The Northern Lights

Track Listings

1. Music of New and Old Caledonia (Medley): Canadian Four-Step, Old Jed Hay, Alistair McCulloch, Tam's Hunting Horn, Mrs MacLeod, Fairy Dance, De'il Amang The Tailors

2. Farewell My Love (James Nicol)

3. The Auld Rants (Medley): Marquis of Huntley's Highland Fling, The Kilt is My Delight, Highland Whisky, Speed the Plough

4. Heroes of Longhope

5. The Hibiscus Two-Step

6. Mary Sandeman (Medley): Dumbarton's Drums, Farewell Tae Tarwathie

7. Highland Schottische: Orange & Blue, Loudon's Bonnie Woods, The Braes O'Mar, Kafoozalum, The Keel Row

8. Margaret's Waltz

9. Gardebylaten-Ganglat

10. Finnish Polka (Medley): Finnish Polka, The Headlands, Wideford Hull, Da Tushkar

11. The Northern Lights (James Nicol)

12. Swinging Reels (Medley): Jenny's Bawbee, Denise's Tune, Paddy O'Brien, Early in the Morning

13. Glee Club (Medley): Dear Old Donegal, If You're Irish, I'll be off to Tipperary in the Morning, McNamara's Band

14. Irish Jigs (Medley): Irish Washerwoman, Rakes of Kildare, Sorry to Part, The Rollicking Irishman

15. Ye Banks and Braes (Mary Sandeman & James Nicol)

16. S.F.O. Folk Symphony (Medley): Ottawa Valley Reel, Boil Them Cabbage Down, Gary Murphy's Jig, Bowing the Strings

17. The Orange Blossom Special (Douglas/White)

18. Highland Cathedral

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, formed in early 1980 by a group of enthusiastic Scottish musicians, gave its inaugral concert that year in the Music Hall in Aberdeen. For their 10th Anniversary Gala Concert what more fitting surroundings could there be than that beautifully refurbished building in the land of the Northern Lights.

This CD features the soundtrack of the video of the same name and the title is taken from the popular song by Mary Webb and is featured on the CD.

BAND MEMBERS John Mason Mary Sandeman James Nicol & The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra

Tracks:

Forbidden Fruit
Hobo Jungle
Ophelia
Acadian Driftwood
Ring Your Bell
It Makes No Difference
Jupiter Hollow
Rags & Bones
Twilight (Early Alternate Version)
Christmas Must Be Tonight (Alternate Version)

Amazon.com

Hailed upon its arrival as a significant comeback for the Band, this 1975 collection hasn't aged as well as the likes of Stage Fright, Moondog Matinee, or even the outfit's post-Robbie Robertson output. The eight-song collection (augmented on the 2001 reissue with two agreeable extras--alternate versions of "Twilight" and "Christmas Must Be Tonight") isn't without its delights, foremost being Rick Danko's heavy-hearted reading of the devastating "It Makes No Difference." But for every "Forbidden Fruit" and "Ophelia"--worthy additions to Robertson's credits--there are the somewhat forced likes of "Jupiter Hollow" and "Rags and Bones." Also, Garth Hudson stocked up on the latest technology before heading into the studio, but the layers ARPs and mini-Moogs here contribute to a feeling of busyness. Northern Lights--Southern Cross is very much a '70s album--not a good thing from a quintet whose best music was tough to peg to any era. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

The final classic.......2007-01-10

The Band's sixth and final proper studio album (I don't really count Islands, the collection of half-hearted studio outtakes, as a real album), Northern Lights - Southern Cross is a surprisingly strong comeback in both writing and performance. The Band hadn't released an album of new material since the disappointing Cahoots, and the extracurricular substance-related activities of Richard Manuel and Rick Danko lessened their songwriting output considerably (completely in Manuel's case). However, despite their stumbles and a growing divergence of some members (guitarist/songwriter Robbie Robertson would be ready to leave the group not long after the album was released), the quintet pull off amazing comeback album, filled with what originally made The Band so classic--great writing, strong playing from Manuel, Danko and Levon Helm, and expert playing, especially from organist/multi-instrumentalist Garth Hudson.

