Artist...............: John Doan
Album................: Departures
Genre................: Celtic
Source...............: CD
Year.................: 1988
John Doan plays an unusual instrument usually called a harp guitar. This are instruments that use one of several method of adding an additional range of strings to the guitar's normal six. In Doan's regular instrument there are fourteen unfretted strings as well as those on the standard guitar neck. The result is an instrument of considerable sonority and the ability to play complex compositions that would otherwise be impossible. For Doan this isn't a gimmick - he is a master of the instrument and has been from the beginning. This is ably demonstrated by Departures, his first commercial release.
As a player composer Doan often chooses to work in ensemble, sharing the lead with the other instrumentalists, contributing to the fine contrapuntal style that marks his works. Thus, the spectacular complexity of a work like 'Wings of the Morning' or the many-sided arrangement of Tra Amici is partly due to Doan's ability with 20 strings and partly due to his ability to wring the best out of his fellow musicians. But as 'Leaving Dun Laoghaire' proves he can do a fine job even when left to himself.
Doan's work has a strong Celtic bent, although modern in it's approach. He makes little secret about this in his liner notes, much of the music was composed during a trip to the isles. He uses a variety of traditional instruments in that context, and does some interesting choral work in 'Visit to Heaven' (which, among other voices, includes the Monks of Mount Angel Abbey). It is rare that a first release by an artist is at quite this level of professionalism and quality. I find the album bears up well under continued listening - definitely a must for the those who enjoy instrumental popular music.
TRACKLIST
1. (00:05:40) John Doan - Tra Amici
2. (00:05:05) John Doan - Leaving Dun Laoghaire
3. (00:05:36) John Doan - Wings Of The Morning
4. (00:06:42) John Doan - Visit To Heaven
5. (00:06:09) John Doan - Winter's Eve
6. (00:04:41) John Doan - Beloved
7. (00:06:41) John Doan - Night Crossing
8. (00:04:54) John Doan - Anthem
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