Celtic Treasure
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Free Music Notes for Celtic Treasure
Free Music Review: Treasure the Moment
Hit: 5 Stars
This is no ordinary album. It is a magnificent work of art, studded with diamonds. If you think that is OTT, wait till you hear it and you will know it is an understatement.
Let Me Lie. The album opens with a slow, gentle, lyrical song that admirably demonstrates Hayley's crystal clear vocals. As it develops, it is supported by lush strings.
Scarborough Fair. This delightful song will forever be associated with Simon and Garfunkel but Hayley brings a fresh new sparkle to it. The clarity of her voice is outstanding.
Shenandoah. Hayley's melodious vocal with hauntingly beautiful backing, largely from the strings, is stunning. The addition of a rat-a-tat from a snare drum at the end almost suggests that she will break into a chorus of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. This doesn't happen but the effect is quite exhilarating
Summer Fly. A lot of people have said that Hayley should be a little more adventurous and include something a little "less safe". Well, your wish is granted. Turn up the volume and this up-tempo number is electrifying. If she performs it in concert, her audience may begin by tapping their feet, but come the final verse, they'll be dancing in the aisles. Brilliant.
Whispering Hope. This is just plain lovely. With its choral backing, it has a very full, rich sound, yet the overall effect is very soothing. It is a short track that clearly whispers "hope".
Danny Boy. This song has surely been waiting since the day it was written for Hayley to sing it. You will never hear a lovelier version. Throughout much of the song, she is backed only by a harp but gentle strings enhance its beauty in the final verse. And check out the final note which she holds for a full thirteen seconds.
Summer Rain. Pizzicato strings supply an introduction which is unusually rhythmic for Hayley. Are we in for something exciting? Well, not exactly but her lush vocal blends perfectly while this rhythm is sustained by the orchestra. Maybe you need to hear this song a few times to fully appreciate its beauty but there is nothing wrong with that. Indeed, its beauty is enhanced every time you hear it.
The Last Rose of Summer. This is one of the loveliest duets you will ever hear. Performed with Méav Ni Mhaolchath (of Celtic Woman), the beauty of the two voices in the final verse brings tears to the eyes.
One Fine Day. How pleasing that Hayley chose to sing this mostly in English, yet it is still an interpretation that does Puccini proud. Hayley's remarkable voice control is breathtaking, yet she makes it sound so easy. I love the low note on the word "then". Such a lovely tone and hit with precision accuracy.
Sonny. I had only heard a relatively lively Country and Western version of this song - something I actually believe Hayley could have performed rather well. It therefore came as a slight shock to hear this slower, more gentle version but how perfect it is, especially when you consider the poignancy of the lyric. With merely a piano accompaniment, which incidentally is played by Hayley, her voice shines through and its emotion is spine-chilling.
The Water Is Wide. Another traditional song is delightfully arranged and performed to bring a new dimension to it. Absolutely beautiful.
Melancholy Interlude. This soothing melody is quite enchanting. Its brevity leaves you wanting more yet, somehow, it is that very brevity which makes the song so lovely.
Abide With Me. Imagine Hayley singing a cappella in a huge and cavernous cathedral with magnificent acoustics. That is how this final track begins. Gradually joined by piano and then strings, this hymn never sounded better. In the final verse, the restful melody becomes triumphant.
Overall, this is a sensational masterpiece throughout which Hayley's voice projects into the room so much that you believe she is really there. This album is purer than Pure and more beautiful than Odyssey. It is indeed Treasure - more precious than gold.
Free Music Review: Brilliant!
Hit: 5 Stars
Hayley has an extraordinary voice, a rare talent that may manifest once in a generation. I think she has at least equalled Sarah Brightman which is no small accomplishment, particularly since she has yet to celebrate her 20th birthday. Her choice of program material continues to be excellent and there are no fillers on Treasure (I have the UK version, ordered directly from Amazon UK). My standout tracks are Let Me Lie, Notte del Silenzio, Shenandoah, Summer Rain, One Fine Day, Sonny, and Abide by Me. If you buy the US version, I suggest the Walmart version as you will get an exclusive bonus track, Mummer's Dance by Lorenna McKennitt. Although some of the material does fall into the Celtic music category, I prefer the UK naming. The different versions of all Hayley's releases are a source of confusion and frustration, but blame this on the label and the different chart targets among the worldwide markets.
