CD Review: Celtic Fantasy by David Davidson

Celtic Fantasy. David Davidson. © 2000 Green Hill Productions. Celtic. Music CD. 14 tracks. 53:28 minutes.

From Back Cover: "The Irish peasants, left to fend for themselves in a world dominated by a corrupted church, oppressive landlords and an absence of local government and medicine, turned to their own imagination to understand the world around them. From haunting ballads to spry dances, this music was inspired by their legends, their lore, and their fantasies."

Track Listing
1. Farmer's Hand Intro
2. Fairy Dance
3. Summer Skye
4. Brighid's Blessing
5. Mo Cairenn
6. Farmer's Hand (instrumental version)
7. The Fianna Battle Song
8. The Knowing Tree
9. The Garden
10. Myst on the Glen
11. Mother Sun
12. Fantasy and Dance
13. Fields of the Heart
14. Farmer's Hand (vocal version)

The majority of these songs are written by Mr. Davidson himself (whom is an excellent fiddle player). Some tracks, like Summer Skye, do have a more modern Celtic-jazz sound to them but they still capture the splendor of the Celtic world. Brighid's Blessing is very reminiscent of Longing by Phil Coulter and is extremely moving, but my personal favorite is The Fianna Battle Song. I can literally see bands of warriors while listening. Fionn Mac Cumhaill comes alive when I hear the harmony play.

Mr. Davidson has definitely proved himself to be a modern Bard and keeper of the old Celtic custom of storytelling. This album evokes feelings of home as you listen to their melodic tale and should be in the collection of every Celtic music lover.