E.Vil

Canadian singer/composer Loreena McKennitt is self-managed, self-produced and head of her own record label - Quinlan Road. In a recording career spanning three decades, McKennitt’s “eclectic Celtic” music has won critical acclaim worldwide and gold, platinum and multi-platinum sales awards in fifteen countries across four continents. Her most successful record is 1997’s “The Book of Secrets”, which spun off the single “The Mummers’ Dance”, a surprise hit on American Top 40 and alternative rock radio.

McKennitt blends world-music with folk, Celtic and exotic Mediterranean sounds using instruments such as the hurdy gurdy, kanoun, uilleann pipes, Turkish clarinet, bouzouki and nyckelharpa alongside traditional instruments like guitar, drums and bass and the harp, piano and accordion, the three instruments she plays.

I love Loreena's music, I have the album Live in Paris and Toronto and it is fantastic. Her music is so beautiful and calming. Anyone else here like her?

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Lisnaholic

Until I followed up on your post,E.Vil, I didn`t realize that this woman`s music is featured on The Lord of The Rings soundtrack. I thought she had a great, versatile voice, which was strong enough at times to penetrate music that is beautiful, but a bit too smooth and orchestrated for my liking.
If, as you say,you enjoy Loreena`s music, you might like to look for From Spain To Spain by Vox. It`s an exceptionally fine album of medieval music played on traditional instruments, with some delicate touches of synthesizer and more lilting female vocals. You`d probably like the opening track which has a slow, sinister build-up driven by the oud,or Arabic lute, the instrument that also lends a distinctive flavour to Loreena`s song, The Mummer`s Dance :-



Unfortunately,though, Vox don`t show up anywhere on Youtube, so I can`t post a sample.

Crowley

She is currently my favorite female artist. The Visit was my first album with "All Souls Night" being the first time I'd ever heard her.

All Souls Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YnpqM4XSEU

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jawbreaker

An accomplished artist, harpist and singer who records quality music blending traditional themes, folk and celtic music with arabic influences.
There is a french band who tries a similar amalgam, Seven Reizh, but adding a rock instrumentation and bagpipes.

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misspoptart

Totally digging her right now. But, Lisnaholic, I know this is an old thread, but where did you see/hear/read her in the Lord of the Rings soundtrack? I can't find any record of that and am wondering if it was uncredited?

Also, for those who like her, recommendations welcome! I'm getting into her album the "Mask and the Mirror" now. ^_^

Pet_Sounds

I really love her album The Visit, particularly this song. The studio version isn't on YouTube, but here's a live performance:



It's a poem by Tennyson set to music. She's got an incredible voice.

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misspoptart

Thank-you, Pet Sounds That track is so soothing. Great for a cold and rainy day like today.

Lord Larehip

I bought "The Book of Secrets" back when it first came out in '97 because it had a version of "The Highwayman" on it--a poem by Alfred Noyes written around 1906 or so. A world class piece of literature. She set it to music although she is not the first to do it. I know Phil Ochs did it too. I've loved the poem since I was a young boy and could recite it in its entirety by the time I was 7 and still can.


Loreena Mckennitt- The Highway Man - YouTube

While I do like McKennitt's version, it doesn't really capture the goose-pimply feel I get from the words--especially when accompanied by the artwork of Miska and Maude Petersham. Besides, she skips at least one verse as I recall. I thought this first track off the album did a much better job of capturing the chill:


Loreena McKennitt - Prologue - YouTube

"Skellig" is also a beautiful song. The version of "The Highwayman" I first read was in a Childcraft series that my parents bought before I was even born, so I grew up with it. I can't separate the artwork from the poem. To me, they belong together--inseparable. Here are the plates:

Lisnaholic

Sorry to have misled you, misspoptart, but I can no longer find any web-page that credits Loreena with being involved in the Lord of the Rings soundtrack. I´m really not sure where the idea came from - it could be that I found a YouTube clip of her covering some L-o-t-R material and thought it was the original. I really can´t remember, I´m afraid.

I guess the lesson to be learnt is that you can´t believe everything you read on the internet. There are some pretty flakey people out there, but I didn´t realize until now that I was one of them.

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misspoptart

Hahahah don't be so hard on yourself I actually got really excited because it would have been really awesome to discover a secret uncredited collaborator.

She did do some really awesome songs that people have associated with Tolkien and his works, and rightfully so! She has a very ethereal tone.