Artwork
Overview
Label:Hearts of Space/ Universe Music Norway
Release Date:Nov 11, 2011
All music composed, arranged and producedRolf Lovland
Engineer: Roald Råsberg
Recording Time: 55 minutes
Release Date:Nov 11, 2011
All music composed, arranged and producedRolf Lovland
Engineer: Roald Råsberg
Recording Time: 55 minutes
Tracklisting
01 – Make A Wish
02 – Song For A New Beginning
03 – The Dream
04 – Frozen In Time
05 – Anticipation
06 – Fionnuala’s Cookie Jar
07 – Mary’s Lament
08 – Song At The End Of The Day
09 – Lament For A Frozen Flower
10 – Powered By Nature
11 – Suite (Prelude, Intermezzo, Polka, Air, Interlude, Hymn)
02 – Song For A New Beginning
03 – The Dream
04 – Frozen In Time
05 – Anticipation
06 – Fionnuala’s Cookie Jar
07 – Mary’s Lament
08 – Song At The End Of The Day
09 – Lament For A Frozen Flower
10 – Powered By Nature
11 – Suite (Prelude, Intermezzo, Polka, Air, Interlude, Hymn)
Credits ( from allmusic.com)
Rune Arnesen Drums, Percussion
Moya Brennan Vocal ( The Dream)
Simon Breyer Horn
Roar Broström Oboe
Hana Brozova Flute
Tracey Campbell Vocal ( Powered by Nature)
Stian Carstensen:Accordion
Czech National Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
Ariel de Wolf Cello
Per Elias Drablös Bass
Tini Flaat Vocals (Background)
Annbjorg Lien: Hardarger fiddle/ key fiddle
Fionnuala Gill Guest Artist, Vocals ( Mary's Lament)
Brendan Graham Composer
Espen Grjotheim Guest Artist, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Ruben Gundersen Vocals (Background)
Robbie Harries Bodhran
Per Hillestad Drums, Percussion
Cathrine Iversen Harmony, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Hans Fredrik Jacobsen Whistle
Rolf KristensenGuitars
Kristiansand Symphony OrchestraOrchestra
Rolf Løvland Arranger, Composer, Conductor, Keyboards, Orchestration, Piano, Producer, Vocals (Background), Whistle
Manus Lunny Bouzouki
Odd Lyngstad Bassoon
Xiaohui Ma Erhu ( Suite)
Ottar Nesje Drums, Percussion
Odd Nordstoga Accordion
Mick O'Brien Uillean Pipes, Whistle
Roald Råsberg Drum Loop, Engineer, Mixing Engineer
Bjørn Ole Rasch Keyboards, Organ
Fionnuala Sherry Violin, co producer
Bernt Rune Stray Guitars
Anne Takle Vocals (Background)
UIA Vocal EnsembleChoir/Chorus
Lumir Vanek Bassoon
Marion WalkerCor Anglais, Oboe
Dana Wichterlova Oboe
Martin Wikstøl Vocals (Background)
Siren Wilhelmsen Vocals (Background)Annbjørg LienHardanger Fiddle, Key Harp
Moya Brennan Vocal ( The Dream)
Simon Breyer Horn
Roar Broström Oboe
Hana Brozova Flute
Tracey Campbell Vocal ( Powered by Nature)
Stian Carstensen:Accordion
Czech National Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
Ariel de Wolf Cello
Per Elias Drablös Bass
Tini Flaat Vocals (Background)
Annbjorg Lien: Hardarger fiddle/ key fiddle
Fionnuala Gill Guest Artist, Vocals ( Mary's Lament)
Brendan Graham Composer
Espen Grjotheim Guest Artist, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Ruben Gundersen Vocals (Background)
Robbie Harries Bodhran
Per Hillestad Drums, Percussion
Cathrine Iversen Harmony, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Hans Fredrik Jacobsen Whistle
Rolf KristensenGuitars
Kristiansand Symphony OrchestraOrchestra
Rolf Løvland Arranger, Composer, Conductor, Keyboards, Orchestration, Piano, Producer, Vocals (Background), Whistle
Manus Lunny Bouzouki
Odd Lyngstad Bassoon
Xiaohui Ma Erhu ( Suite)
Ottar Nesje Drums, Percussion
Odd Nordstoga Accordion
Mick O'Brien Uillean Pipes, Whistle
Roald Råsberg Drum Loop, Engineer, Mixing Engineer
Bjørn Ole Rasch Keyboards, Organ
Fionnuala Sherry Violin, co producer
Bernt Rune Stray Guitars
Anne Takle Vocals (Background)
UIA Vocal EnsembleChoir/Chorus
Lumir Vanek Bassoon
Marion WalkerCor Anglais, Oboe
Dana Wichterlova Oboe
Martin Wikstøl Vocals (Background)
Siren Wilhelmsen Vocals (Background)Annbjørg LienHardanger Fiddle, Key Harp
Milestones
#5 position on VG's Pop Hit list,
has remained in Billboard New Age top 10 charts for 10 weeks having peaked at the # 5 position.