The album kicks off with the rocking "Forbidden Fruit," a cautionary tale sung by Helm. One thing I actually like about Robertson's somewhat egotistical prominence in the later Band material is his up-front, gnarly guitar--he starts using the whammy bar on this album, and the results are wicked to say the least. He takes a few blistering solos in "Forbidden Fruit" that make you wonder if he sold his soul for his guitar skills. This song also marks Garth Hudson's introduction of (then) new synthesizers into his arsenal of keyboards. It might off-put you if you're a classic Americana Band fan, but give it a chance--it really grew on me. Regardless of the instrument, it's still being played by the bearded master, Garth Hudson. The second track is a "Hobo Jungle," a mid-tempo narrative that features some excellent acoustic guitar from Robbie and one of the finest vocal melodies on Band record, sung by Richard Manuel. Despite his heavy drinking, his voice still sounds great, though it's become quite weathered. "Ophelia" is one of the more well-known tracks on the album. The Band uses an almost Dixieland horn arrangement and Levon Helm, in addition to singing, pounds the skins with reckless abandon.

The other well-known track is "Acadian Driftwood," a song Robbie wrote about the Acadian Indians who were forced to move from Canada to Louisiana. It's a heartfelt tribute, sung by all three vocalists and featuring a piccolo part by Garth Hudson. "Ring Your Bell" is one of the group's funkiest songs, a pretty humorous outlaw tune and a all-out belter from Danko, who also sings "It Makes No Difference." One of Robbie Robertson's best love ballads, this track became a sort of signature torch tune for Rick, and it's buoyed by some of Robbie's revelatory guitar and Garth on saxophone. "Jupiter Hollow" is a long (for The Band) and experimental song--a great detour, with a lot of mythological and mystical imagery, and a whole lot of synth overdubs from Garth Hudson. It makes for a really cool listen and has a groovy vibe and some creative drumming from Levon. The album closes on a truly classic note with "Rags and Bones," another darkly funky romp through a night-time city with some of Robbie's most lively and creative guitar (check out that left channel--wow!).

Northern Lights - Southern Cross is The Band's shortest album, and it's always over too soon. The bonus tracks are OK, but as usual don't add anything (careful they don't spoil the vibe of the original album). This one definitely ranks pretty high up there for me as one of their top albums--worlds better than Cahoots and with moments that transcend a lot of their other material. It's such a pity they had to quit making music when their last album was this great. A lot of people will tell you they didn't make any good music after Stage Fright, but give Northern Lights - Southern Cross a try and I think you might agree with me that that's simply not true. I hope you enjoy The Band's final classic!

One of the Band's Best -- An Elegant Swan Song.......2006-02-14

I disagree with the reviewers who find this album too "70s" -- yes, the production and Garth's use of the Moog and other synths peg the recording date of the record -- but why is that presumed to be a bad thing?

I love the way these songs flow seamlessly from one to another -- the songs all deal with loss, upheaval, movement, endurance, cycles of joy and sadness, all beautifully pieced together. The liner notes on the reissue really add to the significance and enjoyment of these songs; I love the way Robbie wrote "Ophelia" and "Forbidden Fruit" using older, discarded chord progressions. Danko knocks one of the park with his tortured, sensitive reading of "It Makes No Difference," and personally I enjoy Garth's enveloping and intricate synth work on "Jupiter Hollow." Of course Acadian Driftwood is a classic story of uprooting, perseverance, and survival, and even the unadorned and simple Christmas song tacked on to the end works for me.

One of the Band's best and a great way to go out (I prefer to ignore Islands....).

I like the words; the singing is great, some songs outstanding.......2006-01-16

On Junior Day, 2006, I would like to seek lessons from the twentieth century that apply to the situation in the world. Things change, but our grasp of sentimentality can ebb or flow either way, particularly if it is informed by listening to The Band album from 1975, `Northern Lights, Southern Cross.' Someone in The Band might be from Canada, and the song `Acadian Driftwood' pictures a family with a broken-down car trying to get someplace where life was better, as some French Canadians made it all the way to New Orleans after France lost its hold on Quebec. Somehow the music seems a bit more cheerful for the song `Ophelia,' when The Band is singing:

Ashes of laughter, the ghost is clear,
Why do the best things always disappear,
like Ophelia? Please darken my door.