Some of Hayley's own material is featured on Treasure, including Let Me Lie and Summer Rain. The latter is reminscent of Enya's best work. I am certainly impressed with her songwriting ability and hope to see more original work on future projects. Hayley also plays the piano beautifully on Sonny, a piece I find no less moving than Angel by Sarach McLachlan. That is high praise indeed. As much as I love Hayley's classical material, the more contemporary pieces are my favorite... ditto for Sarah Brightman.
Hayley is absolutely beautiful and a great performer. If you don't already have it, order her DVD (Live in New Zealand) with Treasure. My favorite tracks on the DVD are Pokarekare Ana, River of Dreams, Across the Universe of Time (great backup vocals by her sister Sophie -- another future star ?), Who Painted the Moon Black, Hine e Hine, and Wuthering Heights. I have without exception preferred Hayley's covers to all others' renditions and even the original. This includes Wuthering Heights, a song that I never thought anyone but Kate Bush could pull off. Hayley has an unparalleled vocal range and has full control and clarity across it all.
I am a serious audiophile and the recording quality is high. Thankfully Hayley's gorgeous voice is crystal clear and the engineers did not over-compress the music. [Josh Groban's CDs suffer badly from poor recording technique which is most unfortunate]. I think a duet with Hayley Westenra and Josh Groban would be amazing, by the way.
Already very popular in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Europe, I think Hayley will soon break out and become a household name in the USA. She is participating in the 2007 Celtic Woman tour. While I am a fan of Celtic Woman (particularly Lisa Kelly), I think Hayley can only be properly showcased as a soloist. Given the success I expect her latest CD to have, and the exposure from the Celtic Woman tour and New Journey concert DVD, I am hopeful that Hayley will embark on her own USA tour in the not too distant future.
Free Music Review: A Little Bit of Heaven
Hit: 5 Stars
In Celtic Treasure, the young New Zealander Hayley Westenra presents her listeners with an etherial mix of Celtic themed, classical crossover and light pop music. If I had to describe the album in one word it would be "peaceful".
The album begins with Let Me Lie, a song which Hayley had a hand in writing (the jacket also credits Sarah Glass). The vocal is hypnotic, and the melody is simply gorgeous. It ends with Abide with Me, a hymn I used to sing with my chuch choir when I was young. Hayley opens and closes the song acapella, raising the question of whether or not she really needs orchestration at all.
Other moments of note:
Hayley does some of her best vocals of the entire album accompaning the instrumental interlude of Shenandoah. The high notes in the background belie any adjective I can apply to them here....A surprising highlight was the uptempo Summer Fly, featuring excellent violin work by the Canadian violinst (fiddler) Natalie McMasters. Sandwiched betweeen the serene Shenandoah and Whispering Hope, the contrast really stands out. Summer Rain is another very impressive example of Hayley's nascent
songwriting skills.
If a have a quibble with this release, it is that the overall impression it leaves is actually possibly a bit too serene, and some of the songs are quite sad. Summer Fly certainly helps leaven the mix,but even that song has a certain bitterness and sadness too it. The album could use one or two more songs like it. One generally positive review of Celtic Treasure I saw said that you shoudnt play it while operating heavy machinery - and there may be something to that. In fact, the same theme of tranquility overcoming sadness embodies much of her previous work as well. If you are looking to music to completely escape your sorrows, this album may not be for you. If however, you are looking to be transportedto a place where pain and sadness somehow can become transmuted into joy, you may find such solace here.
