Secret Garden

Unfortunately I haven`t received the CD.It is the second time you try to send it to me and I don`t get it. It is paid you have my money from American Express but I don`t have any product.
What`s happening in your organization...???
I want my CD NOW. Maria

I have fibromyalgia and use audio-visual biofeedback for pain management. This is absolutely beautiful in its own right, but it also works well for my biofeedback. I am so thankful for having found this group and their music!

I have listened this musician several times. Then i decided to have this album. In my opinion, these songs have their own pleasure completely. So this is an effective experince to listen them.

Song from a Secret Garden is SO haunting! A few months ago I had it going through my head, but could not remember who performed it until I remembered TONIGHT! Then I had to turn the house upside down to find the CD! FOUND it! This group is so mesmerizing.

I bought this cd because my yoga teacher uses the piece entitled "Pastorate" for when we do the 1/2 Sun salute; it is such a peaceful piece of music, uplifting and kind. In fact, I play the cd each morning and evening: morning, to wake up gently; evening, to go to back to sleep peacefully.

I LOVE all the songs on here, except one where someone guy is singin - it just does not fit with he rest - otherwise, the CD is full of variety, not every song sounds the same! Good Stuff...

Potential buyer should, like so many had said, get the imported version that has "Silence Speaks". In my opinion, "Silence Speaks" and "Searching For The Past" are two of the most beautiful song tracks on this CD (they balance each other well too - being one heavy on violin and the other on keyboard).

Overall, I found this to be a great music CD. Tracks are well balanced between Secret Garden's signature melodies and other, for lack of words, new age styles/fusion(i.e. Celtic). I do wish their future releases include more of their signature melodies though.

If you're new to Secret Garden, you'll discover the depths of sensitive creators. If you're not, you won't be disappointed!!! Their sound gets even better with the passing of time!!!

I am a long-time fan of Secret Garden and eagerly awaited the release of this CD. After reading the reviews, though, I was hesitant to spend the money. I just received this CD and I'm sorry I put off buying it for so long. Yes, the music is different from their previous releases, but it shows their growth and willingness to try different things. If you listen to all their albums in order, Earthsongs provides a refreshing change, and you will hear how they have grown over the years. Whether they continue to explore and evolve on the path they have started with Earthsongs, or go back to their previous sound, I will still buy and continue to be a fan. I will always love their music!! (I gave this CD 4 stars because White Stones and Once in a Red Moon are still my favorites)

How can anyone go wrong with Secret Garden? If their music resonates with your soul - this CD continues a legacy and musical tradition. Sleepsong is wonderful (near perfect) and contains the spiritual messages that resonate with my soul which makes Secret Garden truly special.

This is a very special album; I feel the song "Prayer" very deep inside my heart. It is really prayer with great sound and outstanding performance.

During the summer of 2001, I rented a palm-covered, hillside palapa in a still-primitive Huatulco, Mexico. I was escaping years of teaching high school, and my only son's drug addiction. I listened to Dreamcatcher over and over while watching/hearing the Pacific surf crashing down below. Magical!! I must recommend this CD for anyone needing to "sit" with their emotions. This music speaks to, and recenters my spirit, to those things I can control. Just gorgeous!

I am a newcommer to Secret Garden with Dreamcatcher as my first purchase. When I previewed this CD online here on Amazon.com I was enchanted to its melodies and enjoyed several different influences this collection offered. I try not to over analyze as music can mean and feel differently to different souls based on life's trials and experiences. I will just encourage if you enjoy a more spiritually uplifting music than many of today's desensitised offerings please preview this collection here and decide for yourself. I give this collection a high recommendation.

