Featuring: Celtic harp
hammered dulcimer
Irish flutes & whistles

Titles:

Our Newest
Release!!!!
Midnight Clear

Our Other
Recordings:
The Earth
Remembers

All Thru the Night

The American Christmas

A Celtic Portrait

Celtic Meditations

The Earth's Essence

Friendship,
a Gift

Meditative Readings

Michigan's Heritage

Our Essence

Reverence

Season's Greetings

Spiritual Essence

Email AUDIO Greeting Card Click on these links to HEAR audio recording of An Irish Blessing St. Columba's Prayer Broadband (cable/wireless) down load Dial up (phone line) down load  (You may need to download Windows Media Player) Read lyrics and story below Click here to send this audio email card to a friend! Copy this url  http://www.collectingconsort.com/em_card_2_23_5_columba.htm  and paste it to your email greeting for your friend! Stay informed of new Collecting Consort creations  Subscribe to email newsletter

Page Contents:

Sung by Will Nichols, baritone
 

On each window and on each doorway, On each place where moonlight enters.

On all four corners of your house -
On the place where you lay your head.

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There are three saints that are dominate in importance for the Irish.  They are St. Patrick, St. Brigid, and St.Columba.

St. Columba (Colum - Latin for dove) was born in Ireland in 521.  Given into the foster care of a priest as an infant, his life began as a servant to the church.  He completed his formal religious training at the age of twenty-five.  A striking figure with a powerful build, it is said his load, melodious voice could be heard from one hilltop to another.

Columba was fascinated by books and their contents and spent much of his time copying valuable manuscripts.  According to legend, this practice caused him grief when he copied a borrowed psalter, and the owner of the psalter demanded that Columba give up that copy.  The copy's ownership was decided by a king, and the decision went against Columba. 

According to another story, further difficulty occurred for Columba when a prince who had fatally injured a rival, took refuge with Columba.  A battle ensued, and while Columba's cause was victorious, 3,000 people died.  While he felt he had been in the right, his conscience would not rest.  He resolved to exile himself to another land and win for Christ as many souls as perished in the battle.   

	Whatever the reason, Columba set sail with twelve of his followers to Iona (one of Scotland's Hebrides Islands) to establish his order. There are many legends about his conversions of the pagan Scots, and most are associated with miracles that impressed these converts.
St. Columba Bay on Isle of Iona where Columba first landed

A skilled sailor, he not only established Christianity in Scotland but helped to transplant Celtic enlightenment.  In addition to being a skilled writer and poet, it is said that he was a renowned artist.

Perhaps some of his illuminations may have become a part of the Book of Kells, which many feel was created on his Isle of Iona.  The Book of Kells is perceived as the oldest illuminated Biblical manuscript and contains beautifully created illuminations within its pages.

Today, his Isle of Iona is still a spiritual sanctuary and a destination for many seeking the solitude, beauty and reverence so valued by Columba.

Photos from our spiritual pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona, June 2004
by G. Wakenhut

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Will Nichols Baritone	Tony Patterson Keyboard	A. Wakenhut Celtic Harp	G. Wakenhut Irish Flute

We would like to thank Will and Tony for sharing their talents with you on this recording.  

Will is the Secrest Professor of Music and Director of the Alma College Choirs and his groups are recognized as some of the best collegiate ensembles in the country. He is also in demand as a baritone/bass soloist.

Tony is Artist-in-Residence and Staff Accompanist at Alma College and assists with the accompaniment and writes arrangements for the choral ensembles.  He is also recognized as a piano soloist and has two recordings to his credit.   

They are well known to those who desire our recordings.  Will's vocals are featured on the All Thru the Night recording and Tony's arranging and keyboard skills are in evidence on the Reverence and The Earth Remembers recordings.

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Other Email Audio Greeting Cards:

Other Green Email audio greeting cards. 
Danny  Boy
Will Nichols, baritone with the Collecting Consort
The Collecting Consort

Irish Blessings
Blessing of Light
May the Road Rise Up to Meet You
The Collecting Consort

The Story of St. Patrick
Tony Patterson, keyboard, Nora Anderson, oboe & English horn
with the Collecting Consort

National Public Radio Collecting Consort St. Patrick's Day Concert

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