Celtic Praise
Artist: Eden's Bridge
Label: StraightWay
Length: 13 tracks / 59:08 minutes
This project's inside cover has a note which declares, "It is our
deepest hope that the Celtic Series will help to inspire you towards a
place of spiritual renewal and refreshment, while helping ease the stress
of life's busyness and concerns." This is exactly what you'll found within
the confines of this record.
I chose this particular work over others in this series due to the
fact that it contained two songs I thought I already knew, "Amazing Grace"
and "Thy Word." As I listened to these tracks, however, the familiar lyrics
were transformed to a whole other realm of musical genius. Sarah Lacy,
the artist doing vocals, has a capable range, yet she never allows it to
rise to ear-piercing frequencies and always seems to have complete control
over her vocal inflections. Although it is puzzling that they chose to
include the sound of her breathing, even that almost sounds like another
instrument at times.
Nearly fifteen hundred years ago, Celtic Christian missionaries
left Ireland and settled just off the coast of the Scottish highlands.
In keeping with that rich tradition, the composers for this record utilized
an expansive selection of instruments, ranging from the familiar such as
acoustic guitars, finger cymbals, hand drums, tambourines, and a cello
all the way to little known instruments such as caxixi, uilleann pipes,
and panderio.
The tune which seems to best sum up the entire project is "Beginning
and End."
God in the darkness and God in the morning
God in the work and the pain and the play
Lord of all heaven and earth the creator
God at the beginning and end of the day
God at the beginning and end of the day
This type of music may not be for everyone. It certainly sounds
lofty and has a way of hurling you through time and space all the way to
the highlands of Scotland just to praise God. If you are searching for
Celtic music, however, this is a definite keeper!
By Cathy Courtwright (1/1/99)