I first heard Secret Garden over ten years ago when they won the Eurovision Song Contest with the hauntingly beautiful 'Nocturne'. This is the loveliest composition that has ever been entered for this competition and it is also the first in this collection.
Secret Garden is the name of the duo which comprises the beautiful Fionnuala Sherry (who is an accomplished violinist) and the Norwegian Rolf Lovland who plays keyboards and composes. Fionnuala, as her name indicates, is Irish and this accounts for the Celtic sound and quality of the music. The songs are accompanied by some of the most talented musicians. While the sound is sometimes reminiscent of Enya or even the music that accompanies the Riverdance dancing troup, their sound is distinct. The music is a unique blend of melodic classical music with elements of Irish. At times there is a sound that almost appraoches the highest quality gospel music (and I mean this in a positive way). Thus there is a great variety of instrumentation; one can hear both the Irish National Symphony Orchestra (or on some tracks the RTE Concert Orchestra)yet also traditional Irish instruments like the bodhran (a kind of Irish tambourine/drum) and the Uilleann pipes (the charactersitic beautiful and mournful instrument heard on the title song of the film 'Titanic'). Though there is indeed a strong Irish/Celtic flavour, the melodies are something special and the sound is not raw or traditional.Fionnuala's style is her own combination of classical violin with Irish fiddle-playing. The way she plays is so moving and her timing is perfect.
I enjoyed all the pieces tremendously, yet like everyone else, I have my personal favourites. I love Nocturne (with the beautiful voice of Gunnhild Tvinnereim), this time sung in English -whereas the original performance in the Eurovision Song Contest was in Norwegian. The soft lullaby melody is similar to some of the songs sung by Sissel (who like Rolf also comes from Norway). Fionnuala perhaps has a different quality of voice but she also sings so sweetly on several tracks. I particularly liked 'Song From a Secret Garden', which will be immediately recongisable to most listeners. However, my favourite song is 'Sona' (Irish for 'happiness'). This beautifully constructed melody is sung in a gentle hush by Fionnuala with a soft chorus of male voices in the mystic Irish tongue. Although I bought this album mainly for 'Nocturne', it was this song, (i.e. 'Sona') that has stayed in my mind.
Alluding to the origin of the group's name, Rolf says wisely that he would not want to confine the music by placing it in any particular category. The dream one experiences is unique to the listener :"The idea of a 'secret garden' is that everyone has their own".

Secret Garden's Dreamcatcher weaves an ethereal pageant of wonder and joy. My initial thought was "It sounds like a movie soundtrack of some mysterious delightful romance." Liner notes say "People tell us that our music is 'visual' and 'evocative' It has been suggested it music to a film yet to be seen." Imagine that!
If you like Celtic music, you will love Secret Garden.

Simply put, this may be the best 'new age' CD ever recorded. This is their magnum opus, and contains the most beautiful piece of music ever recorded in my opinion, the hauntingly splendid and emotional Hymn to Hope. No matter how many times I hear this song, it touches me deeply. The entire CD is wonderful, highly recommended for anyone who simply desires for music to take them to another place, a much higher place.

I first heard Secret Garden on "Hearts of Space" when they played their annual 9/11 tribute program, which included "Hymn to Hope". That was all I needed to hear. I knew I had to buy the White Stones cd. It's amazing....the more I play it, the more I want to hear each song. Fionnuala's violin is hypnotic. My favorite cuts are "Poeme", "Reflection", "Appassionata", "Sanctuary", "Illumination", and of course, "Hymn to Hope". Actually, all the rest are good as well. It's rapidly becoming my favorite cd. Can't wait to get the other Secret Garden discs, and I'd love to see the Dvd special.

Rather than reviewing any single album, I'd rather learn/know which 2 or 3 CD's of a group I should buy, to compile the best possible collection in a playlist or CD. For Secret Garden, the answer is clear: Dawn of a New Century, and White Stones.
From DONC, I included Prayer, Drremcatcher, Moongate, Sona, Evensong (a version I custom-edited, using the Audacity software), In Our Tears, Aquarell, and Aria, in that order. I followed that with, from the WS album, Hymn to Hope, First Day of Spring, Passacaglia, Sanctuary, Home, Illumination, and Celebration.
The combination is one of the finest CD's/playlist I have ever found, heard, or created. It's the perfect romantic gift. My wife and I both love it, and friends we've shared it with also love it. It's absolutely perfect for making dinner together (or with the kids), listening to while working, a hot tub session, and bedtime. I simply can't praise it more highly than that. But you'll need both albums ...