There are a number of songs about drifters. `Hobo Jungle,' `Jupiter Hollow,' and maybe `Rags And Bones.' In the first song, `Forbidden Fruit,' there is an admonition:

You got one life that you better not waste.

The Band had been playing together for years when `Northern Lights, Southern Cross' was recorded. Among the tales of woe that allowed music to explore the depths of the human situation, `It Makes No Difference' by J. R. Robertson took four or five chords to get through the first two lines, added a few more chords for the chorus, then managed to fit in a few more for the part in the middle that declares:

Now there's no love
As true as the love
That dies untold
But the clouds never hung so low before.

Civilization requires certain limits to love, which threatens to uproot the basic standards of stability, but music keeps morphing, as The Band throws in a few more chords near the end with the words:

Without your love I'm nothing at all
Like an empty hall it's a lonely fall
Since you've gone it's a losing battle
Stampeding cattle, they rattle the walls.

Well, I love you so much
It's all I can do
Just to keep myself from telling you
That I never felt so alone before.

The last four lines probably use the same chords as the lines ending with "But the clouds never hung so low before." The hurt of lost love seems to apply to love that never even happened yet, rain or shine, because "The shadow never seems to fade away." And as for songs:

These old love letters
Well, I just can't keep
'Cause like the gambler says
Read 'em and weep
And the dawn don't rescue me no more.

3rd Best Band Album, Still one of the Top 100 ever.......2005-06-19

It is well known that by 1975 when this album was recorded, The Band was much less a band than they used to be, not due to loss of talent, but loss of the easygoing friendships that had fueled the first two albums. What a showing they still make.

To me Richard Manuel sang some of the greatest performances of his life on this album, for instance check out: Hobo Jungle, Rags & Bones, Acadian Driftwood. Levon and Rick also hand in some fine performances, Levon particularly on Forbidden Fruit, Rick's Swan Song is most definately It Makes No Difference. Robbie provides some very good lyrics for the whole album. Garth is brilliant of course, "ain't it easy when you know how" .

My only complaint is it is just not long enough, 8 songs on the original, 10 on the remastered edition. I grew up in a house full of Classic Rock "N Roll. When I heard The Band, I was mesmerized by how each song can sound so different from each other but they never lose that tight ensemble sound. To me Richard Manuel is the greatest singer in the History of Popular Music.

A must purchase for any fan of The Band, or any fan of Truly Soulful, meaningful Roots Music.

****1/4. The Band's last great record.......2004-08-03

The strongest Band album since "Stage Fright", "Northern Lights, Southern Cross" was The Band's first studio album in four years. Better than "Cahoots" and "Moondog Matinee", it is really The Band's last hurrah, although the mediocre "Islands" did come out in 1977, after the Canadian-American outfit had stopped touring for good. (Robbie Robertson says about "Islands": "It wasn't even an album, we were just trying to get out of a contract!")

"Northern Lights, Southern Cross" features the same dense, muscular arrangements as previous albums, anchored by Levon Helm's supple, versatile drumming, and the role of lead vocalist is still passed around between Helm, Danko, and Manuel. The only notable difference is that Garth Hudson had partially abandoned his Lowrey organ in favour of synthesizers (that may sound ominous, but it really isn't).

Robbie Robertson is credited as the sole composer on all eight tracks on the original LP, as well as the newly added bonus cuts, and the many highlights include the rollicking "Ophelia", Rick Danko's excellent performance of the mournful ballad "It Makes No Difference", and the lyrical, acoustic folk-rock of "Hobo Jungle".
But the album's centrepiece has to be the epic "Acadian Driftwood", a nearly seven minute folkish narrative which chronicles the story of the Acadians, a people exiled from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the 1750s. It is a superbly evocative masterpiece, one of Robbie Robertson's very best songs.

Not as highly touted as "Music From Big Pink" or "The Band", "Northern Lights, Southern Cross" is nevertheless one of The Band's classic albums. Being the Band's fourth best record really isn't half bad, you know.

