Artwork
Overview
Tracklisting
1Nocturne3:11
2Pastorale3:47
3Song From A Secret Garden3:32
4Sigma3:05
5Papillon3:22
6Serenade To Spring3:12
7Atlantia2:56
8Heartstrings3:22
9Adagio2:51
10The Rap2:31
11Chaconne3:25
12Cantoluna3:29
13Ode To Simplicity
2Pastorale3:47
3Song From A Secret Garden3:32
4Sigma3:05
5Papillon3:22
6Serenade To Spring3:12
7Atlantia2:56
8Heartstrings3:22
9Adagio2:51
10The Rap2:31
11Chaconne3:25
12Cantoluna3:29
13Ode To Simplicity
Credits
All songs composed and produced by Rolf Lovland
Violin by Fionnuala Sherry
Artist credits ( from http://www.discogs.com)
Violin by Fionnuala Sherry
Artist credits ( from http://www.discogs.com)
- Bagpipes [Uilleann Pipe], Whistle [Low] – Davy Spillane (tracks: 2, 4, 7, 10, 11)
- Choir – Irish National Chamber Choir (tracks: 4)
- Clarinet – Jean Lechmar (tracks: 12)
- Design – Scott Townsend (2)
- Engineer [Assistant] – Conal Markey, Conan Doyle
- Engineer [Recording] – Andrew Boland
- Engineer [Recording], Mixed By – Oskar P. Sveinsson
- Featuring, Fiddle [Keyfiddle] – Asa Jinder* (tracks: 1, 10)
- Featuring, Harp [Keyharp] – Asa Jinder* (tracks: 7)
- Flute – Deirdre Brady (tracks: 5)
- Guitar, Mandolin – Des Moore
- Harp – Andrea Marlish
- Keyboards [Additional] – Bjørn Ole Rasch, Jon Kjell Seljeseth
- Lyrics By – David Agnew (tracks: 4), Petter Skavlan (tracks: 1)
- Mixed By – Erik Avnskog, Jan Erik Kongshaug
- Oboe, English Horn – David Agnew (tracks: 3, 9, 11)
- Orchestra – RTÉ Concert Orchestra
- Orchestra [Additional], Conductor – John Tate
- Percussion – Noel Eccles (tracks: 10)
- Photography [Cover] – Mick Hales
- Producer, Arranged By, Piano, Keyboards, Conductor, Mixed By – Rolf Lovland
- Soprano Vocals [Boy] – Rhonan Sugrue (tracks: 4)
- Violin – Fionnuala Sherry
- Vocals – Gunnhild Tvinnereim (tracks: 1)
- Whistle, Whistle [Norwegian] – Hans Fredrik Jacobsen (tracks: 1, 6, 7, 10)
Milestones
USA Billboard charts, a record 2 years with "Songs From A Secret Garden"
Double Platinum , Hong Kong
Platinum, Norway
Double Platinum, Korea
Gold, Ireland
Barbra Streisand used "Heartstrings" in her wedding to James Brolin and recorded the track, which was released as the first single from the album "A Love Like Ours".
Double Platinum , Hong Kong
Platinum, Norway
Double Platinum, Korea
Gold, Ireland
Barbra Streisand used "Heartstrings" in her wedding to James Brolin and recorded the track, which was released as the first single from the album "A Love Like Ours".
Review
The Most Listened To Out of 700......
I forgot to set the rating....my aplogies for the dual post. I initially heard this during a yoga dession in Mexico in 1998. Now in 2009 it is still the one I listen to most frequently out of over 700 CD's on my Ipod. I am a Type A individual with a chronic illness as well as a musician...very few things in life have ever touched me at the depth this set of compositions does....it brings a soothing sense of peace and solitude that anyone can benefit from. If you need to be lifted up spiritually - this will get you there. If you need to find that quiet place in your soul - this will get you there. Listen and enjoy what happens...it is an expereince I look forward to everytime I listen.
By John (San Diego, CA USA)
A Secret garden . . .
After over 10 years this album is still one of the best albums I've heard. Their music is so inspirational and their unique blend of orchestral music makes it a worth while purchase. I bought this CD by mistake, but I never regreted buying it. It lifted me out of some of life's most difficult struggles. If you want to find music that gives you peace of mind, try this CD or other albums by Secret Garden, they're just as great too! Thank you secret garden!
By Taurus86 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
One the Greatest Classicals ever. Thank you.
I came across this CD by accident when I was looking for a chill out CD or quiet music. I was told by the shop keeper it was a good CD. So I bought it at all haste. I never regretted buying this album. It's subtle, quiet and soothing. The music is powerful in meaning and emotion. It's so simple with violas, violins, cellos and of course the piano. The opening opera-like "nocturne" is beautiful to the subtle sadness echoes of "Song From A Secret Garden" to the joyful "Serenade to spring" all the the tracks are fantastic. Thank you for filling my life with wonderful music! I hope this CD fills yours too!
