Diana Rowan - Harpist: Press

This is a disc that finally takes the harp to a serious space, something rarely done. Thus, if you're serious about harp, one way or another, you're going to end up listening to Diana Rowan.

I always thought harps were sissy, delicate instruments. The way Diana Rowan plays makes even non-harp fans sit up and notice. Not exactly Celtic, but international, melodic, rhythmic, syncopated, complex. This harp music has cojones. Diana plays absolutely gorgeous music effortlessly. You cannot believe she gets so much sound out of her instrument while making it appear as if she's just sitting down. Rachel Durling, violin and Peter Maund on percussion play with such assuredness that the combination sounds exactly right—as if there should be more trios like this. Don’t miss a chance to hear The Bright Knowledge.

Diana's innovative composition and arrangements, her choice of vocalists and musicians with whom to collaborate and her consummate skill all come together perfectly in this, her second, CD. Haunting melodies, rich vocal harmonies and skillful playing are a delight. Diana is able to elicit strong, rich tones from an instrument known for its delicacy. She can be gentle, too, coaxing soft, moody tones. Don't miss this one. 5 stars.

To really appreciate where Diana Rowan is taking the harp, you have to start at the fifth cut, a classically composed piece inspired by Auden's anti-war poem The Shield of Achilles. It's a moody threnody alternating between lyrical plaint and studied introspection, coloring perfectly in cautions and admonitory airs. With that under the belt, it's easier to see where the follower, The Marvelous Year, is a Debussy-ish composition, not a New Age cut, as one might expect. Live Without Thought of Dying is another song styled after classical thoughts, this time St. Catherine's, and, thus, The Bright Knowledge escapes a trap inherent in New Age releases appearing similar to this one, with their harps as gelded as the saccharine shakuhachis always seeming to accompany everything in that genre. The addition of Rachel Durling's violin is equally affective, furthering an ancient feel to the melodies.

In several cuts, Rowan infuses segments from masterpieces—Clair de Lune, Gregorian chant, etc.—and then looks to European cutures for more exotic inspirations. Yishru Shalom, for instance, is akin to a Voix Mysteres de Bulgare piece, and at least two cuts have Carnatic raga basings, Devoted being another melancholy beauty. In other words, this is a disc that finally takes the harp to a serious space, something rarely done. Georgia Kelley didn't cut it in years past, and the only LP I can think of that considered the instrument as something other than New Age sopor was Art in America, a prog-pop delight that placed the stringed behemoth front and center. Thus, if you're serious about harp, one way or another, you're going to end up listening to Diana Rowan.

A recording of original compositions by up and coming traditional harper, Diana Rowan. Beautiful, contemplative and evocative. The compositions range from a piece based on Homer's The Illiad where Rowan seems to attack the harp strings with all the fury of Achilles, to an exploration of the harper's own process of creation in The Roaring Silence.

Which is first-- breadth of repertoire or their musicianship? No matter. The sum
total will titillate even the most jaded audience. Diana is an astounding harpist---playing pieces that range from inspired traditional-based tunes
to improvisational skin-prickling scats. Consider it a blessed time, to have this music seep into your being.

A house concert last night with sirens of song Diana Rowan (Celtic Harp) & vocalist Bon Singer has replenished my soul! Drinking directly from the cup of the Muse Herself, the mysteries & magic of eons seemed to fill the room with grace, port...ent, and power. Marvelous & wonderful, seek ye therefore the nectar of these exquisite songstresses!

Thank for this positive and transformative musical experience. The purity and beauty of your music took me on a journey towards self-realization that I need to live my life now, embracing all that is good and right for my life.

I hear things in your playing and in your harp that I just don’t hear anywhere else.

I so enjoyed your CD. Thank you so much for sharing it with me. The Indian touches were appreciated and you really made the harp sound like a sitar & tambura, capturing the flavor of Indian music. Congratulations

Diana Rowan with Deepak Ram swept listeners to far off places and mystically blended the distant past with modern times.
-Review of the 19th Festival of Harps

Thank you for bringing more enchantment into my world!