Average customer rating:

Enchanting and Mystical
Very Good CD
Enchanting
Important Celtic compilation
Not bad

Celtic Odyssey
Northern Lights , and Orison
Manufacturer: Narada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Celtic Spirit
Celtic Legacy: A Global Celtic Journey
Heart Of The Celts: Songs Of Love
The Celtic Circle: Legendary Music from a Mystic World
Celtic Voices: Women of Song

ASIN: B000005P56
Release Date: 1993-05-25

Tracks:

Carolan's Ramble To Cashel - Northern Lights
The Butterfly - Orison
Donal Agus Morag/The New-Rigged Ship - Altan
Calliope House/The Cowboy Jig - Alasdair Fraser/Paul Machlis
Chuaigh Me 'Na Rosann - Scartaglen
Trip To Skye - John Whelan/Eileen Ivers
Are Ye Sleeping, Maggie? - Alasdair Fraser
Tribute To Peadar O'Donnell - Moving Hearts
Siun Ni Dhuibher - Relativity
Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda - Capercaillie
Puirt A Beul - Sileas
The York Reel/Dancing Feet - Gerald Trimble
Morgan Meaghan (Edit) - Laurie Riley/Bob Mc Nally
Strathgarry - Simon Wynberg

Customer Reviews:

Enchanting and Mystical.......2007-07-02

Along with the other reviewers, this is my favorite celtic compilation. I, too, am moved to tears by Strathgarry at the end. My husband and I loved the music on this cd so much that we used most of it for our wedding 10 years ago, and had it included in our wedding video. It's still as good today as it was then.

Very Good CD.......2007-06-16

Really Enjoy this CD every time I listen to it. I highly recomend it. A great combonation of some slow and some faster paced songs.

Enchanting.......2007-05-11

I agree with all the other reviewers--this is a great CD. It's not too mellow and not too rowdy--just right, and there's a variety of music--some instrumental, some with vocals. I recommend it highly.

Important Celtic compilation.......2006-08-17

Most Celtic compilations usually have 4-5 really good songs mixed in with a bunch of crap. Do the editors think that they can fool us folk fans into believing that just because something has a violin, or a harp, or ethereal vocals, or bagpipes, that it's "good" Celtic music? That's like saying any song with a guitar is good rock. Well, at least according to my personal taste , most if not ALL songs on this CD are good and fit well together. They range from fiddle and drum jig, to slow and melancholy fiddle solo, to a cappella duet, to harp, to drums and other instruments, all mixed in with very crisp, Gaelic vocals. If you're a Celtic music fan, this NEEDS to be a part of your collection!

Not bad.......2005-12-13

Sounds real "purdy". But except for a couple of numbers, not a lot of character to this collection. Makes me think that if the ancient Gaels had elevators, this would be the music they'd be listening to.

Average customer rating:

An Oasis of quality music.
Wonderful CD
cool classical/rock/jazz fusion
cool classical/rock/jazz fusion
A Disaster

Nylon & Steel
Manuel Barrueco , Aaron Copland , Celso Machado , Al di Meola , Steve Morse , Stanley Myers , Ernesto Nazareth , Andy Summers , Victor Valls , Al di Meola , Andy Summers , and Steve Morse
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005ICL0
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Tracks:

Odeon - Manuel Barrueco
Beyond The Mirage - Manuel Barrueco/Al Di Meola
Azzurra - Manuel Barrueco/Al Di Meola
The Grand Passion - Manuel Barrueco/Al Di Meola
Wolvesville (An Improvisation On Etude No.1 By Villa-Lobos) - Manuel Barrueco/Steve Morse
Cavatina - Manuel Barrueco/Steve Morse
Without Sunglasses - Manuel Barrueco/Steve Morse
Northern Lights - Manuel Barrueco/Steve Morse
Up In The Air - Manuel Barrueco/Steve Morse
Mysteries Of The Slow River - Manuel Barrueco/Andy Summers
I Remember - Manuel Barrueco/Andy Summers
Crow At Midnight - Manuel Barrueco/Andy Summers
Rodeo - Manuel Barrueco

Amazon.com

Classical guitar lovers looking for a jazzier change of pace shouldn't be disappointed by Nylon & Steel, Manuel Barrueco's album of duets with Al Di Meola, Steve Morse, and Andy Summers. But ironically enough, it's the two solo tunes that bookend this disc, Barrueco's "Odeon" and his solo guitar arrangement of Aaron Copland's "Rodeo," that are the real highlights. His three cuts with Di Meola are a mixed affair, but the interplay between the duo seems to gel on the longer "Azzurra." Steve Morse's electric guitar is loaded with Bill Frisell-like effects, but on "Wolvesville," he and Barrueco create an inspired and unleashed fusion between rock and classical music (the inspiration for the piece is a Villa-Lobos étude). Three mellow collaborations with Summers round out this set of intriguing guitar instrumentals. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

