CelticWomanForum.com

Someone managed to get parts of "The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun" and "Newgrange" with Éabha!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfiRQ0gGbhs

Her voice is incredible!

I love those! She was fantastic in Sky Dawn Sun and very good in Newgrange, too.

However, I found that Mairéad's voice dominated Newgrange, very unlike from what Hollie said. I guess it simply depends on how fit they are that day. But since both are "able" to sing a bit louder or dominant than the other, I am sure they are also able to sing equally strong, which they did at some parts, too. I think their voices work beautifully in a duet.

I think I may be the only one but I don't like Eabha and Mairead's voices together, especially since hearing them live as it sounds different than on video.  They're both brilliant individually but together something just sounds off.  Eabha and Susan, I think, would duet better.

Hmm... well, I don't think it sounds live much different form the video. I think each performance sounds different. They are humans, after all. When you saw them, Mai C's voice was probably a bit weaker or Éabha's was stronger, and on another day it was different. I am VERY curious about what Ride On sounds like...

I actually rather liked Éabha and Mairead together. I mean, you can often hear Éabha's voice fairly distinctly, but I actually think it adds to the sound. I think that they'll polish the balance throughout the tour.

I think Éabha's voice has a wider tone, while Mai's is more on one place at once... it's like a wide, pale and blue-ish bar, whith a thin, bright, red-ish line in it. At least that's what I see/hear...

Eabha's voice overpowers Mairead's, to me it just sounds like she's singing over Mairead.  Watching the videos from Brazil, when Lynn sung with Mairead, she matched her range and sang with her which made it amazing, even Lisa L did that.  Eabha has more contrast and power which she fully uses and sadly it makes it hard to hear Mairead.  Best way to say what I think is: yes, they sound decent together but their voices don't compliment one another.  Susan has the middle ground between their vocal ranges and would be more complimentary to both of their individual voices. 

Personally, I don't think Susan is in the middle of their voices. Her voice, is the tightest and most piercing, while Éabha's is the widest and "dullest" (not in a negative way, I just don't know a better adjective), while Mairéad is in the middle, being able to sing high and sweet and piercing, but also often using a more Celtic breathier voice. In their duet of Newgrange - or rather in the version here, not necessarily the one you've seen on stage - it's Éabha whose voice is gentle in the background, being the base, with Mai's voice singing the structure, the defined tunes. It reminds me a bit of the original acapella version of Somewhere, with Méav and Lisa singing the lines and Chloe and Órlagh singing the base.

I agree 100%! I think they sound great together!

Shiningbright - I find Mairead's the most tightest and piercing while Susan has that soft, sweet celtic voice  :D. I doubt we're going to agree on anything about their voices xD  I'm just going off the two shows I saw in Australia.  And in both shows, during Si do Mhaimeo, you could hear Eabha and Mairead perfectly when singing their solo bits but when it came to the duet part, Eabha's voice was so booming and overpowering you literally couldn't hear Mairead at all.

  Perhaps the sound man hasn't mastered the intricacies of miking Eahbha's voice.  What may have been a good level for Meav or Alex, may not necessarily be right for Eabha.  And it may vary from song-to-song.  Stay alert sound man!   :D

It could have been the sound man but then only Si do Mhaimeo had the problem with not hearing Mairead so I doubt it was him.  I think they just could use a lot more practice singing together.  I honestly think Mairead and Eabha as duet partners is the worst choice CW has ever made (apart from letting Lynn go) and I know I'm not the only one who thinks this as at both the Sydney and Canberra shows people were commenting on it afterward.  In my opinion they should get rid of the two duets and give Mairead and Eabha a solo song each to make it two solos for everyone.

Not a very popular opinion I know I have either but I'm not one to think everything is great and amazing.

Personally, I would like both of them having two solos, too.

I have not seen these shows, but I really like this particular recording and I hear Mairéad by far more loudly. They are just not used to it, yet. And why do you want to get rid of both duets? We don't even know what Ride On sounds like!

Very interesting, I won't say that Orla & Mairead C would sound perfect for New grange in duet for I have no idea..
I do recommend they could have given a shot with Alex & MC it would of worked out amazing sensing I know Alex's tone with Carlin's well, just like Lynn and MC work superbly for Si Di Mh.. I am not one to judge by 1 video clip, but I agree with Hollie. The differences with Eabha vs Deirdre or Orla. Orla didn't show much of an effect with the original's Lisa K, Chloe & Meav because her blend went perfectly and in the haunting face where her voice would fade off at such when Lisa K, or Meav, and Chloe soared higher. Deirdre was a style much like Eabha..if she was back with CW this would play on too.

CW era of Only Powerhouses
This format takes the same effects as when Susan joined Lisa L & Chloe in 2011. For this time era we had three high sopranic power voices.
This changed away from the Lisa K effect or the Alex effect in 2010 still Lisa K, Lynn & Chloe together were Dreamy to hear :)
When Lynn stepped in 2014, she was perfect, her beautiful tone, gave breath airway, giving contrast to she was similar to Susan in ways yet unique yet could voice her voice with MC wonderfully too when knowing the fact Lynn was a softer side voice and the other 2 were stronger.
Now that they dropped from Lynn, it's back to 2011, except instead of three sopranic powerhouses, we have 1 haunting voice like Orla, the difference however a strong heard haunter.



