Loreena McKennitt
Howdy-hi, folks! Another weekend bites the dust. It’s time to get into the work week groove with the help of some Monday’s Mewsic Moves Me. This week it’s your choice song picks. I’m pulling out another artist discovery from my YouTube music video stash. I came across Loreena McKennitt a few years ago while looking for unusual instruments played in songs. The video I stumbled on wasn’t so much as unusual as it was interesting. She was playing an accordion in the live version of The Mummers’ Dance (#2) on my playlist. I borrowed The Book of Secrets playlist from Loreena’s YT channel to share with you this morning. I hope you enjoy the beautiful Celtic and Middle Eastern music melodies and her enchanting soprano voice.
Song tracks: 1. Prologue 2. The Mummers’ Dance 3. Skelig 4. Marco Polo 5. The Highway Man 6. La Serenissima 7. Night Ride Across the Caucasus 8. Dante’s Prayer
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This month’s honorary co-hostess is Alana from Ramblin with AM
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This is a mewsic linky party. Every other week we have a suggested mewsic theme (see side menu) to build your song set around and all participants share YouTube or Vimeo videos for our mewsic enthusiasts. Failure to meet this basic guideline puts your URL in danger of being removed or labeled – NO MUSIC.
That’s a wrap for now, but I’ll be back for Thursday Art Date with Rain and if you’re in Blogosphere, I hope you’ll check out my August art sketch collection prompted by the weekly themes. Have a boogietastic week! X💋X💋, Cathy
23 Comments
Nicole/DVArtist
Oh yes I hear Enya as well. That kitty is just too cute.
Michael Todd
When I wrote my sonnet, “Distant Bell Tower,” Loreena McKennitt’s “Bonny Portmore” was playing in the background.
When I wrote my poem, “The Greatest Story,” Loreena McKennitt’s “The Emigrant Tunes” was playing in the background.
When I wrote “My Eulogy,” Loreena McKennitt’s “Dante’s Prayer” was playing in the background.
Those were all defining pieces in my collective… Count me as a fan, of both Loreena and Caroline LaVelle, her cello player.
Cathy Kennedy
Michael,
Thanks for sharing how Loreena’s music inspired you to put pen to paper to compose a sonnet, poem, and eulogy. I found her style a refreshing change from the usual earworms that embed themselves into my subconscious for days on end. I’m always eager to make interesting music discoveries. What surprised me is there are more people who knew about her, like you. It just goes to show I have a lot of growing to do when it comes to music.
John Holton
Great music. She reminds me a lot of Enya, and I like how she mixes in some Indian and Middle Eastern music as well.
Cathy Kennedy
John,
Yeah, I see Enya a little Loreena and like you, I like how she entwines the music cultures into our style.
-Eugi ☕️
Beautiful music, Cathy, and I love the storm quote! Have a great week ahead! 🥰
Cathy Kennedy
Eugi,
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed your visit, my friend. 😉
messymimi's meanderings
Every cat is a lion at heart. Wonderful spark and thanks for the music!
Cathy Kennedy
Mimi,
Oh yeah, I think you’re right. When I see cubs playing, you can see many of the same characteristics in kittens so it’s not hard to imagine domestic cats daydreaming about one day being king of the suburban or countryside jungle. 🙂
Brian
Love the mini-lion and the good tune too!
Cathy Kennedy
Brian,
I bet there’s a lion inside you, right? Thanks for stopping by, furriend!
Rain Frances
Hi Cathy! 🙂 I love that storm quote!! The cat gif is really cute! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods! 🙂
Cathy Kennedy
Rain,
All is well here. We were untouched by the heavy rains that produced some flooding in middle Tennessee. It’s a beautiful sunny day here and quite warm. I’m ready for things to begin cooling down but that won’t be anytime soon. Thanks for stopping in today!
Birgit
The pussy cat is adorable and I could just hug and hug her. I love the saying! I love Loreena McKennitt and have this CD. She has a beautiful voice..I actually have 2 CDs of hers. I know the Mummer’s song was in the film “Ever After” with Drew Barrymore.
