The Dawning of the Day by Laurie Rasmussen reviewed by Adam Victor Christensen Released by Lorelei, 809 SE 29th Avenue, Portland OR 97214 At last, Laurie Rasmussen has found time to record and celebrate her love of music ... traditional and original ... in The Dawning of the Day. The rich, dark voice of the cello played by Janet Haarvig and the soaring notes of the flute by Trudy Shotliff complete a trio in which Laurie's Dusty Strings folk harp weaves melody and harmony as if on a golden loom. She has gathered some of the most eternal melodies from Ireland and Scotland and carefully avoided the urge to "classicize"or "impressivize" folk music when using flute and cello to complete the tunes. She has kept the arrangements sheer and uncluttered, and recorded them with an intuitive center of balance that lets the music breathe and open in calmness. Her warm touch on the strings allows them to speak to us today, as they have for years past, as the music of sweet memory and noble feeling. There are many great moments on this recording, but the first cut, "Brigid O'Malley," with its poignant cello melody is one of my favorites. The Irish lullaby, "Einini," "The Wild Geese,"and O'Carolan's "Blind Mary/Sheebeg Sheemore" are also high points for me. Copyright © 1998 Adam Victor Christensen   Selections:1 ) Brigid O'Malley 2 ) Sophia Rose3 ) The Wild Geese 4) Gaelic Melody/Star of the County Down 5 ) The Mermaid's Song 6 ) Einini 7 ) The Dawning of the Day 8 ) Morgan Magan 9 ) Blind Mary/Sheebeg Sheemore 10 ) Squire Wood's Lamentation on the Refusal of His Halfpence 11 ) Ca' the Yowes/Swallowtail Jig 12 ) The Banks of the Roses/ My Guiding Star   Originally published in the Folk Harp Journal   This recording is available from ... a harper's garden   Other articles you may enjoy ...   More reviews "Communion: An Interview with Kim Robertson" by David Michael "The Carving of the Sirr Harp" by Charlotte O'Faolain Hallett "An American Harper in Wales" by Jane Valencia Kim Robertson's Home Page and Newsletter Harpers Hall & culinary society Return to Eldalamberon page design and original graphics © 1998 Adam Victor Christensen