I highly reccommend this. Most enjoyable during my hectic day working excel spread sheets. Good focus tool. Enjoy it.VBS

As a fan of "Secret Garden" I have enjoyed this CD for weeks now. I fall asleep to it almost every night. It is not my very favorite, prefering the turn of the century one, but I do alternate listening to both. I am looking forward to a new album, as the recently purchsed one has mostly repeats on it.
Talented musicians, composers and singers make this CD incredibly enjoyable and I do say I love it.

A totally awsome album! While this album departs from the other Secret Gardens by having 3 vocals, two of them Greenwaves and Gates Of Dawn very nicely fit in with the mood of the instrumentals. The first vocal You Raise Me Up is beautiful but does not really fit with the overall mood and style of the rest of the album. Not bad, but definitely a mood changer.

This is the second Secret Garden CD I have purchased, and it's as beautiful, if not more beautiful, than the first. Wonderful selections and the arrangements are just gorgeous to listen to. I immediately purchased this as a gift for a good friend who also very much enjoys listening to Secret Garden.

Every time a new Secret Garden album comes along, it sounds just that bit more special than the last, and I expect the bubble to break and everyone will be talking about them. However, to date they still seem to be low key and little heard of. Maybe this wonderful album will be the one to turn that around!
The mix of Norwegian classical orchestration with the most beautiful and evocative in Celtic music, makes for a sublimely uplifting and relaxing experience. This is not just chill out music, but music to inspire.
The collaborators, particularly Brian Kennedy and Karen Matheson add a wonderful extra element which lets the music really breathe, and means the listener will never get bored with the CD - you'll be able to listen to this over and over and over again, making this the best value CD you will buy this year.

This music will speak to your soul. I have listened to Secret Garden for years. I watched a movie and the composer's music seemed to just speak to my soul. Listening to this music will totally relax you. I have since ordered all of his music.

"Once In a Red Moon" is a beautiful album, probably my favorite by Secret Garden. I especially love "Greenwaves" and the original version of "You Raise Me Up", but the other ten tracks are also wonderful. This music is beautiful, soothing, and artistically done. Also, it's easy to listen to over and over - I have listened to it so many times, but I'm not tired of it yet.

I purchased this as a gift and it arrived in a very timely manner and the person loved the gift.

It took me til the 4th one to finally break down and by a pure moods cd but i'm glad i did. there are only 1 or 2 songs that i'm not thrilled with but sometimes i'm even in a mood to hear them. i'm more inclined to buy others from the series now. My favorite songs are "november" and "shadows in silence"

You got to hand it to Virgin Records. The PURE MOODS sreies of discs has been extremely sucsessful. They have been able to allow mood music gain a very wide audience without being too Way Out New Age or too commercial. This is the fourth disc in the series and it scores big like the others ( although #2 is my favourite). This disc has eighteen tracks, and a lot of them are under four minutes in length. But that does not mean they are filler.

A lot of reviewers gripe that the series is losing its edge and is catering to public appeal. Any compilation will never satisfy everybody. Criticisms range from "heard these songs before" to "too much piano" to "the same old artists". Remember this is music to put you in a certain mood of relaxation or peace or whatever. It is not to be taken too seriously. I for one enjoy having this music playing whether I am resting, working or enjoying company with friends.

There are some stunning tracks. I love the first four songs which set a great mood. I know SILENCE by Delerium and Sarah McLachlan is on many chillout albums but it is still an amazing performance and her vocal is overwhelming! If I do have a mild criticism of the album, it is that from Track 5 onwards the music does seem stripped down apart from one or two exceptions. Maybe a different playing order would have helped. Tracks 5-9 are pleasant to listen to but do tend to be similar in arrangement and tempo. Track 10 livens things up with Yann Tiersen's LA VALSE d'AMELIE but it is a short track. The Moby track on the other hand is too long and monotonous and sems very out of place here. The next track, however is a gem. Rachel Portman's theme from Chocolat is very beautiful and delicate. This and SILENCE are the two tracks I listen to the most. The album does sag until near the end. McLachlan's ANGEL is a little dull. Seems like it has been on the radio a lot but I do not listen to radio so it is new to me. B-Tribe's version of SHE MOVED THROUGH THE FAIR is just wrong. Coming from Ireland, I have heard so many wonderful versions of this song that could have been included. This track has a vocal that seems to drag the whole song down and the music seems to merge different musical elements without sucsess. THIS LOVE and RIVER OF STARS could be the same song. However the former is too long. Thankfully the last track lifts the spirits. WHEN YOU'RE FALLING has the Afro-Celt Soundsystem perfoming with guest vocalist Peter Gabriel and it adds a much needed oomph to close the album. This great song had the worst possible luck in succeeding because the very original video had to be pulled soon after it was released in August 2001 on account of the horrific events on 9/11. I will not go into any detail but you will find the video on You Tube and you will understand why it is rarely shown after watching it.

