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Tarfumes.com - White Stones
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List Price: $16.98
Our Price: $14.99
Your Save: $ 1.99 ( 12% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Philips
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0731453460522
Label: Philips
Manufacturer: Philips
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Philips
Release Date: 1997-04-15
Studio: Philips
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Editorial Reviews:
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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
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Masterful CD
Comment: Simply put, this may be the best 'new age' CD ever recorded. This is their magnum opus, and contains the most beautiful piece of music ever recorded in my opinion, the hauntingly splendid and emotional Hymn to Hope. No matter how many times I hear this song, it touches me deeply. The entire CD is wonderful, highly recommended for anyone who simply desires for music to take them to another place, a much higher place.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Can't Turn it Off!
Comment: I first heard Secret Garden on "Hearts of Space" when they played their annual 9/11 tribute program, which included "Hymn to Hope". That was all I needed to hear. I knew I had to buy the White Stones cd. It's amazing....the more I play it, the more I want to hear each song. Fionnuala's violin is hypnotic. My favorite cuts are "Poeme", "Reflection", "Appassionata", "Sanctuary", "Illumination", and of course, "Hymn to Hope". Actually, all the rest are good as well. It's rapidly becoming my favorite cd. Can't wait to get the other Secret Garden discs, and I'd love to see the Dvd special.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best possible Secret Garden playlist/CD
Comment: Rather than reviewing any single album, I'd rather learn/know which 2 or 3 CD's of a group I should buy, to compile the best possible collection in a playlist or CD. For Secret Garden, the answer is clear: Dawn of a New Century, and White Stones.
From DONC, I included Prayer, Drremcatcher, Moongate, Sona, Evensong (a version I custom-edited, using the Audacity software), In Our Tears, Aquarell, and Aria, in that order. I followed that with, from the WS album, Hymn to Hope, First Day of Spring, Passacaglia, Sanctuary, Home, Illumination, and Celebration.
The combination is one of the finest CD's/playlist I have ever found, heard, or created. It's the perfect romantic gift. My wife and I both love it, and friends we've shared it with also love it. It's absolutely perfect for making dinner together (or with the kids), listening to while working, a hot tub session, and bedtime. I simply can't praise it more highly than that. But you'll need both albums ...
Customer Rating:
Summary: White Stone -soup for the soul
Comment: I highly reccommend this. Most enjoyable during my hectic day working excel spread sheets. Good focus tool. Enjoy it.VBS
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Pleasant, romantic music for the soul
Comment: 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.
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