Album: Eye of the Eagle - Narrated

More Details > Eye of the Eagle - Narrated Not Available by Dave Bainbridge & David Fitzgerald Released in 1999 CD: Not Available Download*: £7.99 *available in raw AIF & MP3 formats **FULL VERSION W/NARRATION**

1998 saw a renewed collaboration between the two co-founders, who were both drawn to the writings of David Adam and in particular the idea of writing music together around the text of a book that was very special to them: The Eye of the Eagle. It was during a visit to Lindisfarne that David Fitzgerald enquired of David Adam which of all the writings that he had released over the years would he feel would be the one that he would most like to see set to some kind of musical interpretation, without hesitation he replied "The Eye of the Eagle". The seed for the project was sown and so a few years later (in November 1998) the recorded project was released.

'The Eye of the Eagle' takes us on a journey through the medium of creative and powerful use of word and music which produces a landscape of images in the mind of the listener. These landscapes speak to us of the mystery of creation, from the vastness of this world and of the universe beyond, to the intimacy of human relationship and spiritual experience.

Based upon the book of the same name, 'The Eye of the Eagle' is a musical interpretation of the writings of the highly acclaimed writer and poet David Adam, who also narrates his own work on the original CD recording (his voice being recorded on location on the Island of LEindisfarne, along with the sounds of the island: the sounds of the sea, the wind and the sea birds.

'The Eye of the Eagle' draws upon select Biblical sources as well as the work of writers such as William Blake and TS Elliot. In addition to this are other texts by ancient Celtic Saints such as St Patrick and modern Eastern Orthodox writer Bishop Kallistos Ware. The emphasis is upon the music however, which is a faithful interpretation of the chosen texts, and is a most wonderful and rich tapestry of sounds and styles.
PERSONNEL:
Dave Bainbridge: keyboards, piano, acoustic & electric guitars, bouzouki, star bells, Indian bells, sound modelling, programming, vocal & choral arrangements

Dave Fitzgerald: Soprano, Alto & Tenor saxophones, flute, Chinese flutes, Irish whistles, flageolet, clarinet

SPECIAL GUESTS:
Moya Brennan: vocal loops
Shona MacDonnald: vocals
Scott Farrell: St. Edmundsbury Cathedral organ
Choir: The St. Edmundsbury Boys Choir
David Adam: poetry & narration

PRODUCED BY: Dave Bainbridge

LABEL:

TRACK LISTING:

1   Open My Eyes 6:14  
2   Fire and Water 4:03  
3   Hymn of the Universe 8:32  
4   Though the Dawn Breaks 4:18  
5   Upon a Path of Light 2:11  
6   A Further Shore 4:54  
7   I Arise Today (Through the Strength of Heaven) 2:33  
8   The Lightener of the Stars 4:00  
9   On the Wings of the Morning 5:45  
10   King of Moon, Sun and Stars 7:18  
11   Calm 1:58  
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Avg: 10.0Reviews (4)
Mon, 1 November 1999
No rating
Visionary poetry set to entrancing music
Review:  Christianity Magazine
Mon, 1 November 1999
Visionary poetry set to entrancing music
Sun, 1 August 1999
No rating
....instruments, vocals and narration blend together to facilitate not so much an atmosphere as an experience
Review:  Worship Together Magazine
Sun, 1 August 1999
....instruments, vocals and narration blend together to facilitate not so much an atmosphere as an experience
Tue, 1 December 1998
   10/10
David Adams is a modern day Celtic writer and his book "The Eye Of The Eagle" is a meditation on the Celtic hymn "Be Thou My Vision" combining his own...
Review:  Cross Rhythms Mazazine
Tue, 1 December 1998
   10/10
David Adams is a modern day Celtic writer and his book "The Eye Of The Eagle" is a meditation on the Celtic hymn "Be Thou My Vision" combining his own original writing with the works of other writers who he thought could shed spiritual illumination. The book has been an influence on Fitzgerald and Bainbridge and already explored thematically on Iona's 'Journey Into The Morn'. This new piece sees the two founder members of Iona....creating pieces that are directly born out of Adam reading extracts from his book. The combination of Adam's rich Northumbrian voice and the ambient instrumental passages that undulate around the voice makes for compelling listening. Some pieces were created from spontaneous musical improvisations, whilst others were carefully constructed with layer upon layer of sound. Adam's words, choirs, swirling synths, Fitzgerald's flute and woodwind, Bainbridge's guitar, a huge cathedral organ and the ethereal sounds of Maire Brennan's vocals all fuse together in the most intriguing fashion creating a beautiful soundscape. Were it just music, this would be a wonderful experience but the album takes the listener on a further journey, across the universe measuring the vastness of space and the hugeness of the God who holds the planets in place and yet desires fellowship with every human soul. Thus the album speaks intimately into the heart and yet in doing so maintains a sense of hugeness. Bainbridge, Fitzgerald and Adam have created something majestic that stirred me and yet also moved me to tears as I have listened in the last fortnight. This is a significant work and if you've already been captivated by the work of Iona, Maire Brennan or Fitzgerald's solo material, you'll want to add this to your collection.
No rating
The sheer power under control of Fitz's playing: the saxophone now roaring like a lion, now piccolo & piping a folkish tune, Bainbridge's keyboard now...
Review:  Joe Dade, Norwich Cathedral
The sheer power under control of Fitz's playing: the saxophone now roaring like a lion, now piccolo & piping a folkish tune, Bainbridge's keyboard now a symphony orchestra, now with guitar and lute....the sounds they make, together with vocalists and cathedral choir, lift us high above the temporal landscape where we glimpse the eternal