Northern Isles

01. Solemn Columns (Thomas Loefke, arr. Ian V. Melrose, Máire Breatnach)
02. Walking Stones (Joe Scott, Janjoral Music/ BMI)
03. Touch of Spring (Thomas Loefke, arr. Ian V. Melrose)
04. Teistin (Thomas Loefke, arr. Kerstin Blodig, Máire Breatnach, Ian V. Melrose)
05. Beyond Words (Joe Scott, Janjoral Music/ BMI)
06/07. Mare and Foal (Thomas Loefke, arr. Kerstin Blodig, Máire Breatnach, Ian V. Melrose)
08. Mulin (Thomas Loefke, arr. Ian V. Melrose)
09. Tory Wishing Stone (Thomas Loefke, arr. Ian V. Melrose, strings arr. by Máire Breatnach)
10. Mofjell (Thomas Loefke, arr. Kerstin Blodig, Máire Breatnach, Ian V. Melrose)
11. Tór Mór (Thomas Loefke arr. Acoustic Eidolon)
12. Island in Winter (Thomas Loefke, arr. Ian V. Melrose)

Thomas Loefke Celtic harp
Ian Melrose guitar, low whistles, bass, synthesizer, programming
Máire Breatnach fiddle, viola
Kerstin Blodig guitar, bouzouki, vocals, bodhrán
Noel Duggan guitar
Pádraig Duggan mandolin
Hannah Alkire cello
Joe Scott double-neck guitjo, guitar, whistles, guitar synth.

1 Solemn Columns (Thomas Loefke, arr. Melrose, Breatnach)
Thomas Loefke - Celtic harp, Ian Melrose - guitar, low whistle, synth., bass, Máire Breatnach - fiddle, viola, Noel Duggan - guitar, Pádraig Duggan - mandolin

Starting in Fionnport on the Hebridean island of Mull first the boat passes Iona where the Irish monk Colmcille founded a monastery and lived for 34 years. Half an hour later Staffa (from Norse stafr-ey "pillar island") comes into view. The island consists of millions of basalt columns creating bizarre landscape formations and caves - a solemn place.

2 Walking Stones* (Joe Scott, Janjoral Music/ BMI)
Joe Scott - guitar, whistles, guitar synth., Hannah Alkire - cello, Thomas Loefke - Celtic harp, Ed Contreras - percussion

Hannah Alkire and Joe Scott are Acoustic Eidolon from Colorado (www.acousticeidolon.com) We met at a Festival in Vancouver several years ago and have done many tours together since. This is one of Joe's compositions.

3 Touch of Spring (Thomas Loefke, arr. Ian V. Melrose)
Thomas Loefke - Celtic harp, Ian Melrose- guitar, low whistle

Written for Kerstin on the night train to London many years ago after one of her concerts. I woke up in the morning in Oostende and had the tune in my head.

4 Teistin (Thomas Loefke, arr Blodig, Breatnach, Melrose, Alkire)
Thomas Loefke - Celtic harp, Kerstin Blodig - bouzouki, bodhrán, Ian Melrose - guitar, low whistle, synth., Máire Breatnach - fiddle, viola, Hannah Alkire - cello, Noel Duggan - guitar, Pádraig Duggan - mandolin

This Norland Wind tune carries the name of a bird - and the name of the boat between the islands of Streymoy and Hestur belonging the Faroe Islands. A strong boat, always riding the waves regardless of how high they might be. Sometimes a rough trip even in quiet waters. The Faroes, situated between the Shetland Islands and Iceland in the North Atlantic, were originally settled by Irish monks. They introduced sheep to the islands. So when the Vikings arrived they called the islands Føroyar (sheep islands).
Special thanks to Kristian Blakk for the opportunity to stay on Hestur for a good while.

5 Beyond Words* (Joe Scott, Janjoral Music/ BMI)
Joe Scott - double-neck guitjo, guitar synths, Hannah Alkire - cello, Thomas Loefke - Celtic harp, Ian Melrose - low whistle

Hannah and Joe played this tune at their own wedding. What a joy to rerecord it with them!

6/7 Mare and Foal (Thomas Loefke, arr. Blodig, Breatnach, Melrose)
Thomas Loefke - Celtic harp, Kerstin Blodig - guitar, bodhrán, Ian Melrose - guitar, low whistle, synth., Máire Breatnach - fiddle, viola

Hestur and Koltur ("horse and foal") are two neighbouring islands belonging to the Faroes.

8 Mulin (Thomas Loefke, arr. Ian V. Melrose)
Thomas Loefke - Celtic harp, Ian Melrose - guitar, low whistles, synth., bass, Máire Breatnach - viola

Belongs to the "Mare and Foal" tunes. A hill at the west end of Hestur is called Mulin (like so many other places on the Faroes). A great spot to spend endless summer nights. For Kristian and Sharon.

9 Tory Wishing Stone (Thomas Loefke, arr. Ian V. Melrose, strings arr. Máire Breatnach)
Thomas Loefke - Celtic harp, Máire Breatnach - fiddle, viola, Ian Melrose - low whistle, synth., programming, guitar

Tory island off the Northwest coast of Ireland is a place full of history, legend, music and art. It is connected to Iona through Colmcille who founded a monastery on Tory before his time on Iona. "You'll have to throw three pebbles onto the wishing stone. Should they stay on top your next wish will come true." For Annemiek.

10 Mofjell (Thomas Loefke, arr. Blodig, Breatnach, Melrose)
Thomas Loefke - Celtic harp, Kerstin Blodig - vocals, guitar, bodhrán, Ian Melrose - guitar, synth., bass, Máire Breatnach - fiddle, viola

Round hills, shining lakes, hundreds of shades of green, yellow and red, the gurgling of a clear creek, young birch trees everywhere and a small herd of reindeer: Mofjell in September. This is for Vigleik und Arna from Mo i Rana in Northern Norway. The tune was written in their beautiful mountain hut - a little piece of paradise near the arctic circle.

11 Tór Mór* (Thomas Loefke, arr. Acoustic Eidolon)
Thomas Loefke - Celtic harp, Hannah Alkire - violoncello, Joe Scott - double-neck guitjo

I have played this tune together with Norland Wind for a long time. Thanks to Hannah and Joe for the Acoustic Eidolon version of this tune about a bird rock on Tory Island. A place I like to come back to at least once a year.

12 Island in Winter (Thomas Loefke, arr. Ian V. Melrose)
Thomas Loefke - Celtic harp, Ian Melrose - low whistle

The first tune I ever composed. 20 years ago - on Tory Island. For Patsy Dan Mac Ruaidhrí, king, artist and great friend.

produced by Thomas Loefke and Jörg Surrey recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jörg Surrey (www.surrealissounds.de) *recorded by Joe Scott and Jörg Surrey

photography ©: Thomas Loefke (all landscapes), Kjell Vidar Andersen (cover), Claas Abraham (Norland Wind), Barry Sharp (Eidolon), Foto Weigel (T. Loefke Solo) coverdesign: Manfred Pollert, booklet design: Thomas Loefke and Laikart

copyright and phonorecorded by Laika-Records, Stavendamm 16, D-28195 Bremen, 1/3/4/6/7/8/9 and 10 published by Musikverlag Laika-Records & Publishing made 2007 by Sonopress Gmbh

Thomas harp made by Jan Muyllaert (www.irishharps.net) Ian Melrose plays Avalon acoustic guitars, Overton low whistles and DR strings, Kerstin Blodig plays Gibson guitars

THOMAS LOEFKE and friends