"White Stones is dedicated to the memory of our fathers Ben Sherry and Sigurd Lovland."
Artwork
Overview (From http://www.discogs.com)
Label:Philips
Release Year 1997
Producer by Rolf Lovland
Recording Time:56 minutes
Recorded and mixed in Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin Ireland.
Additional recording made in Capri Digital Studio, Italy and Rainbow Studio, Oslo Norway.
Pre-production and additional recording made in Cross Studio, Kristiansand Norway.
Masterted at Masterdisk, New York City, U.S.A.
Release Year 1997
Producer by Rolf Lovland
Recording Time:56 minutes
Recorded and mixed in Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin Ireland.
Additional recording made in Capri Digital Studio, Italy and Rainbow Studio, Oslo Norway.
Pre-production and additional recording made in Cross Studio, Kristiansand Norway.
Masterted at Masterdisk, New York City, U.S.A.
Ideas and Inspirations
"Once upon a time, two children overheard their parents plan to abandon them in a forest, as they could not afford to feed them. But the children cleverly gathered small white stones, and on their journey into the forest, they secretly dropped them onto the ground. At nightfall, left alone, the moon illuminated the white stones, and the reflection became their guiding light. So the fairytale about Hansel and Gretel goes. Maybe each song on this album can be compared to a white stone? Listen - and let them lead you into your own secret garden. "- From the album's booklet
"The greatest challenge writing the this material was to stay truthful, protecting the intimacy and the simplicity of our ideas. White Stones is not like Songs from a Secret Garden, but it's coming from the same heart. The seeds are the same - the crop is new.The awareness of the success of the first album easily disturbs your concentration and focal point. I had to remind myself that this music comes from within, and shouldn't be concerned about sales results, chart positions and other people's opinions. This is "straight from the heart" music, and there is no "book" to look into for the right "formula", other than believing in your self." About what's different on the "White Stones" album he says: "Maybe this album is a development and a natural step forward. First of all, we wanted to continue our style of melodic blend with Celtic, Norwegian and Classical elements. So the melancholic and evocative songs are still the corner stones on the album. But we really needed to develop contrasts to these songs. Especially doing concerts, we knew that a program would work better with a more rhythmic material - to create a change of moods - light and dark. So we included 5 uptempo songs. We feel the two albums relate to each other as chapter one and two of the same book".- Rolf Lovland
"The greatest challenge writing the this material was to stay truthful, protecting the intimacy and the simplicity of our ideas. White Stones is not like Songs from a Secret Garden, but it's coming from the same heart. The seeds are the same - the crop is new.The awareness of the success of the first album easily disturbs your concentration and focal point. I had to remind myself that this music comes from within, and shouldn't be concerned about sales results, chart positions and other people's opinions. This is "straight from the heart" music, and there is no "book" to look into for the right "formula", other than believing in your self." About what's different on the "White Stones" album he says: "Maybe this album is a development and a natural step forward. First of all, we wanted to continue our style of melodic blend with Celtic, Norwegian and Classical elements. So the melancholic and evocative songs are still the corner stones on the album. But we really needed to develop contrasts to these songs. Especially doing concerts, we knew that a program would work better with a more rhythmic material - to create a change of moods - light and dark. So we included 5 uptempo songs. We feel the two albums relate to each other as chapter one and two of the same book".- Rolf Lovland
Tracklisting
1Steps 4:03
2Poème 5:00
3Hymn to Hope 4:20
4Moving 3:23
5First Day of Spring 4:46
6Passacaglia 3:47
7Reflection 3:02
8Windancer 3:43
9Appassionata 4:27
10Escape 3:36
11Sanctuary 4:21
12Celebration 3:58
13Home 3:25
14Illumination 4:16
2Poème 5:00
3Hymn to Hope 4:20
4Moving 3:23
5First Day of Spring 4:46