Hope to review the other mood albums soon. Times are listed below with song title listed first:

1. November - Mythos 4.58
2. Purify - Balligomingo 4.14
3. Shadows in silence - Enigma 4.19
4. Silence - Delerium feat. Sarah McLachlan 6.34
5. Song from a secret garden - secret Garden 3.31
6. One man's dream - Yanni 2.45
7. Devotion - Jim Brickman 3.36
8. Fields of gold - Eva Cassidy 4.42
9. Garden of eden - Govi 2.54
10. La valse d,Amelie - Yann Tiersen 2.00
11. Sea - George winston 2.41
12. God moving over the face of the waters - Moby 5.45
13. Main titles from Chocolat - Rachel Portman 3.08
14. Angel - Sarah McLachlan 4.28
15. She moved through the fair - B-tribe 5.00
16. This love - Craig Armstrong feat. Elizabeth Fraser 6.18
17. River of stars - Paul schwartz 4.03
18. When you're falling- Afro-celt soundsystem feat. Peter Gabriel 5.14

P.S. Check out some British Chillout compilattion albums if you can. There are some amazing artists that you do not hear about in the USA like The Beloved, Kinobe, Groove Armada, The Chemical Brothers, Royksapp, Everything But The Girl, Goldfrapp, Zero 7 and many others.

I use this cd for my yoga practice, it's wonderful.
Highly recommend.

"Apparently the only mood that matters is one of pensive melancholy. Nearly every track on this addition to the series is set in a minor key. Some are played solo, like George Winston's new age relic 'Sea.' Some are crammed with odd instrumentation, as in the briefly startling last section of Yann Tiersen's 'La Valse d'Amélie.' Some have entire orchestras sawing away. There are ambitious works like Moby's 'God Moving Over the Face of the Waters,' whose attempts to marry grandeur and minimalism are somewhat undercut by the monotony of a cymbal sample repeated too predictably. There are vocals, the best being the late Eva Cassidy's breathtaking treatment of Sting's 'Fields of Gold.' And there are yawners, such as Yanni's 'One Man's Dream,' which he may, in fact, have recorded while asleep, or 'This Love,' sung by Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins over a groove that suggests the tread of a drugged somnambulist, and Govi's 'Garden of Eden,' which sounds way too much like 'Chim Chim Cheree' to take seriously. And yet, all of it creates the same gray impression -- which, of course, is the point, in which case credit must be paid to those who selected and sequenced these performances. Will upcoming installments offer some variety -- a hap-hap-happy compilation, for instance, set in major keys, with handclap rhythms and smiley vocals? ~ Robert L. Doerschuk, All Music Guide

Because my friend is into more ambiant and New Age music this was a great CD to give to her for Xmas.

Secret Gardem is an apt name for this group of musicians - the music is very well performed and very thought provoking.

For anyone who wants a bit of relaxing time, this CD is for you, especially when you're driving! The songs and musical pieces are absolutely beautiful and the vocals are angelic! You are left with a sense of peace and serenity. I recommend this CD to anyone, even to those who only listen to rock! Everyone needs a relaxing CD such as this one.

I love Secret Garden! No matter what mood I am in, their music always makes it better!

I've shopped for creative, intriguing and relaxing music for years -- found something occasionally, only to be disappointed when I bought the fiirst or second CD. But not with Secret Garden; I now own four of their albums, plus this excellent collection, and have never been disappointed in a single song. They are terrific musicians; their songs, mostly their own compositions, are uplifting, soothing, or toe-tapping, depending on the song. I can't wait for the next CD!

