traditional, the personal and the universal, the meditative and the motivational. Phil Coulter manages to use a variety of musical vehicles to deliver transcendent music including solo piano, Celtic and Scottish melodies, enchanting vocals, and textured harmonies. The album is simply beautiful, full of songs that inspire and elevate the soul. If you like contemplative, new age, or Celtic music, then you'll surely appreciate Highland Cathedral."