http://www.sundayworld.com/entertainment/music/songwriter-sherry-is-a-real-winter-warmerSecret Garden

IRISH music star Fionnuala Sherry reveals that she lost out on the chance to earn a fortune from hit song, You Raise Me Up, which has been recorded by everyone from Westlife to Il Divo. Violinist Sherry, who comes from Naas, Co Kildare, played a central role in the creation of the song that has sold millions around the world.

Fionnuala, who performs with Norwegian musician Rolf Lovland as the duo, Secret Garden - they won the 1995 Eurovision Song Contest for Norway - worked on the first version of You Raise Me Up.

"When Rolf and I started working on the melody, I recorded the very first version with just the air itself," Sherry tells the Sunday World.

Sherry then suggested that they should approach Irish songwriter and author Brendan Graham. "I said to Rolf that I thought Brendan
was the person who could actually write lyrics big enough and spiritual enough," she recalls.

"I could feel and hear what the lyrics would be. I came back to Ireland, contacted Brendan and put the whole thing together."

As it turned out, the song has earned a fortune for for Rolf Lovland and Brendan Graham, while Fionnuala gets modest royalties for her own recording of the song.

Sherry insists she's not bitter over the deal. "Everybody who knows me knows that I'm not driven by money," she adds.

"Rolf and I are 17 years together and there is nobody I know who can write a tune like him."

Fionnuala describes Secret Garden's new album, Winter Poem, as: "An album to chill out to by the fire with a big glass of wine."

http://www.newagemusicworld.com/new-secret-garden-album-winter-poem/#sthash.49ghb4IM.dpuf
The new Winter Poem album by Secret Garden was released with much fanfare in November of 2011. It was during my interview with Fionnuala Sherry about her solo release Songs From Before, when Secret Garden fans heard news about Rolf and Fionnuala’s new Winter Poem release. Secret Garden’s new Winter Poem album has all original arrangements from Rolf Lovland, along with the award-winning Expo Suite that he composed for the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai China. If you haven’t purchased their newest album yet and you want to sample, you can listen to Secret Garden’s newest release at Valley Entertainment or Amazon using the links below. On Winter Poem, Rolf and Fionnuala remain close to their signature sound that has made them an international success, but they have also taken on a fresh approach on their newest composition which guarantees their fans something special. Once again the outstanding Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry is happily the centerpiece artist on Winter Poem, plus Secret Garden has enlisted several exceptional Norwegian and Irish musicians for their vibrant new release. One guest is dynamic vocalist Moya Brennan from Celtic group Clannad, who sings on The Dream, which is one of many new songs you can listen to right now. Another guest vocalist is Fionnuala Gill who sings on song Mary’s Lament. Tracey Campbell and Espen Grjotheim perform on song Powered By Nature. Secret Garden’s Winter Poem was scored, arranged and produced by Rolf Lovland, and in addition to fine instrumentals by Secret Garden, the special guest vocalists, their new album features the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. A Secret Garden concert tour in Norway recently gave fans a chance to hear songs from Winter Poem, and songs covering 16 years as an acclaimed music duo with millions of fans worldwide. Secret Garden fans and new visitors have a chance to win an autographed 8 CD collection of Secret Garden albums including the new Winter Poem album. Simply visit Secret Garden’s site, click on the top banner and enter your email address for current news and information on Secret Garden.