Ancient Land is the twelfth studio album and eleventh home video release by the group Celtic Woman.
Background The album was recorded at Real World Studios, Herbert Place Studios, Beechpark Studios, and Jam Studios in London, United Kingdom in July 2018. The digital album was released on 28 September 2018 and the CD was released on 26 October 2018, with a digital deluxe edition following on 6 September 2019.Celtic Woman Limited, Liner Notes, Celtic Woman: Ancient Land. Manhattan Records. 2018. CD.
The album is produced, arranged, and orchestrated by Gavin Murphy and includes a mixture of traditional Irish songs and contemporary arrangements. The lead performers are vocalists Mairéad Carlin, Éabha McMahon, and Megan Walsh as well as instrumentalist Tara McNeill. Ancient Land was Walsh's studio debut and live debut with the group.
An accompanying concert special of the same title was recorded live outside of Johnstown Castle in County Wexford, Ireland on 13 and 14 September 2018 in front of an invited audience. It was the group's first outdoor special since Songs from the Heart was recorded nine years prior. The special began airing on PBS in November 2018, and was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 25 January 2019.
Both the album and concert special were both dedicated to Dave Kavanagh, one of the founders of Celtic Woman, who died on 6 April 2018, and was, according to the group, "our founder, our leader, our guiding light. Sé mo laoch mo ghile mear."
Track listing
Notes Tracks 17 and 18 were not available on the digital album, only on the physical CD and digital deluxe edition. Tracks 1, 4, 6, 15, 17 and 18 were original tracks written by Gavin Murphy. Tracks 4 and 18 were co-written by Méav Ní Mhaolchatha. Track 14 was written by Éabha McMahon and Ciarán Byrne. Track 15 was co-written by Johnny B. Broderick.
Personnel Per the liner notes:
Celtic Woman
Mairéad Carlin – vocals Éabha McMahon – vocals, tin whistle Tara McNeill – fiddle, harp Megan Walsh – vocals Musicians
Bill Shanley – guitars James Blennerhassett – bass guitar, double bass Paul Clarvis – drums, percussion Noel Eccles – percussion Liam Bradley – drums Alex Vann – mandolin bouzouki John O'Brien – uilleann pipes, whistles Darragh Murphy – uilleann pipes, whistles Cormac DeBarra – Irish harp Peter Browne – accordion Declan Aungier – accordion Anthony Byrne – bagpipes Glenn Murphy – background vocals Ronan Scolard – background vocals Simon Morgan – background vocals Paul McGough – background vocals Daryn Crosbie – tap dancer Alan McGrath – tap dancer Gerald Peregrine – solo cello Gavin Murphy – piano, keyboards, programming, string arrangements
The Orchestra of Ireland
Joe Csibi – orchestra contractor Ken Rice – leader Lynda O'Connor – violin Lydia J. Clarke – violin Anita Vedres – violin Cillian Brackin – violin Sylvia Roberts – violin Jane Hackett – violin Emily Thyne – violin Aoife Durnin – violin Aoife Dowdall – violin Paul O'Hanlon – violin Rachel Grimes – violin Leanne Melchoir – viola Adele Johnson – viola Karen Dervan – viola Carla Vedres – viola Anthony Mulholland – viola Gerald Peregrine – cello Martin Johnson – cello Una Ni Chanainn – cello Jane Huges – cello Anna Marcossi – cello
Charts Chart (2018–19) Peak position
References