Tailgated by the Moon (released November, 2000) is Christine's second solo effort (first album Lang a' Comin' was produced in 1995). This effort, also, includes several of her own compositions which are arranged specifically for harp and presented in a booklet of arrangements - "Tailgated by the Moon, Arrangements for Lever Harp"
. The mood of the pieces range from pure Celtic/Scottish to Celtic/classical and include 4 vocal pieces, 2 of which were written by the artist herself. Once again, Chris includes the work of several of the finest musicians in the Midwest area, highlighting several different fiddlers, guitarists, cello, uilleann pipes, hammer dulcimer, and percussion.An excerpt from some of Chris' sleeve-liner notes:
This is my second solo album (first: Lang a' Comin', 1995). I recorded the first one after years of playing the harp, and after recognizing that my style was evolving in a new direction. I needed to chronicle the first 10 years or so of playing, so I could remember it later, after things had altered so much that I would no longer recognize them. It ended up being a musical autobiography.
This album is different. It is not so much that my style of playing has changed, as that I myself have changed. The past 2-3 years of my life have been so full of transition, that there is not a portion of it that hasn't been turned upside down and then rebuilt. Part of the passage has been prompted by my inner spiritual life, and part of it by the choices of people around me. Whatever the cause, my course has been profoundly altered, and those changes are reflected in my music.
So this album, too, is full of surprises. There are parts of it that are in the old style - "in your face Scottish", as I call it. These sets are wonderful tunes, some of them very, very old, and some are played true to the Scottish style, and some have new twists and flavorings. Others are very contemporary, because I have composed them very recently, amidst all the shifts in my life. Still others are songs that I have written because some situations are just clearer when placed on paper, instead of rattling around in your head. So it is all here - the old, the present, the future --?
Featured Musicians: Tom Boyer (keyboard), Bob Bellamy (hammer dulcimer), Deborah Colon (fiddle, viola), David Daye (uilleann pipes), Hilda Doyle (lead guitar, backing vocals), Trish Featherstone (fiddle), Arkadiy Gips (violin), Mark Hellenberg (djembe, tar, egg, dumbek, kanjira), Rachel Mautz (keyboard, backing vocals), Kim Rattan (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Doug Rudy (fiddle), John Sherman (guitar), Linda Senter (violin), Susan Walsh (cello).
Sound Engineer/Co-Producer: Tom Boyer; Mixing/Mastering Consultant: John Sherman
The first row of sound clips is recorded in *.wma format, which can be played in a number of the common players, such as Windows Media Player.
|
Tailgated by the Moon, 59 seconds |
|
The CrossOver Piper, 41 seconds |
|
First Eve, 36 seconds |
|
Miss Cunningham's Wedding Waltz, 33 seconds |
The second row of sound clips is recorded in *.MP3 format, which is played on the widest number of commercial players. However, these clips are much larger than the *.wma format, so they will take longer to download.
|
Tailgated by the Moon, 59 seconds |
|
The CrossOver Piper, 41 seconds |
|
First Eve, 36 seconds |
|
Miss Cunningham's Wedding Waltz, 33 seconds |
"I LOVE THE NEW CD. It arrived yesterday. I got up this morning (Saturday) at 5:00 and put on my head phones and listned to it in the peace of the early morning. I hear the changes in the music. I also feel a sense of "settling" and inner calm that I didn't in the first one.... I particularly loved the lyrics to "Getting Free" .... of course "Homecoming" also struck a special chord . . . . ."
"What a fantastic CD! The music just sort of flows over me. I've been playing it here at the office a couple of times a day. I love your liner notes, also...."
"My Dad just gave me your CD for my birthday and I'm in love with it! It so fits the shifts and changes in my own life that it really touches some magic chord. Thanks for a real gift of music and heart. L"
"Just wanted you to know I took your advice -- the massage therapist played your CD during my session this afternoon. What beautiful music and perfect for relaxing. The therapist was afraid he'd fall asleep it was so relaxing!"Then, "official" reviews:
Special Issue of BRIGIT'S FEAST: iJournal (ISSN: 1524-9026) SCOTTISH FESTIVALS & HIGHLAND GAMES JUNE 20, 2001
"Tailgated" includes several of Christine's own compositions which are arranged specifically for Scottish harp. And although the instrument is the Scottish Harp, the pieces run the gamut from traditional Scottish (what she calls, "In your face Scottish"), to Celtic classical to "contemporary": The effect is stunning! A side note: Don't let the word, "contemporary" fool you; while the style may not be "in your face Scottish," it is "Scots-Celtic" to its very core.....
....the first piece of the trilogy, "Vermilion Morning;" a piece that is reminiscent of a light, cool breeze blowing in off of Erie sparkling under a clear blue sky following a stormy night. As I typed that, I happened to be listening again to the moving second cut, "The Homecoming," and then have that followed up by Rosyln Castle, a combination of three Scottish fiddle tunes ... not to mention "First Eve" a few cuts later-- well... there is just something about "Tailgated by the Moon" that grabs hold of the one's spirit and takes it on a wonderful pilgrimage.
...For those who love harp music, and especially for those who are partial to Scottish tunes, these two CD's are among the best that you will ever find. Both CD's highlight the work of some of the Midwest's finest Celtic musicians featuring several fiddlers and guitarists. Add the cello, uilleann pipes, hammer dulcimer, and percussion - instruments that rather than overpowering the subtleness of the harp bring it to the forefront, making these CD's very much out of the ordinary...
| Cost: | $15.00 + $1.50 Shipping |
| By E-Mail: | CRAMSEY1@columbus.rr.com |
| By Phone: | 1 - (614) 268-6808 |