Cathy Kennedy
Birgit,
Oh that’s cool, you already know Loreena’s music style. How interesting that you mentioned that “Mummer’s Song” was used in a movie. Tom said earlier that he could see her stuff being used in movies. Thanks for sharing that tid-bit and for visiting today, my dear. 😉
Alana Mautone (@RamblinGarden)
The cub with a mane, I’m assuming, is a manipulated gif – I don’t think they grow out until the cub is a year or two old, but I could be wrong. This is an interesting musical collection. I really enjoyed “Marco Polo” with its strong middle eastern vibe.
Cathy Kennedy
Alana,
I think this is just a domestic cat someone has put a mane on. It’s so funny that I couldn’t resist sharing it. “Marco Polo” does have a strong middle east vibe. It makes me think of the Indiana Jones movies a bit. I wouldn’t mind watching that film series again. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by to dance with me, darlin’!
Sandee
Awww on the kitty. So cute. Won’t be on for long though.
Love the video. Such haunting music. Beautiful.
Love the quote. So very true.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. Love and hugs. ♥
Cathy Kennedy
Sandee,
I couldn’t resist sharing the wanna be lion kitty. 🙂 The mighty warrior probably needs to rest after his big kill. lol Thanks for swinging by to boogie with me,darlin’!
DrillerAA
Unique and lovely playlist. One could find a recliner, close their eyes and be swept into all sorts of exotic places. There is just a hint of The Moody Blues going on here that I find really appealing. Well done. Have a blessed week.
Cathy Kennedy
I’m glad you enjoyed the Loreena’s music style and playlist, Driller. Thanks for popping in to join the 4M crew on the dance floor, my friend. I’m heading over to see what’s spinning on your record player!
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
Happy paw-some 4M Monday to you, dear friend I hope you and DH had a nice weekend.
I wanna smooch that awww-some little kitty who has turned into a ferocious lion!
Canadian singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Loreena McKennitt is a wonderful mewsical discovery, Cathy! I read that she’s been active since the mid 80s and I’m surprised I never heard of her. These tracks from her Book of Secrets are mystical, magical and filled with grandeur. What a beautiful voice Loreena has – the kind you and I both react favorably to. Here is my stream-of-consciousness experience of her songs: Loreena’s clear, soft, yet strong vocals have a soothing and calming effect, but certain songs convey wistful sadness and even apprehension. For example, on “Prologue,” the gentle sound of the tympani or bass drum near the bottom of the mix reminds me of the beating of a heart, signaling anxiety and potential danger. Throughout the song set, the flute and other wind instruments along with the cello, violin and other string instruments combine with percussion and Loreena’s fluent voice to glorious effect. My conclusion is that these exotic Celtic and Middle Eastern songs would be very effective in a movie soundtrack. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them and appreciate this palate-cleansing departure from ordinary pop and rock fare. It’s encouraging to find an artist like Loreena McKennitt who breaks away from the pack, does her own thing and does it extraordinarily well. I could listen to Book of Secrets all day long and never grow tired of the sound. Thanks for the introduction!
F.Y.I. – I pubbed a new post this morning. Since email notifications have been disabled by Blogger, I decided that, from now on, instead of poking you here at CAAC, I will send you a courtesy email giving you a heads-up whenever a new post starts running at Shady’s Place. Does that sound okay to you? Thanks for the Monday morning wake-up mewsic and smiles. Have a wonderful week, dear friend Cathy!
Cathy Kennedy
Tom,
You do such a wonderful job analyzing an artist. Loreena’s music would work beautifully in movies. It is nice to hear someone who isn’t the same ole same ole in. It’s refreshing to clear the palate as you put it with this style of music artistry. I’m glad you enjoyed my discovery. You’re welcome to shoot an email or drop a comment when you post publish. When I came by yesterday, I remember Blogger dropping their email notification. There’s probably another plugin to use for such things but I’m out of the loop where Blogger goes. I still have a Blogger site but haven’t published anything there in months. Thanks for joining me this morning, my friend. I’ll hop over to see you in a few. Have a good day!