Introduction

“One of the most gratifying things about traveling is the opportunity to meet people – to learn about their lives and interests and in turn share with them who you are, where you’re from and what you do.

Although music is a performance art, it is also a sharing art; and it was a great pleasure to share our musical offerings in so many magnificent outdoor historic locations in a part of the world which has long fascinated me- especially since the last few studio recordings have been so heavily influenced by the history of the Celts in the Mediterranean region.

As we sat and played under those Mediterranean night skies, sometimes under stars and sometimes under rain, a unifying and underlying theme transcended all the borders we crossed: that we are a culmination of our collective histories and that there is still much more to bind us together than tear us apart.

To all of you who attended and inspired our performances – and shared their lives with us, albeit briefly – our very special thanks. You continue to shape what we do, and it is such a pleasure that we can share that now with others who were not able to travel with us.”

Description

A Mediterranean Odyssey is a two-disc collection that commemorates Loreena’s 2009 Mediterranean tour and combines newly recorded live performances of audience favorites with previously released studio recordings, all inspired by the tones, textures and rich cultural heritage of the Mediterranean.

The first disc, From Istanbul to Athens, features 56 minutes of concert highlights from the tour, including several songs that have never before been recorded live. It also includes a 24-page booklet with lavish illustrations and photos from the tour.

The second CD, The Olive and the Cedar, consists of 11 conceptualized studio versions of songs personally selected by Loreena from her catalogue. The disc focuses on her musical travel writing approach to the studio recording process and her inspiration in relation to the history of the Celts around the Aegean, the Mediterranean, North Africa and the near East.

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Credits

A Mediterranean Odyssey

Producer:
Loreena McKennitt

Assistant Producer:
Brian Hughes

Assistant to Producer:
Mark McCauley

Graphic Designer:
De St. Croix

Photography:
Ann Cutting
Demetris Koilalous
Giuseppe Leone
Mark McCauley
Loreena McKennitt
“The Dying Gaul” ©antmoose

From Istanbul to Athens

Muscians

Loreena McKennitt
Vocals, Harp, Accordian, Keyboards, Piano

Clive Deamer
Drums, Percussion

Simon Edwards
Bass

Ben Grossman
Hurdy Gurdy, Percussion, Triangle

Brian Hughes
Oud, Electric Guitars, Guitar Synthesizer, Nylon String Guitar, Celtic Bouzouki

Caroline Lavelle
Cello

Hugh Marsh
Violin

Stratis Psaradellis
Greek Lute, Greek Lyra, Classical Kemenche

Special Guests on Sacred Shabbat

Panos Dimitrakpolous
Kanoun

Haig Yazidjian
Oud

Recorded and Mixed by:
Jeff Wolpert

Mastered by:
Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios Inc.

The Olive and the Cedar

Music Selected by:
Loreena McKennitt

Special Thanks to:

Ian Blackaby
Kaaryn Gough
Bill Bruce
Jill Mackie
Sinan Nergis
Andrea Dean
Nigel Hassler
Erika Jones
Peter Williams
Tim Wilson
Giorgio Bottos
Richard Flohil
James Toledano
Dorcas Till
Mimmo Cuticchio
Giusi Macchiarella
Massimo Accascina

Quinlan Road
Deborah Woodbridge
Robin McGibbon
Michael Till
Amy Robinet
Ruth King

Touring Party
Loreena McKennitt
Roger Searle
Mark McCauley
Brian Hughes
Hugh Marsh
Caroline Lavelle
Ben Grossman
Startis Psaradellis
Clive Deamer
Simon Edwards
Clive Alcock
John “JJ” James
Philippe Hébert
Herve Holdrinet

Local Promoters
Sinan Nergis (Turkey)
Ahmet Izer (Turkey)
Pelin Opcin (Turkey)
Harun Izler (Turkey)
Nagi Baz (Lebanon)
Noëlle Baz (Lebanon)
Zsolt Borsanyi (Hungary)
Gabriella Juhasz (Hungary)
Anacletto Papa (Italy)
Marco Ercolani (Italy)
Vassilis Sachpasidis (Greece)
Mariza Kourtikaki (Greece)

This 2-disc commemorative package, including live performance highlights from Loreena McKennitt’s 2009 Mediterranean Tour as well as previously released studio recordings, was inspired by the history of The Celts in the Mediterranean.

CD, Vinyl & Sheet Music

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