In any event this is a very small complaint about what is a otherwise a brilliant release. If I had to pick artists for comparison Enya and Sarah Brightman come to mind. In a sense, however, Hayley might be better than they are - at times she seems to be able to combine the best of both into one singer. At the end of the day, if you simply enjoy beautiful music sung perhaps as well as it can be sung, you cant go wrong with this purchase.
Free Music Review: A jewel of an album...
Hit: 5 Stars
Hayley Westenra's third CD, Celtic Treasure, is a somewhat misnamed as it isn't strictly "Celtic" -- it's an eclectic collection of songs that perfectly showcases her crystalline soprano. The disc features several favorites that are staples on Celtic music releases, such as "Scarborough Fair," "Danny Boy," and "The Water is Wide." Also included is "Last Rose of Summer," a gorgeous duet with Meav from the group Celtic Woman, a nod to Hayley's current involvement with that ensemble (as featured on the recently released A New Journey CD & DVD). Their voices blend beautifully. In addition to these well-known "classics," Hayley expands her artistic horizons with this album which features her in the roles of song writer, arranger, and pianist on a handful of selections. Two of her song writing efforts are particularly striking - "Let Me Lie" is a lovely, lyrical song with an arrangement that possesses a lush, almost cinematic quality, while "Summer Rain" features a driving rhythm reminiscent of Enya's classic "Orinoco Flow." There is a nod to the pop sensiblity that was exhibitied on Hayley's second disc, Odyssey, in songs like "Summer Fly" which recalls the jazz stylings of "I Say Grace" from that disc, allowing Hayley to "cut loose," this time on a toe-tapping, folk-flavored tune. Hayley's extraordinary talent has become more and more evident with each successive album, exhibiting a continued trend of artistic growth and vocal maturity. Her voice has lost none of the purity found in her 2003 debut (aptly titled Pure) or the ability to hit unbelievably high notes with apparent ease; rather, her voice possesses an added depth and richness indicative of her maturation as a vocalist. It's worth getting this album from Walmart, as there it includes a bonus track -- Hayley's version of Loreena McKennitt's "The Mummer's Prayer," which is wonderful. For fans of classical crossover artists like Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban, and Amici Forever, Hayley Westenra is a vocalist to watch. She consistently raises the bar with every release, cultivating her voice and skill, delivering each song as a perfectly polished gem.Free Music Review: "Pure"-ly by accident
Hit: 5 Stars
I came across Hayley Westenra purely by accident, while flipping through classical CDs and suddenly seeing a picture of a beautiful young woman with the last name of one of Dracula's victims. My first thought was, "A pop CD in the wrong section,"; my second was, "I wonder if this is another one who when exiting her limo reveals her lack of underwear." But after reading the notes I decided to take a chance and buy "Odyssey," and the next day purchased "Pure" and "Celtic Treasure." So here's a quick overall review, from a classical aficionado, of this beautiful girl who commits herself so sincerely to her art:
Her voice is certainly heavenly. Whatever the song, and however schmaltzy the arrangement, her voice takes over and overwhelms any negatives. It's also apparent that there's nothing phony about her. When you're listening to her sing, you do NOT envision a wailing pop tart with a microphone a quarter inch from her mouth. You feel as if you're in the presence of an ingenuous young lady who loves what she's doing, respects the music she's performing, and is committed to applying her talent well. Her takes on these mostly well-known songs are quite refreshing. You can't help but like this girl.
I do feel that in one area she is not being well served. Her voice and talent and presence are such that she does not need the overstated accompaniment of many of the arrangements. Mediocrities need that kind of backup as camouflage, but Hayley Westenra definitely isn't in that category. In some of her songs, the accompaniment is properly understated, but in others it's gaudy and intrusive, suitable for Las Vegas crooners, not real artists. She doesn't need the thousand slithering strings or the bloated orchestrations. You often find yourself wishing that the instrumentalists would just SHUT UP and let the lady sing. (Remember that the best accompanists of the great classical singers are noted for their ability to support the artist while remaining unobtrusive.)
So I'm delighted to have discovered Hayley Westenra, and look forward to whatever she records next.