New Age World picked Winter Poem as one of the "Best New Age Music Albums of 2011"! Read there review of the album HERE Here are some of the latest reviews: Sunday
Business Post (Ireland) |
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Winter Poem features all new material by Rolf Løvland, with Fionnuala Sherry’s violin as the trademark sound of the group. The repertoire is dominated by instrumental pieces, but in addition, the group has also found room for 3 new songs. Moya Brennan of the Celtic group 'Clannad' is a guest vocalist on "The Dream". "We've wanted to work with Moya for a very long time", says Løvland. "She performs the song with a longing and dreamy expression that gives the song a very special dimension." Another new song, "Mary's Lament", has lyrics by Brendan Graham who also wrote the lyrics for "You Raise Me Up". The song is performed by Irish singer Fionnuala Gill. "Powered By Nature", which was Norway's official Expo-song during last year's exhibition in China, is sung by Espen Grjotheim and Tracey Campbell. All music is symphonically scored, arranged and produced by Rolf and performed by Secret Garden with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. The album has been given the title Winter Poem. "Winter, with Nature's transformation and beautiful magic, is a time for emotion and contemplative thought. Many of these feelings have been a source of inspiration for the music. Scandinavia's winter is shrouded in darkness. It always arouses my creativity, I always write best then. I think the Norwegian nature and the special atmosphere in Winter creates a kind of need in me to feel my emotions and to express myself", says Rolf Løvland. "We truly hope that Winter Poem can contribute light and warmth to our listeners during the cold, dark winter evenings and to those living in warmer climes, light and warmth through cold and dark times", says Fionnuala Sherry. |
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Josh
Groban has recorded another Secret Garden-song - "Le cose che
sei per me" . It's an Italian translation of "The Things You
Are To Me" |
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fans
queuing... |
Fionnuala and Rolf did a 3-day promotion visit and spoke to Irish media. “It feels good to finally have the album released here in my own home country”, Fionnuala says. “People have waited for the album for a long time. We hope the release will bring us back to Ireland – even for some more concerts soon”.
"Inside I’m Singing" is a project that started off as an idea for a 10th Anniversary celebration of the duo's inception. Many artists have recorded Secret Garden's music and even turned their instrumental melodies into vocal songs."We wanted to reverse the process – take some of our own favorite melodies – have lyrics written to them - arrange them in our own style – and invite some of the greatest singers to give their voice and performance to our music."
The
artists performing the songs of Secret Garden on this
edition are - Barbra
Streisand, Elaine
Paige, Brian
Kennedy, Niamh
Kavanagh, Peter
Corry, Tracy Campbell, Tommy
Körberg, Peter
Jöback, Anne Takle, Espen
Grjotheim and Steinar
Albrigtsen. "We are very proud to present an amazing
circle of artists who have all given our music their voice and heart
– who most generously have shared their utmost performance and
signed our music with their name". In addition to 11 songs, you
can also look forward to hearing 2 beautiful new Secret Garden
instrumental pieces.
ECRET
GARDEN AT EXPO 2010 IN SHANGHAI
Secret Garden was commisioned to compose a Suite for Secret
Garden and orchestra for the Norway Pavllion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
The entire suite was recorded and filmed on location at Expo with the
Zhe Jiang Symphony Orchestra. This is now part of a multi-media music
experience when you visit the Norwegain pavilion at the Expo 2010. Nothing
like this has ever been done before It is designed to feel as if you
are actually experiencing the music from within the band and orchestra
- projected throughout the pavilion on numerous specially designed screens,
with scenic footage superimposed from Norway. It's a spectacular event
and we urge one and all to visit!
Rolf was commissioned to compose a song entitled "Powered by Nature" in keeping with the theme of the Norwegian Expo, which Secret Garden also premiered last month in Shanghai which is now getting airplay on Chinese radio.
ORWAY
CREATES POSTAGE STAMP HONORING SECRET GARDEN
On
May 1st the Norwegian Postal Authority issued a special Secret Garden
postage stamp in recognition of Secret Garden's historic Melody Grand
Prix win in 1994!! "We think this is so cool and we're really proud
of this stamp, it's an honor that's hard to believe", says Fionnuala
!!
Finally for any Eurovision fans out there, Secret Garden were very sorry to miss appearing on this year's Eurovision Song Contest which was hosted by Norway this time. They were performing in Beijing on that very night.