6Passacaglia 3:47
7Reflection 3:02
8Windancer 3:43
9Appassionata 4:27
10Escape 3:36
11Sanctuary 4:21
12Celebration 3:58
13Home 3:25
14Illumination 4:16
Credits: From http://www.discogs.com
- Composed By, Arranged By, Producer, Keyboards, Piano, Conductor [Irish National Chamber Choir] – Rolf Lovland
- Violin – Fionnuala Sherry
- Bass – Eoghan O'Neill
- Choir – Irish National Chamber Choir
- Conductor [Rte Concert Orchestra] – Fiachra Trench
- Drums – Robbie Casserly
- Engineer [Additional Recording Assistant Engineer] – Alessandro Benedetti, Jan Erik Kongshaug, Nick Friend, Ronny Talsaete
- Engineer [Assistant Recording And Mixing] – Conan Doyle, Jonathan Ford
- Engineer [Pre-production Co-engineer], Sampler [Sound Samples] – Alf Emil Eik
- Guitar – Des Moore
- Keyboards – Bjorn Ole Rasch*
- Leader [Orchestra Leader] – Michael D'Arcy
- Mastered By – Greg Calbi
- Percussion [Orchestral Percussion] – Joakim Nordin*
- Performer [Orchestra] – RTE Concert Orchestra*
- Photography By – Dorothy Low
- Recorded By, Mixed By, Co-producer – Andrew Boland
- Score [Orchestral Score] – Fiachra Trench (tracks: 4, 5, 10), John Tate (tracks: 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14), Rolf Lovland (tracks: 3, 7)
Review
From Amazon.com Enchanting September 24, 2004
By PhotoSmith
Secret Garden's "Whitestones", is an amazing CD. The talent of Rolf Lovland and Fionnula Sherry is unprecedented...their styles compliment each other perfectly. "Whitestones" is a beautiful compilation of instrumentals, highlighting Rolf's songwriting and piano ability as well as Fionnula's amazing and haunting violin melodies. The songs on "Whitestones" are perfect to listen to after a long and stressful day, in the bath, and they are perfect to listen to while falling asleep as the songs are very ethereal and dreamlike. I have been listening to this disc for about six years and it is still in my main CD rotation, in fact I used the song "Hymn" at my wedding as I walked down the isle. This CD is a must to own for those who appreciate New Age and Celtic music. Their other albums are also amazing, and I am proud to say that I own every one of their releases and I am looking forward to their next release which will be out soon!
From: allmusic.com
On their second album, duo Secret Garden play with the conventions of Celtic and neo-classical music, weaving in unexpected elements like Spanish guitars and Eastern European folk melodies as their muse dictates. Norwegian pianist Rolf Lovland composes striking instrumentals for which Fionnuala Sherry's violin supplies the lead voice. Just about every song here features a lavish orchestral arrangement, but it's Sherry's violin that speaks loudest and touches the heart most tenderly. Her fluid, emotive technique shines on tracks like "Appassionata," and is made all the more admirable knowing that she was recovering from serious injuries and in great physical pain during the recording sessions.
The overall mood is weighty, heart-centered, providing a supportive background for personal reflection. The beautiful melancholia lifts a bit in tracks like the polyrhythmic intoxication of "Windancer" and "Escape," which evokes Gypsy caravans and circus performers run amok.
Review of John Iverson
Another absolutely stunning album from this amazing ensemble! This is a beautiful mix of musical tapestries, from slow lyrical pieces as serene as an early morning lake, to upbeat dance-like rhythms that make you want to celebrate. With this album you are once again whisked away on a magical, mystical journey to your own secret garden, where you can reside and contemplate. The musicianship is outstanding as always, from the emotive violin and piano playing of Fionnuala Sherry and Rolf Lovland respectively, to the incredible playing of such artists as Simon Emes on oboe and Davy Spillane on uilleann pipes and whistles. Rolf Lovland is at his compositional best here once again, with some absolutely gorgeous melodies. For myself, Poéme, Hymn to Hope, and Appassionata are the standouts, but all of this material is outstanding! As was the case in their initial release, these artists once again put thier whole heart and soul into performing these masterpieces, so they are full of the emotion and passion we have come to expect! No sophomore jinx here. Another must have for all lovers of heartfelt music! Way to go Secret Garden!
