NORLAND WIND
Harp Music and Song from the Celtic Northwest...
THOMAS LOEFKE
KERSTIN BLODIG
MÁIRE BREATNACH (Riverdance)
NOEL DUGGAN (Clannad)
PÁDRAIG DUGGAN (Clannad)
IAN MELROSE
MATTHIAS KIEßLING
celtic
harp
vocals, guitar, bouzouki, keyboard
vocals, fiddle, viola
vocals, guitar
vocals, mandolin, harmonica, percussion
vocals, guitar, low whistle, synthesizer
vocals, keyboards
Donegal, the Celtic Northwest
of Ireland, with its Irish language, folklore, legends, its treasure of
traditional songs and melodies and its majestic landscape, provides inspiration
for the compositions of the Irish / German / Scottish quintet Norland
Wind featuring harpist Thomas Loefke. Donegal born Noel
and Pádraig Duggan, also members of the Irish cult
group Clannad which just received a Grammy award for their
album "Landmarks", lend a strong Celtic element to the group's
repertoire with songs in their native Irish language. Haunting harp instrumentals
mostly written by Loefke, songs composed by singer/guitarist Kerstin
Blodig, new tunes by Riverdance fiddle player Máire
Breatnach or Scottish guitarist Ian Melrose and a fresh aproach
to traditional material are the main features of the program. The magic
of the Celtic harp is central to the sound of Norland Wind. The
harp, Kerstin's clear, expressive voice, Noel's earthy
baritone and Máire's fiddle, the compact guitar and keyboard
arrangements and vocal harmony blend to create a uniquely evocative and
emotionally powerful sound.
On the album "Norland Wind", released worldwide by Celtic Heartbeat / Universal the group is joined by many well known Irish musicians including Clannad's Ciarán Brennan, Vinnie Kilduff and Cristina Crawley. With the CD "A Celtic Heartbeat Christmas& Loefke's composition "The Snowy Birchtrees" reached number 3 in the American World Music Charts.
The
CD "Atlantic Driftwood", mainly recorded
in Dublin, features 12 original compositions and 4 traditionals. Legendary
piper Finbar Furey and again keyboard player Ciarán Brennan
are among the guest musicians
Current CD: "From Shore to Shore"
Contact: Thomas Loefke Nehringstr. 33 D-14059 Berlin
e-mail: Loefke@t-online.de
tel: +49 171 271 0944