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Product Description
From Amazon.com
McKennitt's travels through Spain and Morocco flavor this album with a distinctly Mediterranean tinge, from the opening "The Mystic's Dream," with its dancing percussion arrangements, to "Marrakesh Night Market," to "Full Circle" and the instrumental "Santiago." "Marrakesh Night Market" is an especially strong performance, with an interesting musical texture; the balalaika, udu drum, and dumbek are played alongside a synthesizer. As usual, McKennitt has set a poem to music, this time Yeats's "The Two Trees," with a lovely introduction on the Uillean pipes. There's also "The Bonny Swans," a traditional lyric, and the CD closes with Shakespeare, as McKennitt sets some of Prospero's words from The Tempest to her own music. Excerpts from McKennitt's journals, included in the CD booklet, make for interesting reading as they shed some light on her source material and inspiration for writing each song. --Genevieve Williams
Album Description
"The Mask And Mirror" has now sold more than two million copies worldwide and was honoured with a 1995 Juno Award for Best Roots/Traditional Album. It spans Spanish, Celtic and Moroccan influences, and follows paths of inspiration from Ireland to Santiago de Compostella. Included are musical settings of poems by St. John Of The Cross and Shakespeare, as well as eclectic, richly-textured originals including a seductively dramatic "The Mystic's Dream" (as featured in the Paramount Pictures film "Jade") and "Marrakesh Night Market". -The album has been completely remastered and includes a multilingual weblink. Also included is an additional DVD featuring the Loreena McKennitt documentary No Journeys End and the videos "The Bonny Swans" and "The Mummers' Dance" mixed in 5.1 sound.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Loreena McKennitt's performance has the ability to transport an inaccessible, difficult traditional lyric directly into your heart, and splash it's original meaning in glorious technicolor. Verses which - for my modern mainstream tastes at least - lie dead on the printed page, are brought to life by the combined conviction of Ms McKennitt's singing and her diverse original music.
Shakespeare, W.B.Yeats and "St John of the Cross" are not high on my reading list - with my education, I just don't "get them" ~ but I've glimpsed a little of their genius courtesy of The Mask and the Mirror.
The style of music is difficult to categorise; for this recording think mystical, Mediterranean, traditional, Moroccan and Spanish all in one! It's not easy to integrate traditional instruments with modern electronics, but this is a good example of Doing It Right. The musicianship is first class.
This recording is a beautiful work. I'm sure it will capture your imagination and heart if you give it the chance - I strongly recommend that you do!
I'm rating it at 4 out of 5 because some of the tracks are just "very good", whereas others are genius.
Shakespeare, W.B.Yeats and "St John of the Cross" are not high on my reading list - with my education, I just don't "get them" ~ but I've glimpsed a little of their genius courtesy of The Mask and the Mirror.
The style of music is difficult to categorise; for this recording think mystical, Mediterranean, traditional, Moroccan and Spanish all in one! It's not easy to integrate traditional instruments with modern electronics, but this is a good example of Doing It Right. The musicianship is first class.
This recording is a beautiful work. I'm sure it will capture your imagination and heart if you give it the chance - I strongly recommend that you do!
I'm rating it at 4 out of 5 because some of the tracks are just "very good", whereas others are genius.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have given this CD as gifts to at least 4 or 5 of my dear friends, since this musical journey cannot be missed by anyone seeking enjoyment and refuge in a wonderful and juicy place where Loreena takes us and then leaves us to dance with a mask in the mirror.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have to admit that I am well and truly under this ladies spell. Loreena takes you there and back again! Wherever that may be? The way in which blends ethnic and "conventional" styles is remarkable. The melifluous lyrical flow is truly spellbinding. I find it hard to pin her music down as there is so much of everything. Folk, Celtic, Ethnic/World, Baroque, Medieval, Madrigal et al, all put together with divine craftsmanship. Lorenna's voice is so pure and clear it seems to wash over you like waters from heaven. She is also a very fine musician! I will not single out any track from this gorgeous album it is a complete work and will, I'm sure satisfy time and time again. Like I said, I'm biased! But once you have this talented and accomplished lady in your head, she is there to stay!!!! "The Mask In The Mirror" is a reflection of grace and beauty. Buy it; try it, then buy the rest of her albums!!! (I don't think you'll be looking for your money back!!)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Original Songs with a World Music Flavour
I first heard this at a restaurant in the village of Bellapais in North Cyprus. It seemed to fit perfectly the atmosphere of a warm evening, good Turkish food and the floodlit... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Roger D
a musical epiphany
I will be forever indebted to Amazon's link personal recommendations for introducing me to Loreena McKennitt, of whom I had never previously heard. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Book Mark
CD Review
This was for a gift and I am told it is perfect. The delivery was very quick and it was well packaged.
Published 16 months ago by M. J. Robertson
It takes something special to wake me up at 6 a.m. on a Sunday!
It's a dark Sunday morning, just past 6.00 a.m., and I'm stirring from sleep ...... the radio, left on all night, is broadcasting the most beautiful music. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Bob Digby
Perfection...as simple as that.
This could be easily named Loreena`s masterpiece. But she has more like this. Book of secrets and An ancient muse are just as good. This one is my favourite though. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Andrei Aciobanitei
All in a dream
There are no universal standards - what appeals to one is abhorred by another. For those who like the unusual and the considered these tunes and their rendition will delight, not... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Blue Idewan
Longing for the love of you
"A clouded dream on an earthly night/Hangs upon the crescent moon/A voiceless song in an ageless light/Sings at the coming dawn... Read more
Published on 16 May 2010 by E. A Solinas
Intimate, sensual
I have read the other reviews and the one of Shahab Shari is the closest to my own feelings when he mentions that it is divine. Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2009 by Frank Bierbrauer
Celtic-folk style with a new-age twist
Loreena McKennit is a very skilful musician and she combines simple themes with complex arragements. The music is traditional-celtic-folk style with a new-age twist. Read more
Published on 28 May 2007 by Wilfred
a beautifull haunting album
i first heard heard this album whilst working in spain in 1994 and was captivated by the haunting melodies which are a mixture of irish celt with a moorish arbic influence found in... Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2005
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