A Celtic Pilgrimage John Doan

• 1Farewell04:09
• 2Patrick In The Spirit04:26
• 3Wake-Waiting For The Dawn04:32
• 4Gazing On The Face Of The Sea04:00
• 5Wayfarer - On The Path To Holy Cross Abbey04:11
• 6St. Joseph Arrives In Avalon05:10
• 7Yeats Country - Where William Lies04:45
• 8Where Horses Of Faery Hide05:36
• 9The Way Of My Fathers04:58
• 10The Hunter And The Hare05:11
• 11Resting Upon Jacob’s Pillow04:22
• 12Bungowla - The End Of The Road05:12
• Total Runtime56:32

Info for A Celtic Pilgrimage

12 stunning solo performances on the 20-string concert harp guitar, by the instrument's originator, John Doan. Here for the first time on this album are new recordings of the original solo arrangements crafted by John - the incredible 20-string solos we've been hearing for years at his live performances.

Pieces which appeared in more orchestrated arrangements on Eire and Wayfarer are a treat to hear laid bare in this intimate and emotional recording.

John Doan plays the harp guitar, an obscure antique instrument with an indeterminate lineage. When you hear Doan play, it sounds like more than one musician performing. It's not that his lines are so complicated, but deep lows and ringing highs are mixed in with the sound of conventional acoustic guitar strings.

Although Doan doesn't play traditional music, the American musician uses the harp guitar to profess his love of the Celtic Isles. Wayfarer follows up his previous album, Eire: Isle of the Saints, with another collection of songs woven together with the intricacy of a Celtic knot. Inspired by his travels to sacred locations in Ireland, Doan often composed this music right on the spot. Amplified by Billy Oskay's immaculate production, Doan's gorgeous melodies lift off the heather accompanied by Irish whistles, subtle choirs, and enveloping atmospheres. With Wayfarer, Doan once again goes beyond the Celtic clichés and rote standards for an album that brings the mystery back to Ireland. (John Diliberto)

John Doan, one of the few masters of the rare twenty-string harp guitar, has performed with a diverse range of artists including pop star Donovan, folk legend Burl Ives, jazz ace Larry Carlton, Mason Williams (of "Classical Gas" fame), as a member of the New Christy Minstrels with Randy Sparks, among others and his virtuoso playing and arranging has attracted praise from no less a guitar luminary than Chet Atkins. He recently contributed a chapter to "Between the Strings - the Secret Lives of Guitars" a veritable compendium of the world's greatest guitarists with introduction by B.B. King. He has appeared in numerous publications including the Washington Post and Billboard Magazine as well as staring in two much-loved television specials produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting: "A Christmas to Remember With John Doan" (seen on PBS) and his Emmy nominated "A Victorian Christmas With John Doan." His latest recordings on Hearts O' Space Records have been nominated for "Best Celtic Album of the Year" with Eire - Isle of the Saints winning that title. His music has also been featured on numerous prime-time television and movie productions including Walt Disney, among others. His lastest video project is a 90 minute documentary that he wrote and starred in titled "In Search of the Harp Guitar." John recently hosted an International Harp Guitar Festival at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon where he is an Associate Professor of Music. He lives near Salem with his wife Deirdra atop of an extinct volcano overlooking the Willamette Valley (he is hoping his view will not be enhanced in the coming years).

Booklet for A Celtic Pilgrimage