Rather than reviewing any single album, I'd rather learn/know which 2 or 3 CD's of a group I should buy, to compile the best possible collection in a playlist or CD. For Secret Garden, the answer is clear: Dawn of New Century, and White Stones. From DONC, I included Prayer, Drremcatcher, Moongate, Sona, Evensong (a version I custom-edited, using the Audacity software), In Our Tears, Aquarell, and Aria, in that order. I followed that with, from the WS album, Hymn to Hope, First Day of Spring, Passacaglia, Sanctuary, Home, Illumination, and Celebration.
The combination is one of the finest CD's/playlist I have ever found, heard, or created. It's the perfect romantic gift. My wife and I both love it, and friends we've shared it with also love it. It's absolutely perfect for making dinner together (or with the kids), listening to while working, a hot tub session, and bedtime. I simply can't praise it more highly than that. But you'll need both albums ...

Really enjoy this CD. It is the first Secret Garden I have purchased and am not disappointed.

I discovered this group on Public Television, they performed at the telethon fund raiser then were giving away copies of the CD with a pledge. I have gone thru 3 more copies, my kids keep stealing them from me. Hauntingly beautiful music. Great vocals and full rich sound. PFM

I loved it from beginning to end. I love the celetic flavor of the artists. I find it inspirational.

The music on this is haunting and delicious. Out of the vocal selections, "Prayer" is just fabulous. I cannot stop playing it. I have four CDs from Secret Garden and this one rivals their first.

This CD gives the listener a complete compendium of Secret Garden's history. Each individual selection is a masterpiece.

This certainly isn't the "Ultimate" (neither best nor complete compilation of) Secret Garden, but it contains melodies that defined the Secret Garden. This is a good introduction to Secret Garden. Unlike the DreamCatcher, this album actually contains three unique tracks that you won't be able to find elsewhere - Swan (track #4), Hymn To Hope (track #19), Song From A Secret Garden (track #20). All three of those tracks are sung by a Korean soprano, and her voice is simply amazing. The applauses on the 2nd CD are annoying though.

I was around 12 yo when I first heard about Secret Garden on the 1995 Eurovision song contest when they won the first place with the Nocturne. I was allured by the magnificent sounds I have never heard that far in the pop/tecnho/trance of the 90s. Secret Garden is the reason I since then dream to learn how to play the violin, and although I never succeeded in that goal, I hope that one day me or my kids will make that dream come true. Nocturne was a special, different song but managed to win in a stereotypical music contest and expanded the limits to the present days. Secret Garden's music is surely not only celtic, nor new age or classic, its a mixture of all, combined in the most pleasant way. It manages to fill my soul with emotions each and every time I listen to a song and brings a smile to my face each time I spot a secret garden's song in a movie or a tv series on the "wordless" romantic/emotional scenes where emotion is suposed to flow on the air. I recomend this cd as a good start of secret garden's music.

This is a haunting and ethereal disk with many of the songs that have made Secret Garden so loved - by the people who love Secret Garden, that is. There is of course always those folk who don't see the simple beauty of the music, like the previous reviewer who felt compelled to classify it in some way. Secret Garden defies classification.

That being said, I believe I would have to recommend the CD "Dreamcatcher" instead of this one if you're seeking a compendium or "Greatest Hits" type recording. Both CDs have most of the same titles, with a couple extra on this one. The only advantage to "Ultimate Secret Garden" is the beautiful mezzo voice of the featured Asian Artist. I don't have the CD case in front of me so don't know her name, but her voice is amazing.

The versions of most of the songs are pretty similar, except that a number of the ones on disk 2 of this set are from live performances; the renditions are weaker, intonation is a bit off in places, and the applause is distracting. The pivotal, breathtaking "Dawn of a New Century" in particular is far stronger on the Dreamcatcher recording and is a piece not to be missed!

Secret Garden is one of those phenomenons that you either seem to love or hate - they definitely do not fit into any strictly defined category - and I'm sure do not plan to change to fit any-ones preconceived notions!