New Age World picked Winter Poem as one of the "Best New Age Music Albums of 2011"! Read there review of the album HERE
Platinum record, Norway
has remained in Billboard New Age top 10 charts for 10 weeks having peaked at the # 5 position.
New Age World picked Winter Poem as one of the "Best New Age Music Albums of 2011"! Read there review of the album HERE
Platinum record, Norway
Review
by Jon O'Brien- allmusic.com
According to pianist Rolf Løvland, Irish-Norwegian neo-classical duo Secret Garden's seventh studio album, Winter Poem, was inspired by the "darkness that surrounds the Scandinavian winter." While there's a genuine sense of melancholy laced throughout its largely instrumental 11 tracks, fans of their luscious new age sound needn't fear a new gothic reinvention, as there's very little here likely to find its way onto a horror movie soundtrack. Indeed, the stately piano chords and sweeping string arrangements (courtesy of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra) of opener "Make a Wish" feel more suited to aDownton Abbey-esque costume drama, while elsewhere the lilting "Anticipation" recalls the emotive ivory-tinkling of Ludovico Einaudi's understated scores, the more uptempo "Fionnuala's Cookie Jar" is a highly percussive Irish jig packed with Celtic fiddles and tin whistles, and "Suite," a 15-minute overture written especially for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, reveals that Løvland and violinist Fionnuala Sherry are capable of realizing their symphonic ambitions. The three vocal tracks are just as quintessentially Secret Garden. "The Dream" is a lavishly haunting affair underpinned by muted beats, emotionally stirring strings, and lullaby-ish melodies, sung by Clannad's Moya Brennan in her own unmistakable ethereal style; Riverdance vocalist Fionnuala Gill lends her quivering glass-shattering tones to the atmospheric ballad "Mary's Lament"; while "Powered by Nature" (written by Brendan Graham, the man responsible for the now ubiquitous "You Raise Me Up") is a valiant attempt to replicate the anthemic qualities of their most enduring song. Winter Poem is unlikely to convert those who have previously likened their music to wallpaper, but while it's true that there's nothing particularly challenging or inventive on offer here, it's hard to disagree with the opinion that what they do, they do very well.
According to pianist Rolf Løvland, Irish-Norwegian neo-classical duo Secret Garden's seventh studio album, Winter Poem, was inspired by the "darkness that surrounds the Scandinavian winter." While there's a genuine sense of melancholy laced throughout its largely instrumental 11 tracks, fans of their luscious new age sound needn't fear a new gothic reinvention, as there's very little here likely to find its way onto a horror movie soundtrack. Indeed, the stately piano chords and sweeping string arrangements (courtesy of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra) of opener "Make a Wish" feel more suited to aDownton Abbey-esque costume drama, while elsewhere the lilting "Anticipation" recalls the emotive ivory-tinkling of Ludovico Einaudi's understated scores, the more uptempo "Fionnuala's Cookie Jar" is a highly percussive Irish jig packed with Celtic fiddles and tin whistles, and "Suite," a 15-minute overture written especially for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, reveals that Løvland and violinist Fionnuala Sherry are capable of realizing their symphonic ambitions. The three vocal tracks are just as quintessentially Secret Garden. "The Dream" is a lavishly haunting affair underpinned by muted beats, emotionally stirring strings, and lullaby-ish melodies, sung by Clannad's Moya Brennan in her own unmistakable ethereal style; Riverdance vocalist Fionnuala Gill lends her quivering glass-shattering tones to the atmospheric ballad "Mary's Lament"; while "Powered by Nature" (written by Brendan Graham, the man responsible for the now ubiquitous "You Raise Me Up") is a valiant attempt to replicate the anthemic qualities of their most enduring song. Winter Poem is unlikely to convert those who have previously likened their music to wallpaper, but while it's true that there's nothing particularly challenging or inventive on offer here, it's hard to disagree with the opinion that what they do, they do very well.
