Celtic Legends

1	Riverdance / Phil Coulter 3:50
2	Harry's Game / Phil Coulter 3:28
3	Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms/Molly St. / Phil Coulter 4:29
4	Mna Na Heireann (Women of Ireland) / Phil Coulter 4:42
5	The Battle of Kinsale (The Valley of Tears) / Phil Coulter 3:21
6	The Thornbirds / Phil Coulter 3:42
7	Lannigan's Ball/The Kerry Dances / Phil Coulter 2:40
8	Danny Boy / Phil Coulter 3:40
9	Music for a Found Harmonium / Phil Coulter 3:05
10	Lament for the Wild Geese / Phil Coulter 3:15
11	My Lagan Love / Phil Coulter 5:03
12	Ashokan Farewell / Phil Coulter 3:57
13	An Cail N Fionn (Natasha) / Phil Coulter 3:27
14	Hoedown / Phil Coulter 3:05

Barnes & Noble

Two legends of Irish music -- flutist James Galway and pianist/composer Phil Coulter -- tap into traditional tunes and modern classics alike with lively and lyrical flair. Bill Whelan's "Riverdance" theme starts the album with just a wisp of flute waking over the mists, but when the jig begins, all manner of instruments jump into the fray: string orchestra, Coulter's piano, guitars, bass, and then the pounding drums, low whistle, and jaunty uilleann pipes. Another modern classic is the tragic-toned "Harry's Game," written by Clannad's Paul Brennan and made famous in the movie Patriot Games. A labored heartbeat sets the pace on the drum, and the uilleann pipes and the men's voices from the Celtic Voices of Trinity create an anguished atmosphere. Lightening the album are brighter treatments of traditional tunes, such as "Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms" and the dance medley "Lannigan's Ball/The Kerry Dances," featuring Frank Gallagher on fiddle. Coulter and Galway craft a sublime performance of "Danny Boy" and a touching rendition of Coulter's own "The Battle of Kinsale," memorializing the final defeat of the Irish chieftains by the English in 1601. Everyone gets a turn to let loose on the raucous "Music for a Found Harmonium," a delightful tumble of flutes, bones, bodhran, fiddle, tin whistle, and piano. Celtic Legends unfolds in lovely layers of sentiment, heroism, tragedy, love, loss, and celebration. In short, Irish through and through. Carol Wright

All Music Guide

Celtic Legends is an entertaining collection of 14 favorite traditional and contemporary Celtic tunes. All of the selections are newly recorded, and Galway's lilting, lush flute stylings sound as good as ever, which means, naturally, that this is worthwhile for any fan of his. Rodney Batdorf