The Book of Kells

Artist: Iona
Label: Open Sky UK
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 825947127425
EAN: 0825947127425
ASIN: B00009Z5IA

Release Date: 2003-11-04

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Tracks:

Kells Opening Theme
Revelation
Matthew - The Man
Chi-Rho
Mark - The Lion
River Flows
Luke - The Calf
Virgin and Child
Temptation
Arrest - Gethsemene
Trinity - The Godhead
John - The Eagle
Kells
Eternity - No Beginning, No End

Similar Items:

Beyond These Shores
Open Sky
Journey into the Morn
Woven Cord
The Circling Hour

Customer Reviews:

Amazing Celtic-Christian Prog.......2006-12-20

Let me start by saying I LOVE Iona. I can't think of anything bad to say about them. The music itself is so passionate and meaningful and the orchestrations are amazing. Personally I think it was a great idea to write an entire song cycle about a thousand year old illuminated manuscript of the four gospels and what they mean to the faith of the musicians. Inspiration from something so deep and personal clearly resulted in a deeply, personal composition. Iona is wonderful and this album was an excellent addition to my library.

Another excellent Iona masterpiece is the live album with the All Souls Orchestra. It has some pieces from The Book of Kells, and some from other albums, and it is really beautiful.

Excellent World Class production........2005-11-10

I've had this album for nearly 12 years now and have likely listened to it hundreds of times. I also own a published copy of the ancient manuscript, The Book of Kells. This album is an epic of discovery through the enlightened Gospels and the band/composers should be commended for their musical interpretation of such an important bit of history. I studied the copy of the manuscript initially with this very album playing in the background...it was a perfect soundscape. Several of the songs are titled based on the individual Illuminated Gospels themselves. Mark the Man is one that stands out, but each track is a 10 on its own!

The band takes its name from the island between England/Scotland and Ireland. The history of illuminated Gospels extends to the Island of Iona, so it was highly appropriate that the band, made up of members from both islands, should create and perform "The Book of Kells".

Excellent - better than 5 stars.

Steve in Seattle

Celtic elevator music.......2005-08-16

The Book of Kells was one of the most important pieces of art and literature in Western Culture.
It's a big ask for a modern 'celtic' musical group to produce a serious interpretation of this iconic and complex piece of literature.
Do they succeed?
In a single word, "No."
Whilst their music is good listening; dreamy, ethereal and swoopy, it is closer to 'elevator music' than I would expect.
The lyrics are banal.
Pleasing to the ear, but a little disappointing.

Christian Celtic Progressive Rock Concept Album?.......2004-07-25

Iona, for those of who have never heard of them, are a Christian progressive rock band that from the British Isles. They are an amazingly talented group! Their music is very hard to describe in a only a few short sentences. They are a very atmospheric band that has a remarkable musicianship. All of these musicians in this band are WORLD-CLASS. They can play in any style and do anything they want, because they have the talent. Iona are the following musicians:

Dave Bainbridge - guitar, keyboards, programming
Joanne Hogg - vocals, keyboards
David Fitzgerald - tenor/alto saxophones, flute, piccolo
Nick Beggs - Chapman stick, Wal's 5-string bass
Terl Bryant - drums and percussion
Frank Van Essen - percussion, violin
Troy Donockley - uillean pipes, low whistle

Guest Musicians - Robert Fripp (King Crimson) - guitar, soundscapes, Fiona Davidson - celtic harp, The Paul Whitfield Strings - ensemble violins/violas, the congregation of Kessington Temple Church

Now the music of this album is very conceptual or in other words its music and lyrics all follow a theme that progresses through the album. The album is VERY progressive. It is such a beautiful album. There isn't anything harsh or distorted about this album at all. I think it's a shame that musicians and groups of this caliber aren't recognized in the United States. There is so much good music here that anyone that has musical ears or that plays an instrument can appreciate it. This album also won several awards. One of them being "Best International Album" by Dove. I think Christian music should take some pointers from these masters as they rely heavily on the music to lead. There aren't many vocals on this album at all, because it's mostly instrumental. I understand the importance of lyrics in Christian music, but not all Christian music has to have vocals. Music speaks a voice by itself. Listen to this album and open your heart and you will not be disappointed.

I also highly recommend the following Iona albums:

Open Sky
Journey into the Morn
Beyond These Shores

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