An Oasis of quality music........2005-04-14

The tracks on this recording vary from exuberant latin-american jazz - like 'Beyond The Mirage'- to more introspective music like 'The Grand Passion'. 'Northern Lights'is very sensitive as well, it makes you a little bit melancholic. Between all the noisy dance-music we have nowadays, 'Nylon & Steel'is an oasis of quality and high standard.(Though there is no classical music played on this cd - apart from Villa-Lobos - don't let that spoil the fun). Something about this music reminds me of the piano-music of Brad Mehldau: it sounds familiar and at the same time it's something new.

Wonderful CD.......2003-06-04

I didn't think I would like this CD. However, after the first listen, I had to admit this is a fantastic CD!

cool classical/rock/jazz fusion.......2001-10-29

This is a very interesting combination of the classical and rock/jazz worlds of guitar playing. All four guitarists have amazing chops and they're all quite tasteful on this recording. If you're a fan of Barrueco, DiMeola, Morse, or Summers, check out this CD. I had heard Barrueco and Summers before, and knew of DiMeola and Morse by reputation, so I had an idea of what to expect...but "Nylon & Steel" surpassed those expectations. Very cool, indeed.

cool classical/rock/jazz fusion.......2001-10-29

A Disaster.......2001-09-08

Except for the two Barrueco solos, this CD made me nauseous!!!Listening to it reminded me why I stopped listening to most improvised music.

Throughout tracks 2 to 4, DiMeola struggles futilely to come up with anything but comical latin cliches. DiMeola's mindless noodling is an affront to Barrueco's musicality. Summers playing on the other hand, while somewhat musical, is mostly syrup.

Villa-Lobos' Etude 1 duet hurt the most. I have played this piece for years and, though an etude, I find it quite entertaining (as do most classical guitarists I think). During most of the piece, Morse simply plays scale-exercise filler and obliterates all the musical ideas in the piece. Listen, Villa-Lobos was one of the most original and masterful composers of this century. It is criminal to think that playing this electronic fluff over Villa-Lobos' etude does it justice.

A word to the uninitiated - buy Sergio and Odair Assad's "Latin Music for Two Guitars" and learn something about the depth and beauty of serious latin guitar music.

Feast
Average customer rating:

Thank you CBC

Best bassoon quartet ever!

Feast
Bill Douglas , and The Caliban Quartet of Bassoonists
Manufacturer: Northern Lights
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music
Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
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Sky

Bassoonatics!

ASIN: B00005N6LH
Release Date: 2001-07-24

Tracks:

Feast
Banana
Farewell to Stromness
Highland
Steppin' Out With My Baby
Tango Melancolico
Funk for Spain
Powerhouse
Yesnaby Ground
Emigrant's Farewell
Valstango
Odes to the Americas: I Good Times
Odes to the Americas: II Blue Souls
Odes to the Americas: III With You I Dance
Jewel
Bassango
Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals

Customer Reviews:

Thank you CBC.......2007-07-15

Often I listen to Canadian radio, for a different perspective on news and entertainment, and they play a lot of Canadian musicians which I otherwise wouldn't get to hear. Case in point, the marvelous Caliban Bassoon Quartet from Toronto, which was featured earlier this week. I've always loved the bassoon, with its expressive and harmonically complex voice (Lindsay Cooper of Henry Cow, Brian Guilland of Gryphon, Susan Nigro). So deep joy to be introduced to a whole quartet of talented bassoonists, "playing all the good parts" where "you can never be sure who it is playing the lead at any one time." There's even a contrabassoon in most of the tracks, a wonderfully weird instrument which sounds like a phlegmatic goose with congestive pneumonia! Add piano and percussion to most tracks and you have a thoroughly entertaining disc.

Best bassoon quartet ever!.......2001-10-26

The second CD by the Caliban Quartet is a "must-get" CD for bassoon lovers! The music in this album is very different unlike their first album. We get to hear the voices behind the beautiful instruments! I've to say my favourite track in this CD is Bill Douglas' "Jewel".