ECRET
GARDEN AT WORLD EXPO 2010
Rolf Lovland has been commissioned to compose a new symphonic piece
for the World EXPO 2010 In Shanghai. The music will be a part of a multi-media
show at the Norwegian pavilion - a 15-minute suite to accompany the
spectator walk-through in the Norwegian Expo hall. The theme for the
Norwegian event is “Powered by Nature”. The strong level
of awareness and popularity of Secret Garden's Music in China has motivated
the Norwegian organizing committee, Innovation Norway, to invite Rolf
to compose and produce the music. Secret Garden will record the new
suite partly In Norway and also in China for the multi-media video in
March. The band will also appear on various concerts during the 6-months
duration of the event. Expo 2010 is expected to be the biggest world
Expo ever, with an expected 70 million visitors.
"I'm very excited about this special invitation. It's a great chance for me and for Secret Garden to create some new music and to connect with our loyal Chinese audience. The writing of the Secret Garden-suite is scheduled to be ready for recording in March." - Rolf Lovland
related links - World Expo 2010, Innovation Norway
OLIDAY
TOUR OF CHINA 2009/2010
Secret Garden toured 6 major cities in China during
the holiday season this year and celebrated the New Year in Shanghai.
Their latest CD, "Inside I'm Singing"
was also be released in China at the same time to coincide with the
tour. Needless to say, Rolf, Fionnuala and the rest of the band were
really excited about going back to China to meet the many friends that
they made during the Spring China tour of 2008. Secret Garden
brought along 2 special guest singers who are also guest performers
on the album "Inside I'm Singing"
- Tracey Campbell and Espen Grjotheim. Both of these amazing singers
toured previously with Secret Garden in China in 2008,
so this marked a special return for the entire ensemble to China where
so many magical moments took place in 2008! The tour began in Guangzhou
on the 27th of December and continued on to Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing
before wrapping up in Nanjing on January 2nd.
ECRET
GARDEN AWARDED 4X PLATINUM RECORD
Secret
Garden was recently awarded a Quadruple Platinum Trophy for
their latest Norwegian release titled, Inside I'm Singing.
With 120,000 CDs sold, this represents yet another great moment in Secret
Garden history. The album debuted in the number #1 position of the Norwegian
VG Album Charts and maintained that position for 5 straight weeks. Inside
I'm Singing was the top-selling album in Norway in 2007. Both Fionnuala
and Rolf are thrilled by the response they've received in Mr. Løvland's
homeland, Norway and are eagerly looking forward to releasing the album
internationally this year. The duo is extremely grateful to all the
artists who lent their amazing voices to this special production of
vocal versions of Secret Garden music.
Sign
up for the Secret Garden Newsletter to keep informed of release dates
in your country.
ECRET
GARDEN RELEASES LONG AWAITED CD ALBUM, "INSIDE I'M SINGING"
It's been a long time coming ... Secret Garden is proud to announce the release of the Norwegian Edition of their new CD "Inside I'm Singing" on Monday, the 26th of November . The International release will follow during the second half of 2008.
"Inside I’m Singing" is a project that started off as an idea for a 10th Anniversary celebration of the duo's inception. Many artists have recorded Secret Garden's music and even turned their instrumental melodies into vocal songs."We wanted to reverse the process – take some of our own favorite melodies – have lyrics written to them - arrange them in our own style – and invite some of the greatest singers to give their voice and performance to our music."
The artists performing the songs of Secret Garden on this edition are - Barbra Streisand, Elaine Paige, Brian Kennedy, Niamh Kavanagh, Peter Corry, Tracy Campbell, Tommy Körberg, Peter Jöback, Anne Takle, Espen Grjotheim and Steinar Albrigtsen. "We are very proud to present an amazing circle of artists who have all given our music their voice and heart – who most generously have shared their utmost performance and signed our music with their name". In addition to 11 songs, you can also look forward to hearing 2 beautiful new Secret Garden instrumental pieces.
NSIDE
I'M SINGING INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION NOW ONLINEFor those wishing to get a taste of the new CD, we've put together an interactive presentation featuring sound samples and album cover art.
CLICK HERE >>> TO SEE AND HEAR THE "INSIDE I'M SINGING" PRESENTATION
EW
PHOTO JOURNAL - Click into the new SG Photo Journal to get the inside picture of the production in ... The Making of "Inside I'm Singing" Photo Journal.
