[Local Report]

"Celtic Harp - Healing Ireland," released on March 29, 2019, is a soothing album recorded on-site in Ireland.

In November 2018, I visited Ireland for filming.

We will report on the recording that took place over 5 nights and 6 days.

I have a fear of flying, but for this recording I took a 12-hour flight to Dublin, Ireland. Dublin is the capital of Ireland, located in the east of the country, near the mouth of the River Liffey, which means "River of Life" in the local Gaelic language. Although it is a large city, it has few skyscrapers and is characterized by its historic streets.



The recording took place at Camden Recording Studio on Camden Street, Dublin's lively music and cafe district, about a 10-minute walk from Dublin Castle in the heart of the capital.

Not only is the sound quality top-notch, but the stylish interior is also used for filming promotional videos and sessions. It's a cozy studio filled with large, relaxing sofas and the warmth of wood.

The Celtic harp performer for this performance will be Sile Denvir, who has studied singing and harp directly from traditional musicians since childhood and is one of the few musicians to hold doctorates in traditional music from numerous universities.

Guest musician Barry Kerr, an accomplished traditional musician and painter, adds accents on Irish flute and guitar. Barry's Irish flute, which can be heard on tracks such as "Butterfly," "Little Fairy Hill, Big Fairy Hill," "Danny Boy," and "O'Carolan's Welcome," is made of wood and has a distinctively soft sound that is different from that of a metal flute.


Left: Schiele Right: Barry

Irish Flute

The recording engineer was Kieran Byrne, who also worked with the iconic Irish band U2.
This was not his first time recording Schiele, so he set up the microphone without any hesitation.


Kieran Byrne

I had a preconceived notion that Ireland is a cold country, but it wasn't that cold in November, with the average daytime temperature around 10 degrees Celsius. However, the weather was unstable, with rain coming and going, and clouds covering the city all day, giving the impression of a damp atmosphere.

Sunrise in Dublin is around 8am and sunset is around 5pm. The daylight hours are short, about 9 hours, and evening comes quickly. The recording started in the morning, so the temperature was low, and everyone sipped hot coffee and tea as the recording progressed.


Celtic Harp (Irish Harp)

The Celtic harp, played in Celtic countries and also known as the Irish harp, is much smaller than the grand harp used in classical music, and is characterized by a very rustic and warm sound.

This instrument, which is said to have existed since the 12th century, has conveyed many ballads (traditional songs) as well as many myths and legends to the Irish people, and has supported their hard and difficult lives. Even today, it is used on the front of coins and on the label of Guinness beer, and is a symbol of the Irish people's hearts.


Guinness beer logo

Back of the euro coin


You can see Celtic harps all over the city.

Although the recording took place in a country very far from Japan, listening to the melody played by the harp gives me a sense of nostalgia.

Japan, on the far east side of the world, and Ireland, on the far west side of the world, may share some common roots. If so, that would be wonderful.

Thank you to the people of Ireland. "Go raibh maith agat." (Thank you!)

(Dela Co., Ltd.: Music Producer Kunihito Ikeda)

<Staff>
Celtic Harp: Síle Denvir
Wooden Flute & Guitar: Barry Kerr
Producer: Kunihito Ikeda
Recording Engineer: Ciaran Byrne
Recorded at Camden Recording Studios, November, 24-25 2018 Dublin Ireland
Mix & Mastering Engineer: Tadaaki Kisaka
Production Coordinator: Yoko Nozaki (THE MUSIC PLANT), Akiko Tomiyama
Design: Suzuka Nakamura (SDR.inc)
Executive Producer: Hideo Utsugi

"Celtic Harp - Healing Ireland"


<Product information>
Total 18 songs/approx. 63 minutes
Price: ¥1,800 (excluding tax)
Product number: DLDH-1903