By PhotoSmith
Secret Garden's "Whitestones", is an amazing CD. The talent of Rolf Lovland and Fionnula Sherry is unprecedented...their styles compliment each other perfectly. "Whitestones" is a beautiful compilation of instrumentals, highlighting Rolf's songwriting and piano ability as well as Fionnula's amazing and haunting violin melodies. The songs on "Whitestones" are perfect to listen to after a long and stressful day, in the bath, and they are perfect to listen to while falling asleep as the songs are very ethereal and dreamlike. I have been listening to this disc for about six years and it is still in my main CD rotation, in fact I used the song "Hymn" at my wedding as I walked down the isle. This CD is a must to own for those who appreciate New Age and Celtic music. Their other albums are also amazing, and I am proud to say that I own every one of their releases and I am looking forward to their next release which will be out soon!
From: allmusic.com
On their second album, duo Secret Garden play with the conventions of Celtic and neo-classical music, weaving in unexpected elements like Spanish guitars and Eastern European folk melodies as their muse dictates. Norwegian pianist Rolf Lovland composes striking instrumentals for which Fionnuala Sherry's violin supplies the lead voice. Just about every song here features a lavish orchestral arrangement, but it's Sherry's violin that speaks loudest and touches the heart most tenderly. Her fluid, emotive technique shines on tracks like "Appassionata," and is made all the more admirable knowing that she was recovering from serious injuries and in great physical pain during the recording sessions.
The overall mood is weighty, heart-centered, providing a supportive background for personal reflection. The beautiful melancholia lifts a bit in tracks like the polyrhythmic intoxication of "Windancer" and "Escape," which evokes Gypsy caravans and circus performers run amok.
Review of John Iverson
Another absolutely stunning album from this amazing ensemble! This is a beautiful mix of musical tapestries, from slow lyrical pieces as serene as an early morning lake, to upbeat dance-like rhythms that make you want to celebrate. With this album you are once again whisked away on a magical, mystical journey to your own secret garden, where you can reside and contemplate. The musicianship is outstanding as always, from the emotive violin and piano playing of Fionnuala Sherry and Rolf Lovland respectively, to the incredible playing of such artists as Simon Emes on oboe and Davy Spillane on uilleann pipes and whistles. Rolf Lovland is at his compositional best here once again, with some absolutely gorgeous melodies. For myself, Poéme, Hymn to Hope, and Appassionata are the standouts, but all of this material is outstanding! As was the case in their initial release, these artists once again put thier whole heart and soul into performing these masterpieces, so they are full of the emotion and passion we have come to expect! No sophomore jinx here. Another must have for all lovers of heartfelt music! Way to go Secret Garden!
Our thoughts of this album
*written by Nhung Candy
White Stones is the follow up of Songs from a Secret Garden. It still keeps the spirit of the previous album but also has new light and new moods.Rolf and Fi take the inspiration from the fairytale of Hansel and Gretel- all songs tell this story beautifully.We are deeply moved by the haunting melodies,Rolf calm, heart touching piano sound and Fionnuala passionate violin playing.Unlike Song from a Secret Garden,White stoness have both up tempo songs and slow sad songs. Upbeat songs like Steps, Moving, Escape make us want to dance and go with the melodies'flow. Slow songs have full of life and love messages.Hymn to Hope reminds me of keeping our spirits high even we're sorrowful.Passacalia and Santuary are dedicated to the duo's fathers. Home is a calm solo piano song- a remind of where we belong.First day of spring, Illumination, Reflection and Appasionate are dreamy and magical.. The making of White Stones really match the music's messgaes: During recording sessions of this album,Fi suffered with her shoulder's injury.Despite the pain, she "wanted to work even more".And that explains why this album is a magic- the duo gave their souls, their hearts,talent and inspiration to every melody, every note they play.