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I think someone once said that music is the medicine for the soul. Of course that all depends upon what your definition is of music. Music may stir up, soothe, clam or give peace. Music has long been used to give emphasis to motion pictures and events.
The other day was one of those days. You know, the kind that for every step forward you go two back! When deadlines press to the limit and in all that your computer locks up for the third time in an hour. In the midst of all that the phone rings off the wall.
Then I received Ronan Hardiman's - ANTHEM CD. When I placed it into my CD Player the magic began! From the beginning the music worked wonders and provided that medicine. Here is a masterpiece that will become a classic. ANTHEM is one of those CDs that will carry the listener across the surf, up meadows of wild flowers in the high peaks and into the clouds.
From the news, Ronan Hardiman, the acclaimed composer from the worldwide Irish dance and music sensations, Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames, returns to the music scene with his second solo album, ANTHEM. A combination of pop, classical and Celtic sounds, ANTHEM. radiates the rhythmic and mystical spirit of Hardiman's work.
ANTHEM, defined as "a joyful song of praise," was conceived after the extraordinary success Hardiman experienced from his solo debut SOLAS (March '98 release). His signature hypnotic melodies from SOLAS were expanded upon to create the similarly beautiful and passionate music heard on ANTHEM. The album contains classic Hardiman on "Run Away" (a successor to "Love Song" from SOLAS) and the title track "ANTHEM."
TRACK LISTING:
1. Anthem
2. That Place In Your Heart
3. Run Away
4. Ready For Life
5. Salve
6. Never
7. Worlds Apart
8. Ancient Lands
9. Where Are You Now
10. Heaven (Waiting There For Me)
Editorial Reviews
From Amazon.com
Ronan Hardiman first gained renown as the composer for Michael
Flatley's Irish dance extravaganzas, Lord of the Dance and Feet of
Flames. On Anthem, his second solo release, he moves away from the
relentlessly rhythmic music of his Flatley collaborations, in favor
of a looser, more atmospheric style of composing and performing.
Hardiman's sweeping synthesizer tones on tracks such as "Ready for
Life" recall the ethereal music of Enya while his use of Latin
chants on "Salve" sound like a less spooky version of Enigma.
Hardiman has a gift for writing great hooks, which give songs like
"That Place in Your Heart" and "Heaven (Waiting for Me There)" an
unexpected, but enjoyable pop sheen. The songs on Anthem are not
explicitly Irish, but Hardiman's strong melodic sense and mystical
leanings imbue them with an irresistible Celtic character. --Michael
Simmons |
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Composer Ronan Hardiman talks about his score for
the new stage Spectacular starring Michael Flatley
September 27th saw the release in the U.S. of the amazing soundtrack
to Michael Flatleys stunning new stage blockbuster 'Celtic
Tiger',composed by Ronan Hardiman.The release coincides with the
world premiere of 'Celtic Tiger' with a sell out show in New Yorks'
legendary Madison Square Gardens.
Celtic Tiger has been described as a highly charged innovative show
with breathtaking special effects making it not quite a stage show
and not quite a film but uniquely somewhere in between.
"This score posed an enormous creative challenge" says composer
Ronan Hardiman." Having had the privilege to be involved in two
world entertainment phenomenon with Michael Flatley (Lord Of The
Dance and 'Feet Of Flames') how on earth was I going to able to do
something new for a third, were my initial thoughts" "As usual,when
Michael and I began a series of creative meetings to discuss this
project, he fired up my imagination with his vision for the
production. Where Lord Of The Dance had more in common with an Arena
type Rock production than a Theatrical presentation, 'Celtic Tiger'
was going to look and feel more like a Blockbuster movie was
intrigued. I suddenly began thinking about the possibility of an
enormous Orchestral and Choral approach to the score. Celtic Tiger
tells the story of the oppression of the Irish people down through
the ages, and the Tiger symbolizes the awakening of their spirit and
their struggle for freedom-so there was plenty of tremendous
dramatic content to deal with musically."
The end result is a sweeping epic dramatic work that ranks as one of
the best scores ever to accompany a Stage Show or Movie.All of
Hardimans trademarks are evident-beautiful melodies, exquisite
arrangements and the usual passion and energy-but what is most
striking is the incredible diversity of styles in which Hardiman
seems to effortlessly switch between.
"That was the most exciting part of this project, the variety of
themes that were going to be dealt with dramatically. The first half
of the show re-enacts various landmark Irish historical events such
as 'The Famine' sequence and ‘The Vikings' sequence.The second half
is more contemporary thematically, and is a celebration of the
emigrant Irish population in America-the diverse cultural influences
to which they were exposed,and the influence they themselves had. 'A
New World' is a good example-it's a six minute sequence which
changes style every 40 or so. The music had to seamlessly switch
from Latino, to Jazz to Hip Hop to Flamenco-even Ballet is included!
I remember quite a few very late nights and early mornings working
on that particular sequence.
TRACK LISTING:
1) St Patrick (Angelus) 3.08
2) The Vikings 4.31
3) The garden Of Eden 6.13
4) The Redcoats 3.50
5) The Famine 2.51
6) The banshee/A nation Once Again 4.13
7) Freedom 6.33
8) A New World 6.42
9) The Last Rose 3.49
10) Celtic Kittens 4.01
11) Capone 3.56
12) The Celtic Tiger 3.43
To see video clip from the show visit
www.CelticTigerLive.com |