Your concert last night was transporting -- the music was lyrical and powerful at the same time, a lovely combination of romance and thoughtfulness. Thank you so much.

Diana Rowan brought her unique performance to the Paschal Winery Cellar for a special Valentine's show on February 14th. She treated us to a performance of extraordinary beauty and grace. Diana's wonderful personality and ease with her audience perfectly balanced the intense beauty of her music. Those of us lucky enough to be there were enthralled by her performance, her stories and the beautiful stage design of Inge Brust.

Harps are synonymous with angles, heaven and pure beauty. The physical shape of the instrument is artful and the harp duo team of Diana Rowan and Patrice Haan played these harps with pure musical beauty. With a variety of styles and genres, Diana and Patrice transported the seniors at St. Anne’s Home to a realm of needed beauty and splendor. The experience of the concert caused one of the seniors to reminisce about her friend of 62 years that passed away two months prior. “I know she is here right now in spirit. She loved music and she played the harp. I miss her with all of my heart but all I feel right now is joy.” It was a great day at St. Anne’s Home.

It's like throwing open all the windows of your house (on a nice day). Totally lovely.
- about The Bright Knowlewdge

You are truly a gift sent to me by the Harp Gods..you are the culmination of all my work, The highlight of my entire harp making career. There is no one I've ever heard that is so "at one" with the Nova, and takes it on journeys that can't even be imagined by others.

The very first piece actually made me cry when I first heard it. It was like recognizing all of the potential of the Nova, all at once. It was exactly like the first time I strung one up and played it. I would have to say I was completely overcome with emotion hearing, for the first time, the true brilliance of the harp and listening to it's soul. The rest of the CD does exactly what I've always wanted someone to do with the Nova...touch it, feel it, start playing it, and guide it out into the open, then turn it loose and hang on. My intuitive connection with this harp always has suggested that it needs to be let free, to take you on a journey, to change on a whim, then take off again. It's amazing that you have managed to do just that.

Diana's shining soul and sparkling personality are conducted through her fingers through her harp to the very heart of any listener. She could take Happy Birthday and interpret in such a way that you'd laugh, cry and change your life.

Greetings from lovely Istanbul, where I've come to light for a few days after a 10-day peregrination by rental car through Anatolia, from Esbelli Evi to Kalehan Hotel via Konya, Antalya, Olimpos, Kas, Fethiye, Dalyan, Marmaris and Bodrum.
All along the way, the soothing musical waterfall of Diana Rowan's wonderful harp music helped me to keep my composure in the madness of the Turkish highways.
Thank you SO MUCH!

Your CD has been playing literally for days here at home ...
Lovely and loving and lively and sumptuous and healing/soothing ....
Best wishes always ...

The CD did arrive today and I played it on my way to Orleans, was tempted to pull off my blouse and do a belly dance while driving but resisted temptation. Please tell her that I love her compositions and the combination of both Celtic and Mediterranean is wonderful! I appreciate your sharing her music with me. I have nothing like it and it will be one of my long time favorites.

I'm loving your CD...very deep and
magical...haunting with the Celtic-Mediterranean
connection...seamlessly beautiful...

I just got an iPod and am so in love with this CD!!! I can hear the subtleties through the headset so much more clearly now. My favorites are the Love Set and the Holy Trinity—divine and almost ecstatic! I have listened almost non-stop for 2 days. Thank you, thank you.

I first heard your music on Rythmbox and fell madly in love with your harp. Wonderful music on what was a very trying day for me.
Thank you for making my day bright.
John

I have been spending a lot of time lately at the Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek as a dear friend has been in critical condition for the past three weeks. The beautiful harp music of Dianna Rowan this afternoon turned my whole day around. What a wonderful idea. What lovely kindness she offered to all within earshot. I intend to go to Harps, etc. in Walnut Creek tomorrow a purchase a couple of your albums. I am also making a small donation. As I have grown older I have come to believe that life really made up of the seemingly small things... it is made up of seconds and inches. Thanks so much to Dianna and to your fine organization for adding some beautiful notes to my "seconds" today.
May you all be well and happy!