NADIA BIRKENSTOCK
          Impressum: LAIKA-RECORDS Peter Cronemeyer Büroadresse: Stavendamm 16 D-28195 Bremen Postadresse: Postfach 103802 D-28038 Bremen USt IdNr.: DE 114386104 Finanzamt Bremen West Telefon : ++49.(0)421. 32 38 11 Telefax: ++49.(0)421. 337 81 63 info@ laika-records.com |
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"Winter Tales"
Laika-Records / Rough-Trade
Katalognr.: 3510218.2
Bereich : Folk/Celtic Christmas Songs
12 Tracks / 62:43 Min/ Digipak
VÖ: 27. Oktober 2006
15,50 Euro + Versand
Nadia Birkenstock Vocals, Celtic Harp
Sebastian Fuhrmann Bodhran, Percussion, Vibraphone, Dulcimer
Gabriele Steinfeld Fiddle, Violin
Elisabeth Wand Violoncello
Claus von Weiß Whistles, Guitar, Concertina
Ulrike von Weiß Organ
Schwungvolle englische und irische Christmas Carols, symbolträchtige Mittwinterlieder und zarte mittelalterliche Wiegengesänge:
Das Repertoire für das Album ”Winter Tales“ ist über einen größeren Zeitraum hinweg gewachsen, in den vielen Live-Konzerten, die in der Vorweihnachtszeit der letzten Jahre tausende von Menschen in Konzertsäle, Kirchen und Schlösser gelockt und verzaubert haben.
„Die Zuschauer können sich der Faszination, die von Nadia Birkenstock ausgeht, nicht entziehen“ schwärmt die Rheinische Post, als „Ausnahmekünstlerin“ bezeichnete sie die Hessisch-Niedersächsische Allgemeine, und die französische Zeitung Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace schreibt: „ Die Klarheit ihrer Stimme, ihr außergewöhnlicher Anschlag und die Anmut, die sie charakterisieren, fesseln ihre Zuhörer.“
Nadia Birkenstocks klare, bewegliche Stimme bildet eine magische Einheit mit den farbenreichen Klängen ihrer Harfe, wobei ihr ihre virtuose Harfentechnik vielschichtige Arrangements voller Raffinesse und Facetten-reichtum erlaubt.
Auf diesem neuen Studioalbum verbinden sich Gesang und Harfenspiel mit Whistles, Bodhran, Percussion, Fiddle, Gitarre, Hackbrett, Vibraphon, Concertina, Streicherensemble und Orgel.
„Winter Tales“ erzählt vom Licht in der dunklen Jahreszeit, das mal durch die Fenster festlich geschmückter Säle warm und einladend nach draußen leuchtet („Deck the Halls“), mal als geheimnisvolles Mondlicht schimmert („The Moon shines bright“), mal als Stern von Bethlehem ehrfurchtgebietend über die Erde strahlt ( „Watchman, tell us of the Night“), und mal als hüpfendes Licht in der Dunkelheit getragen wird, um große Neuigkeiten zu verkünden („Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella“).
"Masterly and sensitive, powerful and quiet - a virtuoso. The artist had managed in a wonderful way to intoxicate her audience.”
About « Winter Tales »
Cheerful Christmas Carols, mysterious midwinter chants and gentle cradle songs:
The repertoire of the album « Winter Tales » has gradually grown over the last couple of years in countless life-performances that have each year in december enchanted thousands of listeners in concert halls, churches and castles throughout Europe.
On this studio recording Nadia's vocals and harp playing are delicately joined by whistles, bodhran, percussion, fiddle, guitar, hammerd dulcimer, strings and organ.
About Nadia Birkenstock
Nadia Birkenstock was born in Solingen in the north west of Germany. She started playing the piano at five and grew up listening to lots of classical music. Her first contact with the Celtic harp was when she saw the legendary Scottish harp duo “Sileas” (Patsy Seddon, Mary Macmaster) perform, and she instantly fell in love with the sound of the instruments, the voices and the spirit of Celtic Music.
Thanks to a scholarship, she received her first vocal training in the USA (Westover School, Connecticut) and afterwards studied voice at the Music Conservatory of Duesseldorf in Germany. She taught herself to play the Celtic Harp at 16 and attended masterclasses with Kim Robertson (USA), Bill Taylor (Scotland) and others. During her vocal studies she created her first solo performance program for Celtic harp and voice. This was very well received and Nadia has since appeared to great acclaim in concerts at festivals, folk-clubs, concert halls, churches, castles and many stunning venues in Central Europe.
Festival appearances include the “Rencontres Internationales de la Harpe Celtique” at Dinan (France, Brittany), the “Schlossfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci” (Berlin), the Venne Folk Festival, Celtic Days Hude, Keltenfest Buchberg (Switzerland).
Nadia has also appeared on tv and radio with WDR, SWR, RBB, France Musiques, Celtic World Radio Australia and others.
She also frequently plays for the Irish Embassies in Cologne, Munich and Frankfurt.
Besides her repertoire of traditional Celtic folk songs and harp tunes, she is also successfully performing her own songs and compositions.
In 2001 her first solo album “Emerald Isles” was released with a repertoire of Celtic music and Nadia's own compositions, followed by “Wandering between the Worlds” (2003) “Winter Tales” (LAIKA 2006) and "Les Berceuses de Coline” (Grandie Nature 2007). The next album with Nadia's latest original songs is scheduled for November 2008.
Musical cooperations include live projects and recordings with the English folk band “Morris Open”, Sebastian Fuhrmann (percussion, piano, bouzouki), Mckinley Black, Jo Freya, Dominique Dantand (organ), Cathrin Pfeifer (accordeon), Northern Lights (string quartet), Bernd Roth (diatonic accordeon), Sarath Ohlms (percussion), Gabriele Steinfeld (violin, “Freiburger Barockorchester”).
Nadia plays a celtic harp that is build by the German harp maker Frank Sievert (rosewood, tuning: E flat, 34 gut strings).