Andreas Vollenweider Albums (15)
'Traumgarten: Garden of Dreams'
Release Date 10/5/2007
Tracks 16
Label Content Re
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What The Critics Say
The legendary, Grammy Award-winning harpist takes some truly blessed left turns on what could have been just another pedestrian new age Christmas collection. Rather than do the umpteenth version of "White Christmas," Andreas Vollenweider applies his plucky, ethereal style to unique, traditional, and little heard Old World tunes like "The Coventry Carol" (which he jazzes up with bamboo flute and seductive sax), "The Wexford Carol," "The Yorkshire Wassail" (which is the source of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen") and "Carol of the Drum." His beautiful harp tones are perfect fits for these classical instruments, but he has enough pop sensibilities to add just the right touch of soul and groove to them. Vollenweider's other ace here is longtime friend Carly Simon, who lends her warm and familiar voice to an offbeat arrangement of the title track and several romantic, inspirational originals. Nothing is wrong with overtly commercial new age-oriented holiday collections like the beautiful albums Jim Brickman has done, but Vollenweider deserves kudos for digging deeper into history and finding emotional joy in traditional pieces that truly sound fresh here. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
'Behind the Gardens-Behind the Wall-Under the Tree'
Release Date 1/17/2000
Tracks 9
Label Verabra
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What The Critics Say
Vollenweider, a Swiss musician, performs on a mechanically altered concert harp. His instrument enables him to counteract the meditative properties of the harp with a strong rhythmic pulse. The results are very low-frequency bass tones in the harp, coupled with an almost orchestral sense of harmony. This very popular album is upbeat, centering and a real delight. ~ MusD, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Andreas Vollenweider's Cosmopoly finds the Swiss harpist collaborating with artists like Carlos Nunez, Abdulla Ibrahim, and Ray Anderson, and exploring the music of Africa, Brazil, China, Ireland, and the U.S. Fittingly, Vollenweider's palette of instruments on this album includes the ocarina, gu cheng, baby koto, 12-string guitar, Bavarian folk harp, Celtic harp, and Chinese harp, along with his usual custom-made rhythm harp. "Morning Poem," Vollenweider's Celtic-inspired duet with Nunez, is all the more moving for its restraint, and the unusual fusion of Bobby McFerrin's vocals with Chinese harp on "Elle Chelle" is another highlight. Ibrahim and Vollenweider create a smoky Armenian atmosphere on their doudouk/harp duet "Hush, My Heart, Be Still," and "Peachtree Valley" evokes a lush Chinese landscape, though the overly glossy production is somewhat distracting. Carly Simon's recitation of part of "Finnegan's Wake" on "Your Silver Key" is also slightly jarring, and some of the album's jazzier tracks seem out of place, but for the most part, Cosmopoly offers an intriguing fusion of traditional, indigenous styles and new musical ideas. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Eolian Minstrel is Andreas Vollenweider's debut SBK Records release and the long awaited followup to his 1991 #1 NAC and jazz album, Book of Roses. Andreas plays a harp, but one that has been modified to produce an extraordinary range of sounds. A damper which he designed himself allows him to strum and pluck with more crispness and percussive attack. A microphone attached to each string allows for greater articulation of individual notes, and hand-made strings further define his unique sonorities. This recording is Andreas' most daring album to date and for the first time features guest vocalists, such as Carly Simon and Eliza Gilkyson. ~ MusD, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Andreas Vollenweider's Book of Roses marries concept to contemporary instrumentalism, and blends the music of numerous cultures into the composer's already worldly sound. Separated into four chapters (where each song is an "episode"), the album chronicles the journey of a young girl from dances in grand ballrooms, through mysterious woods full of magical jugglers, to an eventual meeting with the Sphinx. In between there are numerous other adventures, each punctuated by some of the most ambitious music of Vollenweider's career. His trademark electric harp is still here, and the flair for sweeping arrangement is intact. But the straightforward pop-jazz of "In Doga Gamee" (complete with lyrics) suggests Soul Cages-era Sting, while "In the Woods of Kroandal" marries a romantic classical swell to flamenco guitar and nature sounds. Vocals return for "Hirzel," which flirts with pop even more blatantly, breaking into a reverb-drenched electric guitar lead midway through. But Vollenweider then really gets experimental with "Manto's Arrow and the Sphinx" -- with its relatively conventional harp dominated by the whooping and sequenced screeching of a female vocalist, the song is completely unclassifiable. While "Sphinx" is ultimately too outrageous to be functional, it proves that Vollenweider -- by now an established heavyweight in the new age arena -- is not afraid to try out new ideas. Fans of the composer's early, more ethereal work might be a little put off by Book of Roses' worldbeat flair and pop leanings. But they will no doubt enjoy the album's more thematic elements, which cleverly tie its various sections and sounds together with the turning pages of a book. Likewise, the finale, "Letters to a Young Rose," is classic Vollenweider, matching his modified harp to a shuffling accordion as it moves through various moods and tempos. Book of Roses isn't recommended for the casual Vollenweider fan, but it's a must-read for the faithful. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
This compilation includes Andreas Vollenweider's first three albums, the new composition "Pace Verde," and selections from 1984's Eine Art Suite. While it's Vollenweider's trademark electric harp playing that unifies these songs, the composer features numerous other instruments, including acoustic guitar, accordion, and the ever-present synthesizers. "Trilogy"'s extended intro of hushed voices and shuffling feet gives way to raindrop percussion before a song seems to emerge out of the ether, featuring crisp snare drum and a dreamy melody plucked out on Vollenweider's modified instrument. Later, "Her Cat Dance" incorporates Asian influences in both its instrumentation and vocal, while "Pace Verde" somehow uses the whale calls and crashing waves without sounding clichéd. Best might be "Phases of the Three Moons," where synths and percussion combine for a vaguely Caribbean rhythm while Vollenweider lays down a particularly effective solo. Whispered vocals add additional nuance to the cut. Trilogy doesn't include anything that longtime Vollenweider fans won't already have, although some might appreciate the Eine Art Suite material, since it was previously available only as an import. Newcomers should enjoy this compilation most since it provides a solid overview of the composer's early work. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