NSIDE
I'M SINGING - NOW AVAILABLE IN THE ITunes NORWAY STORESecret Garden's new album, "Inside I'm Singing" is now available as digital downloads at the ITunes Norway Store and topping the download charts there as well!. Click on the ITunes icon below to download your copy.
SHEET MUSIC for You Raise Me Up Surpasses 20,000 Downloads
Musicnotes.com, the online leader in digital sheet music, announced today that it has sold over 20,000 downloads of sheet music for the song "You Raise Me Up."
Written by Brendan Graham and Rolf Lovland for Secret Garden's Once in a Redmoon CD release and made extremely popular by a performance by Josh Groban, "You Raise Me Up" is the first song to break the 20,000 download mark for Musicnotes.Sheet music for the song was first made available for download in October of 2003. Musicnotes.com now offers the song in over 30 different downloadable arrangements, the most popular of which is a piano/vocal/guitar arrangement that sells for $4.95 a download.
This is yet another amazing milestone for this timeless song.
>>> Archived News about "You Raise Me Up"
EARTHSONGS
SHEETMUSIC NOW AVAILABLE!!
Printed music for
the the complete Earthsongs CD is now available
for sale in the Webshop!
All arrangements are by Rolf Lovland. Like all the other four books
following the CDs - the arrangements are done as duo arrangements for
violin and piano. In addition, there are 4 vocal songs on the album,
including "Raise Your Voices" for choir. Fionnuala Sherry
has edited the violin parts and she's included her own personal bowing
and ornament suggestions.
The only way to obtain a copy of this book is here on the Secret Garden web-shop.
BRENDAN
GRAHAM
Our
lyricist Brendan Graham (You Raise Me Up, Sleepsong, Raise Your Voices,
Always There, and many more...) published his new book "THE
BRIGHTEST DAY - THE DARKEST NIGHT" in November. His novel is
the 3rd book of the trilogy about Ellen, the Irish woman escaping the
famine in Ireland and emigrating to the US. His first novel "THE
WHITEST FLOWER" from 1996 was the inspiration for contacting Brendan
to write the beautiful words to You Raise Me Up. We warmly recommend
his books, and wish him all the success he deserves.
On
11/11/11, Secret Garden released their seventh
album production, Winter Poem in 16 countries
in throughout North America and Asia and will be released in the southern
hemisphere in 6 months time when winter comes there way! 
On
this new album, Secret Garden's musical trademark remains the same as
when they first broke through in 1995 winning the Eurovision Song Contest
with "Nocturne". The repertoire is dominated by instrumental
pieces, but in addition, the group has also found room for 3 new songs.
Moya Brennan of the Celtic group 'Clannad' is a guest vocalist on "The
Dream". "We've wanted to work with Moya for a very long time",
says Løvland. "She performs the song with a longing and
dreamy expression that gives the song a very special dimension.
IONNUALA
RELEASES NEW ALBUM 
As
Secret Garden is hard at work in the studio finishing their long awaited
new studio album, one half of the duo, Fionnuala Sherry, released her
debut solo album in the US and Canada on June 21st. Entitled "Songs
From Before" the album features an enchanting collection
of some of Ireland's most cherished and recognisable melodies. On the
concept of the album Fionnuala says "for a long time I have wanted
to record some of the beautiful traditional Irish songs that I grew
up with. This year the dream became a reality!". 
Secret
Garden has received an award from the Expo bureau in Shanghai for the
Expo Suite. The suite was commissioned for the Expo 2010 by Innovation
Norway. The Norwegian pavilion used the music throughout the 6-month
event and played it nearly 3000 times for over 3 million visitors. Secret
Garden 's music has been the main element in the multimedia performance.
In
a comment Rolf says: " We are honored by the award. I was proud
to be asked to compose the music for this special event, and I'm honored
by the response. Besides recording the suite with the Zhe Jiang symphony
orchestra in the Norwegian pavilion in April we also had a chance to
visit the World Expo a few times. To stand in the pavilion in the middle
of 120 TV monitors projecting our music to Norwegian scenery, was an
amazing experience for us. 
OSH
GROBAN RECORDS 2ND SECRET GARDEN SONG
from
the latest Secret Garden album - original title "Song From a Secret
Garden". The song will only be released on the special edition CD
of his new album "Illuminations". The album is released in the
US in the middle of November.
Secret
Garden is returning to Shanghai for a concert at the World EXPO
on Saturday, September 25th. The concert is a part of the official Norwegian
EXPO-program and will present a mixed program of Chinese and Norwegian
artists headlined by Secret Garden. 