VA - Celtic Odyssey (1993)

Of all the Celtic compilation CDs I own, this has been my favorite over the years(with some very strong competition). "Chuaigh Me 'Na Rosann" is a gorgeous rendition of a tune which I've always found haunting. But it's the final "Strathgarry" that sometimes moves me to tears with its beauty: a combination of slow lyricism, melancholy and echoes of heroism(those faint drumbeats), which, on a recent hearing, reminded me strongly of the track "The Breaking of the Fellowship" in Howard Shore's score to "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring." At any rate, both touch some deep chord in me, a mingling of beauty and sadness, that is at the heart of most Celtic music - though joy and hope are there as well.

Tracklist:

01. Northern Lights - Carolan's Ramble To Cashel
02. Orison - The Butterfly
03. Altan - Donal Agus Morag/The New-Rigged Ship
04. Alasdair Fraser and Paul Machlis - Calliope House/The Cowboy Jig
05. Scartaglen - Chuaigh Me 'Na Rosann
06. John Whelan and Eileen Ivers - Trip To Skye
07. Alasdair Fraser - Are Ye Sleeping, Maggie?
08. Moving Hearts - Tribute To Peadar O'Donnell
09. Relativity - Siun Ni Dhuibher
10. Capercaillie - Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda
11. Sileas - Puirt A Beul
12. Gerald Trimble - The York Reel/Dancing Feet
13. Laurie Riley and Bob Mc Nally - Morgan Meaghan (Edit)
14. Simon Wynberg - Strathgarry