Old Hearth

Old Hearth
Robin Bowen
EMI Canada / Marquis Classics
(7-7471-81247-2-2)

Robin Huw Bowen plays the Welsh triple harp, a harp with three ranks of strings. Although not Welsh in origin, this type of harp is generally considered to have achieved its height, in terms of both craftsmanship and performance, in Wales, hence the name. Bowen, widely considered one of the finest Welsh triple harp players in the world, presents an enjoyable selection of pieces here, ranging from the classic to the newly composed.

Deceptive in their apparent simplicity, these pieces have an elegant complexity that highlights the strengths of Bowen's instrument, such as "The Queen's Marsh," with its sparkling arpeggios and rhythmic falls. Like a good blues tune, this is rainy-day music that simultaneously exults in the melancholy and soothes the soul. It is also the perfect accompaniment for winter, especially if you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, good company, and mulled wine.

The modern pieces blend well with the earlier ones, so that listeners might not be able to tell which is which (especially since the track listing gives the titles in English while Bowen's liner notes give them in Welsh. However, this mingling is easily overlooked, as Old Hearth is the perfect accompaniment to a crisp autumn or winter day.

--Genevieve Williams