Alchemy of a Rose

A Review by Gerry Serviente

When I received the advance copy of Cynthia Cathcart’s new CD, Alchemy of a Rose, I popped it right into my CD player in my office computer. It really is great! So many of the tunes are recognizable, but on Alchemy of a Rose they have suffered a sea change... so rich and strange on the otherworldly sounding metal strings.

One track in particular I didn’t like at first — Brian Boru. But then I really got into what Cynthia and the crew were doing. That was before reading the wrapper notes, telling the story of her interpretation of this march. Cynthia uses ancient Gaelic music and instruments in an imaginative re-creation that echoes with memories of a recent disastrous September morning. It is really stirring! If you've got one drop of the blood of the ancient Gaelic warriors you will respond to this interpretation.

Not just another harp album indeed!

Alchemy of a Rose was released at the Somerset Folk Harp Festival in July 2002. Gerry Serviente is the founder of that festival.