Our thoughts of this album
Written By Nhung
We are coming home with Winter poem
Throughout the album. the warm, heart- touching sound reminds us of beautiful eternal winter memories & landscape.For the duo and us, winter is not an ending, it's just a new beginning :" We love to choose titles that are important to us and reflect where we are at the time of writing. Winter is a very special time for us in Secret Garden, the long dark nights tend to bring out the melancholy creative side of Rolf! This, balanced out with hopeful, crisp white snowy Norwegian days, a frozen landscape that inspires and helps us through the darkest nights!". It's the beginning of joy, reunion, love and wonder. An album with beautiful messages.
Make a wish is a magical song.Synthesizer, piano, violin and background vocal create a romantic and heavenly mood. Anticipation is a call from home, the exciting feeling when we return to where we belong after a long time being away from home. Frozen in time and lament from a frozen flower are like still photos of winter snowy white lanscae-breathtakingly beautiful and magical.Winter poem also has a lot of life messages.The Dream, performed by the duo and Moya Brennan from Clannad,has a strong message :
"We reach for the impossible
As unreal it may seem
Still we sail 'cross the ocean
And follow the dream
Her uplifting voice gives the song a power.
Powered by Nature, with the lyrics written by Rolf, flows naturally. Espend and Tracey make the best duet when they perform this song.
Secret Garden revealed :"... our inspiration comes from many different places and we did not feel we were the best choice to produce another “Santa Type” song". But WP has a beautiful Christmas song- Mary's Lament, sung by a friend of the duo- Fionnuala Gill.
We've read several cooments about this album, e.g : " Formula and Predictable", " Nothing special, reminds me of White Stones". We disagree with that. This album is a true gift, with new light but still keep the original spirit: melodies tell stories and stories without words/ Throughout the album, you can hear new sound, especially the vocal layers/ background- whic creates a very poetic mood to most of the songs. We also mention Suite- a 15 minute track- an unspoken story with endless mood, beautiful sound and arrrangements
We are coming home with Winter poem
Throughout the album. the warm, heart- touching sound reminds us of beautiful eternal winter memories & landscape.For the duo and us, winter is not an ending, it's just a new beginning :" We love to choose titles that are important to us and reflect where we are at the time of writing. Winter is a very special time for us in Secret Garden, the long dark nights tend to bring out the melancholy creative side of Rolf! This, balanced out with hopeful, crisp white snowy Norwegian days, a frozen landscape that inspires and helps us through the darkest nights!". It's the beginning of joy, reunion, love and wonder. An album with beautiful messages.
Make a wish is a magical song.Synthesizer, piano, violin and background vocal create a romantic and heavenly mood. Anticipation is a call from home, the exciting feeling when we return to where we belong after a long time being away from home. Frozen in time and lament from a frozen flower are like still photos of winter snowy white lanscae-breathtakingly beautiful and magical.Winter poem also has a lot of life messages.The Dream, performed by the duo and Moya Brennan from Clannad,has a strong message :
"We reach for the impossible
As unreal it may seem
Still we sail 'cross the ocean
And follow the dream
Her uplifting voice gives the song a power.
Powered by Nature, with the lyrics written by Rolf, flows naturally. Espend and Tracey make the best duet when they perform this song.
Secret Garden revealed :"... our inspiration comes from many different places and we did not feel we were the best choice to produce another “Santa Type” song". But WP has a beautiful Christmas song- Mary's Lament, sung by a friend of the duo- Fionnuala Gill.
We've read several cooments about this album, e.g : " Formula and Predictable", " Nothing special, reminds me of White Stones". We disagree with that. This album is a true gift, with new light but still keep the original spirit: melodies tell stories and stories without words/ Throughout the album, you can hear new sound, especially the vocal layers/ background- whic creates a very poetic mood to most of the songs. We also mention Suite- a 15 minute track- an unspoken story with endless mood, beautiful sound and arrrangements