Average customer rating:

Worth buying, but not Keiko's best work.
VERY TALENTED ARTIST...
Early, Good, More Mellow
Beautiful

Under Northern Lights
Keiko Matsui
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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No Borders
Whisper from the Mirror
Ring
Sapphire
Cherry Blossom

ASIN: B0000001PF
Release Date: 1997-02-25

Tracks:

Under Northern Lights
Mountain Shakedown
Secret Forest
The Morning Moon
As Far As The Eye Can See
The Ruins Of Sonora
High Brow Country Affair
Walls Of The Cave
Flight Of The Angels
The Gate

Customer Reviews:

Worth buying, but not Keiko's best work........2004-11-16

"As Far as the Eye Can See" and "High Brow Country Affair" both make me gag.

"Ruins of Sonora" has a Spanish trumpet thing going on that, while it was technically sound in its own right, just didn't jive with anything else I've heard from Keiko. It was like a well-painted piece of the wrong puzzle. I didn't like it.

Take those three tracks out of the album, and you've got the gold standard set by Keiko's other work.

If you're a Keiko collector, buy this album for tracks 1 - 4 and 8 - 10. If you're thinking of trying Keiko for the first time, I recommend one of her other albums -- particularly Dream Walk.

For the rest of the album, I enjoyed it immensely and found it just as engaging as anything else I've heard from Keiko.

-sean henning

VERY TALENTED ARTIST..........2003-07-18

This CD Is Beautiful, Every Song Is Breathtaking. You Can Relax with her music, or Stay up all Night and Work With it. Very Talented Lady.

Early, Good, More Mellow.......2000-03-30

This is Keiko's second release. I find it to be a little more mellow than some of her other CDs. It is a Keiko product and thus better than CDs by most artists, but I hesitantly place it in the lower half of her CDs. If you are addicted to her music like I am, then you should definitely buy it because it is really very good. If you are only exploring her music, then buy "The Keiko Matsui Collection". Half of the songs on that CD are from "Under Northern Lights", and "Collection" contains the best songs from "N. Lights".

Beautiful.......1999-08-01

This album has brought me to tears. I can listen to this CD for hours. My favorite track is Ruins Of Sonora, which is not included in the Keiko Matsui Collection. If you are going to explore Keiko's music, this is a good choice.

Average customer rating:

Great
Your choice

Northern Lights
Steve Coulter & Harris Moore
Manufacturer: Gourd Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

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Pastorale
The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)
An Ancient Muse
Awake

ASIN: B000005C2B
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Tracks:

Busker's Dream
Sleepers Awake
Pyramid / In The Wood / In The Bright Light / Star Of The County Down
Carolan's Draught
Mushrooms Of Fagernes, The
Squire Wood's Lamentation On The Refusal Of His Tuppence
Carolan's Ramble To Cashel
Fair Haired Lass, The
Carolan's Receipt

Album Description

As an independent label, we've worked hard to develop a distinctive sound — part-folk, part-classical, all-acoustic instrumental music. We feel our music is indeed unique, and we've never compromised in our determination to produce only the highest quality, most beautifully packaged recordings.

We include detailed liner notes for those who are curious about the history and background of the music.

Gourd has licensed music to Warner Bros. Music, Narada, Hearts of Space, Windham Hill, The Disney Channel, A&E and The History Channel. Selections from the Gourd recording The World Turned Upside Down were featured on the Ken Burns documentary Thomas Jefferson. Three Gourd recordings were featured on Ken Burns' latest project ( a documentary on Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton) on PBS.

Customer Reviews:

Great.......2006-07-28

I received it earlier than I expected. And the music is just great. Thanks a lot.

Your choice.......2001-11-25

This music will take you anywhere you want to go and introduce you to places you never dreamed of - awesome peace. Buy at least two copies - you'll wear it out quickly & for certain will want to share it's simple beauty.

