Fairy of the Woods

EDITORIAL REVIEWS
In this music you behold a beam from the heart of a kindred soul, revealing at once a landscape both human and fairy. A noble work of compassion and wonder, this circle of ten instrumental pieces by Gary Stadler emerges now from its three years crafting. O you who listen by candlelight, you who follow the Gypsy Moon, here at last, here is the solace that you seek! R. Merlin

REVIEW
"Stadler brings us to the place of magic and wonder where fairy tales are true.." -- Innerchange Magazine

"The ethereal beauty of Garys piano and keyboards delicately weave tapestries of magical melodies that will send you soaring.." -- Steve Ryals, New Age Retailer

"With a light yet heartfelt touch on the piano, Stadler deftly explores that dreamlike state where Magick happens." -- Napra Review

"an artistic interpretation of the magic of Celtic traditions, for dreamers who want to reclaim their own sense of magic." -- Lee Stone, Innerchange Magazine

As if conjured up from some dark but fragrant corner of the universal mind comes the music of Gary Stadler. The result is Fairy of the Woods, an album with so much heart and simplicity that you will want to drop your worldly concerns and possessions and just dive into the beauty, perhaps never to return.

The music speaks for itself and works in a gorgeous, unpretentious way. The album opens with the sound of a glade at nightfall, with crickets and then a softly gliding piano line, which gradually expands out like ripples along a still pond, waking the fairies to their dance. The title track is a dreamy sea of overlapping and intertwining keyboard melodies, a wash of glowing synthesizer over alternating, simple piano melodies with soft chime and string touches.

"Pool of Light" brings you into the fairy chamber at last. Cascades of harpsichord add a sense of courtly propriety and decorum, signaling perhaps that the dreaming and waking part of your fairyland slumber has come to a close and that it is time to meet the queen herself. If you let it, the music can give your spirit wings as you embrace the fluffy clouds of Celtic majesty. But all things fade, even the eternal castles of the fairies must vanish with the coming sun. At album's end, Stadler strikes a melancholy note, the inevitable follow-up to so much tranquil and rewarding joy. Just as mortals must shuffle off to bed at the call of night, so must the fairies in your heart shuffle off at the dawn's first rays. Fear not, sad-eyed reveler, this album is not going anywhere, except maybe in your special case of favorites. -- DailyOM.com





FROM THE ARTIST
Some of my earliest childhood memories include hours of sitting in front of our old upright piano with the covers removed, twanging the strings and listening to the beauty of the sounds as they slowly faded into nothingness. As I grew, I learned piano and most of the school orchestra instruments; when asked if I wanted to be a fireman when I grew up, I always replied, "No, I want to be an orchestra conductor". For a time I let music go while pursuing technology and an occupation, though my old piano has always remained my closest and dearest friend - helping me grow through the sorrows and joys of my life, its music has always been a most perfect means of emotional communication and expression.

In 1993 I wrote two pieces, Dreamspell and Awakening, for a play "The Goblin's Bride" in which a country girl, Sylvia, was kidnapped by a goblin who tried to force her to marry him. Upon her refusal he agrily turned her into stone "to think about it for a few hundred years." She was soon found by some of her forest fairy playmates, who didn't have the powers to release her from the goblin's spell, but could (and did) return her to life in the form of a fairy.

Over the next two years, I continued the musical exploration of that story and with inspiration and help from many firends and circumstances, these recordings are my musical offerings to you. Enjoy...

-Gary Stadler







ABOUT THE ARTIST
As a pianist, composer, songwriter and producer, Gary Stadler is a strong influence in the genre of contemporary Celtic music. His latest album Fairy Heart Magic featuring new vocalist and composer, Stephannie and Celtic harpist Lisa Lynne (Windham Hill), has already hit the Billboard New Age Top 25 charts. Gary has combined melodic elements of rare world instruments and symphonic wizardry to become one of the best selling composers of Celtic loved music today. Gary Stadler knew at an early age that music would play an important part in his life. In school, in his hometown of San Diego, he learned to play the piano and most of the instruments in the orchestra. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he always replied, "I want to be an orchestra conductor!" Another of his early interests, stage lighting and laser art became his first career, creating magical laser light shows to enhance the performances of a variety of touring bands. Yet throughout, his piano remained his closest friend. In 1993 Gary wrote the songs, Dream Spell and Awakening, for a stage play produced and performed in San Diego titled "The Goblin's Bride", based on Celtic myths of the realm of "Faerie". Over the next few years he crafted more songs based on this theme, creating the intimately mysterious piano and synthesizer bliss found on his first album, Fairy of the Woods, released by Sequoia Records in 1996. Gary's heartfelt piano and sensitive orchestrations were well received by fans of New Age and Celtic music. New Age Voice Magazine wrote: "Strong and compelling melodies and lovely synth orchestral settings make Gary Stadler's Fairy of the Woods a magical charmer. Stadler's melodies and arrangements are classically structured, but his orchestrations offer a colorful imagination the opportunity to inhabit the auld Celtic realms of fairies and wizards, glens and caves, fireflies and stardust." Vacationing in Hawaii, Gary met vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Singh Kaur, known to New Age listeners for her "Crimson Series" of acoustic recordings. Enchanted by her pure voice and talent Gary invited her to join him in his second album, Fairy Night Songs, released in May 1998 by Sequoia Records. Steve Ryals for New Age Retailer wrote: "Kaur and Stadler bring the healing mystery of the fairy folk to life. Kaur's voice soars like fairies dancing on gentle night breezes, with lyrics and pure vocalizations. Stadler composed most of the music and contributed string bass and cello to his keyboards and piano. The 16-page cover booklet is filled with entrancing art and complete lyrics. Fairy Night Songs is absolutely exquisite from beginning to end." For his third record, Gary collaborated with Stephannie, a young vocalist and songwriter with a unique talent: by recalling her dreams she composes lyrics in a new language of Celtic fantasy no one has heard before. Together they recorded a delicate and innocent sound. With Gary's incomparable piano melodies, Stephannie's enchanting fairy language, and joined by the renowned Celtic harpist Lisa Lynne, Sequoia released Fairy Heart Magic in October 2000 to a warm reception by fans and retailers, and a chart position on Billboards New Age Top 25.

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Number of Discs: 1

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