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Track Listings
| 1. As I Roved Out |
| 2. On a Bright May Morning |
| 3. Brian Boru's March |
| 4. Down By the Sally Gardens |
| 5. The Star of the County Down |
| 6. The Wind that Shakes the Barley |
| 7. The Death of Queen Jane |
| 8. The Emigration Tunes |
| 9. The Parting Glass |
Product Description
CD Description
Canadian artist Loreena McKennitt has, over more than two decades, explored many aspects of the Celtic music she's always loved. Now she's returned to her earliest inspiration -- traditional Irish and Scottish music -- to create a new album.
In many ways the new album -- which is being released as a CD, as a download and on vinyl -- is a return to the simple, age-old music with which the singer began her career with her 1985 debut recording, Elemental.
The Wind that Shakes the Barley includes familiar "classics" such as "Down by the Sally Gardens," "The Star of the County Down" and "The Parting Glass." They are mixed with lesser-known traditional songs, including "The Death of Queen Jane" and "As I Roved Out." There are two instrumental tracks -- including a McKennitt original called "The Emigration Tunes," which refers to Irish-Canadian history during the famine of the 1840s.
The new album was recorded during the summer of 2010 at Sharon Temple, a handcrafted wooden building north of Toronto. Completed in 1832, the Temple of the Children of Peace -- to give the building its full title -- is the centerpiece of a National Historic Site, which encompasses nine historic buildings in a park setting. "It was a real joy to record our music in a place that is so rich, both historically and architecturally," McKennitt explains. "There is a fascinating interplay between architecture and sound; visually and sonically, the Temple inspired us all."
Some of McKennitt's long-time musical companions -- violinist Hugh Marsh, cellist Caroline Lavelle, guitarist Brian Hughes, hurdy-gurdy player Ben Grossman -- were joined by a cast of other accomplished players.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By nieges d'autan
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
I am a great fan of Loreena,(I have all her previous albums) and I listened to this latest with great anticipation. But what a disappointment! The appeal of this artist is not just in her performance and musicality, but in the originality of her writing, her eclectitism and exploration. This collection is frankly banal in comparison with'Muse' or 'Secrets': she may be 'returning to her roots' but I found the earlier versions of several of these songs far stronger and more complex, while the 'new' additions to the repertoire are unmemorable to say the least.
We played this CD once. Then we gave it to the charity shop
We played this CD once. Then we gave it to the charity shop
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By Fergal Woods
Format:Audio CD
Sorry to say I don't follow the hype around this present release and find it quite disappointing. I am looking at it in the context of her last number of releases - a Best of and concert double CD (with too much replication) a Christmas album (not usually a sign of great creativity) a concert DVD of old material (which is wonderful) and this collection which is basically a set of Irish folk songs. So I see this not as a triumphant return to her "roots" but rather as a worrying sign that she has lost her creative muse.
Lovers of Irish folk will already own superior versions of practically all of these songs. Other than "The Parting Glass" there is little thought or imagination evident in these arrangements. In this tune Loreena does modify her sound and this is welcome as too many of her songs are now "samey". Uileann pipes are prominent and her voice has lost none of it's quality but I would far rather her to come up with original material and with a soundscape that is evolving. Perhaps collaboration with Irish songwriters or musicians might lead to a more productive process that would still satisfy Loreena's attachment to things Celtic but this release does not suggest future glories to match her earlier classics (all of which I own, by the way)
I wish I could write to the contrary but, in my view, this is not an essential purchase.