Northern Lights: Music of Contemplation for a New Age

Average customer rating:

je ne sais quoi
Great CD
Northern Lights
"It makes me think of tubular bells by Mike Oldfield"

Northern Lights: Music of Contemplation for a New Age

Manufacturer: Finlandia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Night Tracks
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The Iraq Study Group Report: The Way Forward - A New Approach
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

ASIN: B000005IFQ
Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

Northbound - Jukka Linkola
Maja - Urma Sisask
Trivium (Excerpt) - Rene Eespere
Oremus - Urma Sisask
The Forest - Jukka Linkola
Song Of The Watch - Uuno Klami
Song Without Words - Lauri Saikkola
Piece From The Year 1981 - Lepo Sumera
Dominus Vobiscum - Urmas Sisask
Insula Deserta (Excerpt) - Erkki-Sven Tuur
The Ancient Kannel (Excerpt) - Ester Magi
Adagio Religioso (Excerpt From Music For String Orchestra) - Joonas Kokkonen
Gerda And Kai - Jukka Linkola
Fantasy For Piano And Orchestra (Excerpt) - Olli Mustonen
Cantabile (Excerpt) - Peteris Vasks
Pater Noster - Urmas Sisask
Trivium (Excerpt) - Rene Eepere

Customer Reviews:

je ne sais quoi.......2005-07-02

The music on this CD is hauntingly beautiful and much of it fills me with strange and wistful longings--a sort of "happy sadness," perhaps correspondent to the German concept of Sehnsucht.

Great CD.......2002-01-10

There was only one song on this CD that I did not enjoy. All the rest were great.

Northern Lights.......2000-06-28

Better than most "New Age" offerings, thanks to the overall choices and imagery the music conjures up. Northbound is first cut and gives actual feel of travelling very fast over snow and ice. Sounds like a well-crafted soundtrack. Well worth buying when you need a beautiful, lilting symphonic head-journey-or when you just need/want to hear musicians other than U.S./British-born artists.

Some of the cuts are quite moving, some sturm und drang, and others reminiscent of the best of classical artists. One friend told me he could almost hear the ice crackling underfoot in one track, and another said he thought of the time he saw flights of geese southbound for the winter.

"It makes me think of tubular bells by Mike Oldfield".......1999-02-13

"Music composed by Sisask is classical but added with a touch of symphonical rock. It was the feast of recognising when I listend to compositions like the forest. I only hope that Sisask does not go to far into the forest of early rock and roll"

Average customer rating:

A brilliant, moody fusion of straight-ahead balladry and "nu jazz"
MAGNIFICENT ALBUM!!!!

Northern Lights
Mike Mainieri
Manufacturer: NYC (New York City)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Pilgrimage
Man Behind Bars
Modern Times
Live in Tokyo
Wanderlust

ASIN: B000J234A2
Release Date: 2006-11-21

Tracks:

Nature Boy
Poochie Pie
I've Seen It All
Vertigo
Flamenco Sketches
Naima
Dance Of Ran
Bang
Remembrance

Customer Reviews:

A brilliant, moody fusion of straight-ahead balladry and "nu jazz".......2007-03-28

This is a stunning, innovative album that deserves much more attention than it's gotten. Mainieri's sidemen here are the cream of the crop of the new generation of Scandanavian jazz players who have been influenced by electronica, including Nils-Petter Molvaer, Bugge Wesseltoft, Lars Danielsson, Jan Bang, DJ Strangefruit, and a bunch of other low-key geniuses who regularly play on one another's records. Moody standards like "Naima" and "Flamenco Sketches" fit perfectly with the reflective atmosphere of the originals. If you want to dip your toe into "nu jazz," this is a great place to start. A marvelous album for late night listening, and a taste of the future of music.

MAGNIFICENT ALBUM!!!!.......2007-03-04

This is truly magnificent!!!, once again Mike Mainieri brings up a recording that reaches all of your senses; The album evolves beautifully from beginning to end, with very high peaks on "I've Seen it all" and "Flamenco Sketches", teamed up with Norwegian sax player Bendik Hofseth(he appears on Steps Ahead-NYC)and a group of other wonderful Norwegian players, Northern Lights is simply one of the best jazz offerings of this year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Average customer rating:

He is the best.