By jamesf_86 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
From Amazon.com
5.0 out of 5 stars A relaxing, soulful journey through your own secret garden.. July 1, 2002
By Sarah I first heard "Songs from a Secret Garden" playing in a music store eight years ago, and I was entranced from the very first note. The music was a blend of classical, Celtic and Norwegian, a stunning combination of piano, violin, orchestra and voice. It was unlike anything I'd ever heard before: deeply moving, relaxing, meditative, a journey to a secret garden, perfect music for reflection on a rainy day.Secret Garden is made up of Norwegian composer Rolf Lovland on piano and Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry. They have since released four other CDs: "White Stones," "Dawn of a New Century," "Dreamcatcher" (a best-of compilation taken from the first three releases), and "Once in a Red Moon," but for me "Songs from a Secret Garden" remains their masterpiece. It is by turns gentle, romantic, melancholy, playful and joyous. There is a Celtic element on some of the songs ("Sigma," with an Irish-language chorus and a boy soprano, "The Rap,"), but it is not as marked as their later releases, which to me sound like Riverdance imitations and have lost all of the "Secret Garden" magic for me. "Nocturne" features the stunning vocals of Gunnhild Tvinnereim, and this was the song that first catapulted Secret Garden to fame (it won the 1995 Eurovision song contest for Norway). My other favourite songs from the collection are "Songs from a Secret Garden" and "Sigma."
(I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of the sheet music to "Songs from a Secret Garden" and I play selections from it every day. The foreword is in English and Norwegian, and there are additional notes by Rolf regarding performance tips and inspirations behind the songs. If you play piano, this is a worthy investment for a Secret Garden fan. The collection features all thirteen songs from "Songs from a Secret Garden" and is available at their official website at www.secretgarden.no)
This is still a very popular album even though it was released in 1994: it is one of BMG Music Club's top-selling classical CDs, Barbara Streisand did a cover of "Heartstrings" for her wedding, adding lyrics and renaming it "I've Dreamed of You," and some of my favourite places in Québec City use "Songs from a Secret Garden" as background music (Aux Anciens Canadiens, 34 Rue Saint-Louis, Domaine Steinbach, 2205, chemin Royal
Saint-Pierre de l'Île d'Orléans).
This is the only CD I reach for after a long day. The stress just melts away and my spirits are lifted instantly. "Songs from a Secret Garden" is perfect for anyone seeking a quiet moment in their lives, a moment to reflect, dream, love, and explore their own secret garden.
From allmusic.com
reviewby Carol Wright
Secret Garden is Norwegian composer Rolf Loveland (piano, keyboards) and Irish violinist Fionnula Sherry. The album, however, offers much more than this duo; it is awash in orchestral strings (real ones), a choir (real one), and as many percussionists, harps, fiddles, keyboards, and whistles as are needed. Songs from a Secret Garden, a chart-topper in Europe, is unabashedly romantic, absolutely gorgeous. "Sigma," featuring boy soprano Rhonan Sugrue and the Irish National Choir, is very pensive, like dried flowers left, an expected return disappointed. The lyrics begin, "I search for the sign that will set my soul free." Although Celtic music fans will find many moments of bittersweet nostalgia between the violin, pipes, and pennywhistles, the album's closest musical relation might just be the intimate works ofMaurice Ravel, particularly his "Pavanne for a Dead Princess." Romantic themes of true depth, played full out. Secret Garden is not afraid of tenderness nor beauty.
Our thoughts of this album ( written by Nhung Candy)
Songs from a Secret Garden is an open gate to our own Secret Garden, a beginning to your the journey to your own haven. The piano and violin sound in this album are like the voice inside our souls and a gentle whisper for us and for those who have broken hearts.Every song is wonderful and has it own magic. We love all the songs, not only for their beautiful, heart-touching melodies,but also their sad moods.Most of the songs from this album are melancholic, but they won't make us all miserable.They make us more calm.Listen to Papillon, Serenade to Spring and Chaconne, for us it's like wandering in a quiet, peaceful garden with no worries.Listen to Nocturne, Atlantia and Cantoluna,we feel like we've lost in a mysterious moonlit forest, where we can find some moments to forget all tough things we have to face and find ourselves in a natural , balance way.Song from a Secret Garden, Adagio and Hearstrings are our soulmates which help us express the sadness, frustration and sorrow AND above all to let the bad feelings go, to believe ourselves and live better.Together with The Rap- an upbeat song, the whole album gives listeners magic, peace, joy and lights their souls.Songs from a Secret Garden has become an important part of our lives, fills our hearts with the healing sound