Lovers of Irish folk will already own superior versions of practically all of these songs. Other than "The Parting Glass" there is little thought or imagination evident in these arrangements. In this tune Loreena does modify her sound and this is welcome as too many of her songs are now "samey". Uileann pipes are prominent and her voice has lost none of it's quality but I would far rather her to come up with original material and with a soundscape that is evolving. Perhaps collaboration with Irish songwriters or musicians might lead to a more productive process that would still satisfy Loreena's attachment to things Celtic but this release does not suggest future glories to match her earlier classics (all of which I own, by the way)
I wish I could write to the contrary but, in my view, this is not an essential purchase.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Loreena McKennitt's ninth studio sees her cover traditional Irish folk songs, bar one of the songs which she wrote herself. Although there is not that much originality in the way that she has chosen to arrange the songs, they work very well as an ensemble, providing the listener with an interesting variety of musical instruments to hear, possibly for the first time. Her voice is as angelic and pure as usual and the songs she has chosen suit her well.
Most of the songs have their own special little something. "On A Bright May Morning" is probably the best track on this album, being a very intimate ballad with a beautiful harp arrangement and lovely vocals. "Down By The Sally Gardens" has a celebratory feel to it with emotive uilleann pipes. The title track "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" has a mournful quality to it together with a haunting peacefulness in its sheer simplicity. The same goes for the final track "The Parting Glass". However, not every song is that inspiring as "The Death Of Queen Jane" is a little dull.
I do tend to prefer when artists release their own music and creations, but the collection of songs on "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" is a very decent effort merely for the fact that Loreena McKennitt does Irish music so well. For that reason, it is worth the purchase and deserves 4 stars.
Most of the songs have their own special little something. "On A Bright May Morning" is probably the best track on this album, being a very intimate ballad with a beautiful harp arrangement and lovely vocals. "Down By The Sally Gardens" has a celebratory feel to it with emotive uilleann pipes. The title track "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" has a mournful quality to it together with a haunting peacefulness in its sheer simplicity. The same goes for the final track "The Parting Glass". However, not every song is that inspiring as "The Death Of Queen Jane" is a little dull.
I do tend to prefer when artists release their own music and creations, but the collection of songs on "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" is a very decent effort merely for the fact that Loreena McKennitt does Irish music so well. For that reason, it is worth the purchase and deserves 4 stars.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Subtle but truly beautiful
I have virtually all of Loreena's work, and she has been for many years my favourite performer (and seen live, perhaps even better). Read more
Published 14 months ago by J. P. Botting
4.0 out of 5 stars
As I roved out
There has always been a heavy Celtic influence on Loreena McKennit's music, right back to the beginning of her career. Read more
Published 21 months ago by E. A Solinas
5.0 out of 5 stars
A slight return
Fortunately Loreena McKennit is too intelligent to be swayed by all the Rock Critic remarks on here. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Richard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely excellent.
I love everything Loreena has done musically, and this is no exception. I even like her Christmas albums, and I am absolutely not someone who normally likes Christmas albums! Read more
Published on 8 May 2011 by thunderdragon
3.0 out of 5 stars
beautiful but not innovative
Always a beautiful voice, this album is nevertheless creatively regressive. I look forward to the next album with the sound that made LMK: middle east instruments, medieval... Read more
Published on 6 April 2011 by Mrs. Hildegunde Royle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wind That Shakes the Barley
This is a CD for anyone who likes Irish or Celtic folk music. Although I had never heard of this artist Loreena McKennitt so I was buying 'blind' I was delighted with this product... Read more
Published on 5 April 2011 by Robert French
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loreena shakes the barley
Until this cd was played on Radio 2, I'd never heard of Loreena or her music. This album will certainly encourage me to buy more of her music. Read more
Published on 5 April 2011 by E. S. Ballagher
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful
I have always found Loreena McKennitt's voice hypnotically beautiful, but her recent more experimental albums have appealed my conservative taste less than her earlier material,... Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2011 by David Sutton
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disapointing, especially from the second part of the album
For me, it has not the quality of the most records.
I found the first part (1 to 5) not bad and then 6 to 9 are quite boring, even after listening several times. Read more
I found the first part (1 to 5) not bad and then 6 to 9 are quite boring, even after listening several times. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2011 by Hugues
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not bad
It may not be on pair with her other music: THE BOOK OF SECRETS which I consider to be her best; however I found this CD worth listening too. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2011 by S. Cunningham
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