Hollie Smith
Isla St. Clair
Kate Price
Laura Powers
Lydia McCauley
Maggie MacInnes
Maireid Sullivan
Mary Jane Lamond
Rita Connolly<
Susan McKeown
Take me back to hrmusic.com
Kirsten Easdale
Kirsten Easdale, a member of Scottish traditional band Calasaig, brings to us
her expressions of faith in Be Not Afraid, a collection of songs from various
composers (including herself). Almost all tracks on the CD are arranged by Kirsten
and her husband, Keith. Keith Easdale, also of Calasaig, as well as the Scottish
Fiddle Orchestra's principal piper, appears on the CD playing a host of instruments.
Other than the omnipresent guitar of Rod Morison and Kirsten's own viola, Keith
plays most instruments on the album, including mandocello, keyboards, bodhran,
whistles, and pipes--uillean, highland, and small.
Kirsten has remarked that most music played in Scottish churches tends to be from the Victorian era, with organ accompaniment or none at all. If the recordings appearing in U.S. markets are any indication, the relationship between traditional Celtic music and Christianity in Scotland could be characterized as an occasional flirtation, as opposed to the marriage of styles that is more frequently found in Ireland. It is in this environment that Easdale set out to create a recording that is truly "Celtic Christian". In her own words, Be Not Afraid contains songs that "have never been sung or played by anyone who is (or ever would be) recognised as being a traditional music artist. So it's important to me (and my musical integrity) that the album is recognised not just as a Christian album but as a traditional one too." In style, the album is predominantly acoustic, with keyboard accompaniment being subtle. Though there is some percussion on the album, it is rare; this, combined with Kirsten's warm and smooth voice, give the entire album a flowing character that beckons the listener to meditate upon the encouraging and inspirational lyrics. --Cory C. Engel, CelticChristianTunes.com |
|||
|
|||
|
|
