Two factors account for the broad-based popularity of Secret Garden (the duo of Norwegian keyboardist Rolf Lovland and Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry). One: the twosome’s attractive, smartly conceived mix of compatible elements including light classical, urbane New Age, and well-mannered contemporary Celtic. Two: the pair’s ability to persuasively present this formula with poise and (crucially) fetching good looks in a concert film, which in 1999 enjoyed broad exposure on American public television. (The performance, A Night with Secret Garden, is available on DVD.) White Stones is Lovland and Sherry’s second collaboration, and, despite a few side trips into weighty sentimentality (e.g., the heart-clutching earnestness of “First Day of Spring”), it nicely conveys the pair’s simple yet endearing children-of-the-cosmos spirit. Highlights here include the disc’s energized, Celtic-influenced tunes (”Steps,” “Moving,” “Escape”) and an infectious, regal charmer (”Celebration”) Lovland composed in honor of the Queen of Norway’s 60th birthday. Accompanied on nearly every piece by a small orchestra or Celtic instrumentalists, Sherry’s violin sometimes evokes moods of melancholy that seem better suited for a two-hanky, movie-of-the-week film score. Yet a piece such as “Hymn to Hope” shows she can also elegantly trigger deeper feelings of longing and anticipation that can linger for hours. Overall, a worthwhile listen. –Terry Wood
User Reviews
5 Stars Classic, beautiful music by Secret Garden – INCREDIBLE
Secret Garden is the best discovery of my life as far as music goes. The violin is so soft and beautiful, and the singing is ethereal. I cannot get enough of this group! I highly recommend White Stones. I love Irish music and they have a lot of songs that have the Irish Celtic sound, and I just cannot say enough good things about this CD.
5 Stars White Stone -soup for the soul
I highly reccommend this. Most enjoyable during my hectic day working excel spread sheets. Good focus tool. Enjoy it.VBS
4 Stars Pleasant, romantic music for the soul
As a fan of “Secret Garden” I have enjoyed this CD for weeks now. I fall asleep to it almost every night. It is not my very favorite, prefering the turn of the century one, but I do alternate listening to both. I am looking forward to a new album, as the recently purchsed one has mostly repeats on it.
Talented musicians, composers and singers make this CD incredibly enjoyable and I do say I love it.
5 Stars Excellent Work
This is by far my favorite Secret Garden CD and their only all instumental CD. I prefer the allegro selections , despite the fact that they consider them to be filler material . The musicianship is first rate and you would never know that the individual songs were recorded in pieces , unless you visited their website . This CD has , what the Grateful Dead refered to as , the X factor . Everything on each selection flows together as if all of the musicians were in the same studio doing it live . Fionnuala Sherry dominates the entire work as the featured artist , but certainly doesn’t overpower the rest of the fine musicians involved . I find it remarkable that this CD has never received a major award .
5 Stars White Stones
Excellent orchestrations, with use of specific instruments to bring out various emotions in the listener. Excellent up front or as background music, or even for meditation. I like driving in the mountains or desert listening to any of Secret Garden’s great music.
Dr. Ronaldo Fritz
Leave a Comment