Best of
Yoshikazu Mera
Manufacturer: Northern Lights
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00007ELBE
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Tracks:

Mononoke
Vocalise
Lascia Ch'io Pianga (Let Me Lament)
But Who May Abide...
Von Den Stricken Meiner SUnden (From The Fetters Of My Sins)
Bereite Dich, Zion... (Prepare Yourself, Zion...)
Ombra Mai Fu (Never Was ShadeO
Kdyz Mne Stara Matka Zpivat (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
Higanbana (Amaryllises)
Komoriuta (Lullaby)
Yomise No Uta (Song Of The Market Stalls)
Akatonbo (The Red Dragonfly)
Uguisu (Nightingale)
Kachuusha No Uta (Katjusha's Song)
Mizuiro No Warutsu (Light Blue Waltz)
Kage Wo Shitaite (I Long For Shadow)
Music Of The Spheres
Mononoke (Long Version)

Customer Reviews:

He is the best........2005-04-11

I borrowed this cd to hear Kdyz mne stará matka (Songs My Mother Taught Me) in Czech. I wasn't aware if the singer was a woman, a man, a boy or a girl. When I started listening, my jaw dropped. I have listened to hundreds of classical singers but I had never heard anything so beautiful! Yoshikazu became immediately my favourite singer. His countertenor voice is clear and bright; it sounds so great! I especially love the coloraturas; he makes them so easily! Yoshikazu is Japanese but sings correctly in many languages: in German, Italian, English and even in Czech. This album also made me a fan of Japanese art music though I had never before heard it. The jazz song Music of the Spheres is also beautiful though I don't think that Yoshikazu should sing very much that kind of music. He has perfect voice for classical music, especially for old music. I have heard many versions of all those traditional classical songs and arias but Yoshikazus versions are absolutely the best. I can't tell what's the best song on this cd because they're all so good! Forget the gigolo tenors and start to listen to the countertenors. They may be less handsome but they sound much better.

Average customer rating:

Traditional Newgrass

Take You to the Sky
Northern Lights
Manufacturer: Flying Fish Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000000MPO
Release Date: 1992-09-29

Tracks:

Northern Rail
Hold Watcha Got
The Roseville Fair
Early Morning Riser
Let It Roll
T For Texas
Winterhawk
Home Brew Fever
April Snow
Souvenirs
Back On My Mind Again
Bourree/Borealis Blues

Customer Reviews:

Traditional Newgrass.......2000-08-22

While the instruments may lead you to believe that they will play simple traditional bluegrass, Northern Lights delivers with a charismatic, foot stompin' melee that will knock you off your feet. The lead singer and mandolin player definately has a voice for traditional bluegrass but he does amazing things with it. I think they have a new live album with Vassar Clements coming out soon. Look for it!

Music Album:

Music Album

1. Music of New and Old Caledonia (Medley): Canadian Four-Step, Old Jed Hay, Alistair McCulloch, Tam's Hunting Horn, Mrs MacLeod, Fairy Dance, De'il Amang The Tailors
2. Farewell My Love (James Nicol)
3. The Auld Rants (Medley): Marquis of Huntley's Highland Fling, The Kilt is My Delight, Highland Whisky, Speed the Plough
4. Heroes of Longhope
5. The Hibiscus Two-Step
6. Mary Sandeman (Medley): Dumbarton's Drums, Farewell Tae Tarwathie
7. Highland Schottische: Orange & Blue, Loudon's Bonnie Woods, The Braes O'Mar, Kafoozalum, The Keel Row
8. Margaret's Waltz
9. Gardebylaten-Ganglat
10. Finnish Polka (Medley): Finnish Polka, The Headlands, Wideford Hull, Da Tushkar
11. The Northern Lights (James Nicol)
12. Swinging Reels (Medley): Jenny's Bawbee, Denise's Tune, Paddy O'Brien, Early in the Morning
13. Glee Club (Medley): Dear Old Donegal, If You're Irish, I'll be off to Tipperary in the Morning, McNamara's Band
14. Irish Jigs (Medley): Irish Washerwoman, Rakes of Kildare, Sorry to Part, The Rollicking Irishman
15. Ye Banks and Braes (Mary Sandeman & James Nicol)
16. S.F.O. Folk Symphony (Medley): Ottawa Valley Reel, Boil Them Cabbage Down, Gary Murphy's Jig, Bowing the Strings
17. The Orange Blossom Special (Douglas/White)
18. Highland Cathedral