Most of my tunes are inspired by memories of my past life in Ireland. But if you don't believe in reincarnation, you are free to take it all as imagination. Anyway, some of the tunes are just Celtic and not specifically based on my past life.
Elizabeth's Eyes
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This song is inspired in the eyes of the beautiful woman I married in a previous incarnation. It was one of the few persons I recall that had “love in her eyes”. But beyond her eyes, this tune is based on her inner beauty.
Instruments used:
Celtic Harp solo.
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Elizabeth, by Ana María Gregorio.
Click to see the whole painting.
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Jig of the Working Gnomes
Illustration of a Leprechaun, by Jean-noël Lafargue.
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It's well known that Irish folklore includes gnomes and fairies. While
listening at this theme imagine forest gnomes working and dancing,
sometimes closely watched by the gnome king.
Instruments used:
Harpsichord solo.
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Missing Ireland
This theme expresses the homesickness of an emigrant. Since I believe I lived in a past life in Ireland, I've also felt that nostalgia, even though that wasn't my only incarnation. I just look at Ireland's landscapes and I feel that's “home”.
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Although sad, this tune contains the strength of the
hopes of returning someday and the message that although we're
physically very far, the land one loves still remains after all, in our
memory and heart.
Instruments used:
Trumpets, Trombones, French Horns, Bassoon, Cello, Clarinets,
Concert Harp, Fiddles, Flute, Oboes, Penny Whistle, Orchestral
Percussion, Piccolos and Strings.
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Rainbow in County Wicklow, Ireland by Jason Sturner.
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Click here to watch a video with a full low quality version of this theme on a slideshow of Irish landscapes.
Exploring the Forest
Irish deer park.
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As the title says it, this theme transmits the feeling of walking
through a beautiful, ancient and mysterious Irish forest. Who knows
what you can find in it?
Instruments used:
Bodhran, Fiddle, First Violins, Celtic Harp, Low whistle, Penny
whistle, Tambourine and Uillean Pipe.
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Consoling Sunrise
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Did you ever feel sad for the terminal illness of a loved one and
found out Nature's landscapes comfort you? This theme is inspired in
one of the scenes I remember of my previous incarnation.
Instruments used:
Cello, Fiddle, Grand Piano, Penny Whistle, Piccolo, Pizzicato
Strings and Strings.
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Sunrise over the Irish Sea from Newcastle, Co. Wicklow by Matt and Kim Rudge.
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Dance of the Bonfire
This theme actually occurred to me while I was in the cinema
watching the scene of Dancing with Wolves where John Dunbar was
dancing around the fire.
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Maybe you remember that scene had music; but it made me think of a totally different tune inspired in a bonfire
and primitive people dancing around it in a different place. I
imagined if that scene happened in Ireland with members of an ancient
Celtic tribe dancing around the fire. There's actually a Celtic
celebration, Beltane, where people dance and light bonfires.
Imagine the oldest man of the tribe represented by the accordion parts, dancing around the bonfire. And the strongest guy of the tribe, maybe the best warrior, appearing in the fiddle parts, showing off.
Instruments used:
BB Accordion, Three Fiddles, Penny Whistle, Percussion, Recorder, Steel Guitar and Strings.
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Brave and Jolly Warriors
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This theme was inspired at the beginning in the fight of the Irish
for their freedom from British occupation. But it's also a comparison between war and peace.
It could also be a tune based on the clash between Romans (the march) and Celts (the middle dance part).
Instruments used:
Fifes, French Horns, Glockenspiel, Celtic Harp, Grand Piano,
Percussion, Strings, Timpani, Trombones, Trumpets and Tuba.
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Strolling on the Beach
Beach at the Dingle peninsula.
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This song is inspired by the beaches of the Emerald Isle, but also in memory of that girl I loved. Both were walking along the sea at the foot of a cliff. She was upset with me for some reason and I followed her, trying to calm her.
Regardless of those memories, this tune makes me think sometimes of a little girl playing on the beach.
Instruments used:
Flute, Celtic Harp, Oboe and Piccolo.
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The Knight Returns to his Castle
I've listened at classical and baroque music a lot during my childhood. This theme really occurred to me when I was eight years old, while playing my recorder. At the time my dad jokingly told me I had created an Irish tune. But in the end it was no joke. As I lived in a castle in my previous incarnation in 19th century Ireland, this theme is very well related with the memory of the times when I came back home.
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Although I wasn't a medieval knight, but a 19th century musician, at that time and place, stories with knights were common (e.g. Arthurian ones).
So while listening at this tune, imagine a medieval knight coming home riding his horse while being greeted by the people.
Instruments used:
French Horns, Harpsichord, Percussion, Piccolos, Strings, Timpani
and Trumpets.
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Malahide Castle, similar to the one I remember.
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Sweet Love of Mine
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This theme is inspired in Elizabeth's sweet personality and her story.
Instruments used:
Celtic Harp solo.
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Jig of the Juggler
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In the old days people didn't have as much entertainment options
as now. This tune is dedicated to those jugglers and tumblers of ancient times
that animated all people when they entered a city or hamlet.
Instruments used:
Bodhrán, Celtic Harp and Penny Whistle.
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The Clan Tynker, photograph by Alaskan Dude.
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Sailing at the Lake
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Inspired in the beautiful lakes of Ireland.
Instruments used:
Clarinet, Flutes, Gothic Harp, Oboes, Piccolo and Strings.
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Wedding Waltz
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Inspired in the happy day of my marriage with Elizabeth.
Instruments used:
1st. and 2nd. Violins, Accordion, Banjo, Bass Pizzicato, Two
Fiddles, Celtic Harp, Penny Whistle.
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Watching the Snow Fall
Castlewellan forest park by Ryan McDonald.
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Ireland has its snowfalls sometimes and this tune is inspired in
the look and feel of Ireland in winter. Quiet, cold, tough, but so
beautiful!
Instruments used:
French Horns, Flutes, Celtic Harp, Strings, Piccolo, Oboe,
Clarinets.
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Recording
Memories of Ireland has been recorded entirely in the digital domain, by using Harmony Assistant, VSTHost, FreeverbToo and G-Player (links open in a new window).
Sample libraries used
- Advanced Orchestra by Peter Siedlaczek.
- Big Fish Celtic Instruments.
- Giga Harp by Garritan.
- Hans Zimmer Guitars Vol II.
- Kontakt 2 Instruments Library.
- Steinway Grand Piano sampled by the University of Iowa.
- Westgate Modular Flutes.
- World Traveler by Sonic Reality.
- Other free sampled instruments I found on the web, including a wonderful Celtic Harp by Jason Sommerlad.
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