I love Classical music, and Rock, and many other genere's ...
and can just enjoy this music when I'm in the mood to listen to its soothing melodies and occaisional lyrics.

If you're in the mood for something else - go listen to it - but don't bash the beauty of something you aren't able to comprehend. There are way too many music 'Nazi's' who seem to believe that everything must fit in some tiny preconceived little box in order for their tiny little minds to enjoy it.

This is music which soars and floats and takes your mind completely away from the days troubles or the endless sea of cars plaguing your daily commute.

All the more power to this dynamic duo for their beautiful efforts.

This is very good collection of music that brings to life a wide variety of music that is both old and contemporary. The selections vary from composers, historical and famous such as Pavarotti and Puccini to today's James Horner (Titanic, A Beauituful Mind) and John Williams (Star Wars, Sabrina, Jaws, Saving Private Ryan).

If you enjoy the sounds of Sarah Brightman, Charlotte Church, Enya, Kate Bush, Andrea Bocelli, and various theatre music (Andrew Lloyd Webber (Evita, Cats), then you will find this collection worthy of your appreciation.

I have often wondered why classical music radio channels do not play modern composers (i.e., Horner, Willams), and am glad that this album gives them credit that they deserve. There is so many good compositions being created every day that only appear to have a voice on the big screen, which is unfortunate.

Track 11, composed by The Doors, and is a nice version, indeed. I also enjoy the Bond players giving a new twist to some old favourites.

Ciao,
Neil

First, let me begin by saying that I am by no means an expert in classical music, but have grown to appreciate it immensely in the past year. I can say wholeheartedly that this is the most beautiful compilation of music I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. It's simple irresistible. There are few words to describe how emotional it is to hear Pavarotti sing "II Canto", or Placido Domingo belt out "Questa o quella". You just get numb with joy!! I have NO idea what they are saying but a translation not necessary. The entire collection (TWo jammed-packed CDs) is phenomenal (excluding the selections from "Bond" which I found to be particularly annoying and not at all "classical" in the true sense of the word). There is something here for everyone, regardless of your personal musical tastes or tolerances.

A guaranteed hit -- Don't miss this one.

CD One

Andrea Bocelli "En Aranjuez con tu amor"
Bryn Terfel - "Granada"
Bond - "Viva" ( not my favorite, sounds almost disco-ish)
Hayley Westenra - "Pokarekare Ana"
Luciano Pavarotti - "Una Mattina"
Katherine jenkins - "Time To Say Goodbye" (a heart stopper - so beautiful!)
Duel - "Canon" (lovely!)
Janine Jansen - "Allegro from 'Spring'"
Andreas Scholl - "Ombra mai fu"
Nigel Kennedy - "The Unknown Soldier"
Kiri Te Kanawa - "Nuns' Chorus"
Nelson Freire - "Chopin Etude No. 1 op. 25
Julian Lloyd Webber - "Flight of the Bumble-bee"
James Horner - "For the Love of a Princess
Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard "Now We Are Free"
Renee Fleming - "Mesicku na nebi hlubokem"
Russell Watson - "Amore e Musica"

CD TWO

Luciano Pavarotti - "II Canto" (I MUST see him sing this in person!!)
Placido Domingo - "Questa o quello" (I never tire of hearing this)
Andrea Bocelli & Bryn Terfel - "the Pearl Fisher's Duet"
Jose Carreras - "Funiculi, funicula
Dominc Miller & Kaori Muraji - "Fragile"
Tavener - "Song for Athene"
Josep Calleja - "La donna e mobile"
Jean-Yves Thibaudet - "Gymopedie No. 1"
Juan Diego Florez - "Una furtiva lagrima"
Kathleen Ferrier - "Blow the Wind Southerly"
Angela Gheorghiu - "Ave Maria"
Janine Jansen - "Schindler's List Main Theme"
Bond - "explosive"
Secret Garden - "You Raise Me Up"
Hayley Westenra - "Never Say Goodbye"
The Three Tenors - "Nessun Dorma"

Enjoy!

Cris Cunningham for Amazon.com