What people search:
 | Title : The Mask and Mirror
Author : McKennitt, Loreena
Release Date : 19940322
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $17.98
Amazon.com Price : $12.38
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Editorial Reviews :
McKennitt's travels through Spain and Morocco flavor this album with a distinctly Mediterranean tinge, from the opening 'The Mystic's Dream,' with its dancing percussion arrangements, to 'Marrakesh Night Market,' to 'Full Circle' and the instrumental 'Santiago.' 'Marrakesh Night Market' is an especially strong performance, with an interesting musical texture; the balalaika, udu drum, and dumbek are played alongside a synthesizer. As usual, McKennitt has set a poem to music, this time Yeats's 'The Two Trees,' with a lovely introduction on the Uillean pipes. There's also 'The Bonny Swans,' a traditional lyric, and the CD closes with Shakespeare, as McKennitt sets some of Prospero's words from The Tempest to her own music. Excerpts from McKennitt's journals, included in the CD booklet, make for interesting reading as they shed some light on her source material and inspiration for writing each song.
Buyer Reviews :
'The Mask and the Mirror' by Loreena McKennitt was my first introduction to this fascinating artist who blends Celtic and Mid-Eastern traditional music into one excellent whole. Although some may find the juxtaposition startling (supposing that Ms. McKennitt is solely a Celtic artist, perhaps from her other albums 'The Visit,' 'Elemental' and 'Parallel Dreams'), others will soon recognize its merit.
This album, perhaps more than her others, is especially dancelike. Beginning with 'The Mystic's Dream's' quick tempo, to the clogging beat of 'The Bonny Swans,' from the twirling 'Marrakesh Night Market,' to 'Santiago's' seductive pace, one longs only for a veil and a sense of footwork. Intersperced are beautiful, yearning renderings, such as 'The Dark Night of the Soul' and 'Prospero's Speech' (her Shakespearean farewell).
Naturally, there are those, such as the poor unfortunate beneath me, who will not appreciate her work. But for those looking for excellence and mystery in their normal Celtic fare, consider adding Loreena McKennit to your list of favourite artists. So kick back, close your eyes, and allow your imagination to wander past the mask and through the mirror.
(by Emily Snyder)
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