Alex be Alex or be other's
When you see Alex, out of Meav & Lynn she is this year the closest example that they could of heard before picking Eabha to be CW.
Alex has an amazing power in her voice, she was given permission to it while taking Mairead C's place except when she took Lynn's place they asked her to remain low key like in SFTH to act in style of Lynn or Lisa L as in example to Amazing Grace or be like MC range  . The only time I got to see Alex be Alex was while the A new journey tour and Lisa's pregnancy. Since Isle Of Hope they told Alex to do Orla spot's, and now on the tenth anniversary do Lynn or Lisa L or MC spots, Meav did her raise in her way but it was like Lisa L too. Alex was able to show her power because MC was a power voice that is why for the month of May Alex got to be her and not have to lower her key..Eabha on the other hand is going strong with a haunt. This is what I never understood while everyone could be themselves Alex had to shift which I glanced it on SFTH DVD a lot. Lynn was a Meav replacement but Lynn is naturally is, if they went to replace Deirdre or Eabha for Orla it wouldn't be the same, would they tell Lisa L to tone down to Lynn or Meav's level on Dulaman like they assigned Alex to do for CW part of the time? :o

Meav, Lynn, Lisa L, and Chloe in the beginning years were the gentler's for CW. We don't have one now, just powerhouses.


I wish they let Alex and MC do Newgrange together so that way we would of seen the blending comparision than Eabha and MC who
are ironically opposite.><

Eabha's Ladadadadadaa sigh  :o woo ow !!!

I agree rfcw, they're all powerhouses now.  Too bad they're not using four girls, Lynn would still make a lovely addition even with Eabha there.  Give the duets to Lynn and Mairead C, and let Susan and Eabha have solos or a duet together.  They just need a voice between Eabha's and Susan's and Mairead's to bridge the gap.

I already have several duet ideas for Mai and Éabha together ;DI think they sound LOVELY together.

I so agree! They sound amazing together! And I can't wait to hear them sing Ride On!

I hope they will sing Don Oiche Ud I mBeithil or The Little Drummer Boy this Christmas :D

I guess you either love or hate Mairead C and Eabha singing together.  Personally I hate them singing together.  Doesn't sound nice to me at all.

Celtic Woman would of kept Lynn or added in another soprano if they stayed their purpose in the group.

Lisa K-Susan
Chloe-Mairead C
Orla, Alex, Eabha
Meav, Lynn, Lisa L

A Look at CW with (Keeping the Four Member Rule)

2005 Lisa K, Chloe, Orla, Meav
2006 Lisa K, Chloe, Orla, Meav
2007 Lisa K, Chloe, Orla, Lynn
2008 Alex,    Chloe, Orla, Lynn
2009 Lisa K, Chloe, Alex, Lynn
2010 Lisa K, Chloe, Alex, Lynn
2011 Lisa K, Chloe, (Alex or [Eabha])Lisa L,
2012 Susan, Chloe, Eabha, Lisa L
2013 Susan, Chloe, Eabha, Lisa L
2014 Susan, Chloe, Eabha, Lisa L/Lynn
2015 Susan, Chloe, Eabha, Lynn

The first thing I realized after Lynn was out and a Deep voice went in, not that I wasn't loving the power of high voices together like Alex, or Susan with Lisa L and Carlin but about time they did it it, why they waited soo long..
If they had gone with another voice like Lynn then the question would be why didn't they consider keeping Lynn. : / Eabha is the choice to prove CW is considering going in another direction so there we go. Chloe, Susan, Lisa L were by far too close, Susan, Lisa L, Carlin even more, but Susan, Mairead C & Lynn I have to say were a Beautiful Trio ;) :D ;D will Miss.

Yes, if they had kept Lynn, the group would have be similar to the first:

Lisa K - Susan: A strong belting soprano, based in musical theatre and contemporary music, new to Celtic music but talented at it
Méav - Lynn: Classically trained soprano, but decided to do mostly Celtic music
Chloe - Mairéad C: Classical light soprano, with a talent for Celtic songs (Mai C is actually a bit more Celtic, musically, than Chloe)
Órlagh - Éabha: A low, gentle mezzo-soprano, based in Celtic music
Máiréad - Máiréad: still herself

Then again, Mai C could still take over the sopranoa spects of Méav and Éabha the Celtic ascpects. Susan sounds a lot like later Chloe.

On the other hand, I don't like the idea of one Celtic Woman replacing another. They don't take the parts of the girl who has left, but build their own new part, while the other part stays empty untill its girl will fill it again.

(https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/12033150_10153197897639352_7776661846796122955_n.jpg?oh=12c381253154d3d8e5e7ae1b3a0121f4&oe=56D03D11)

We all cannot say they were replaced, nor can we say they were not picked to fit the place. My very first live show was in 2006, Meav alternated with Hayley, & I was so glad and priveleged to be able to have Meav it's so far the only concert live I've been to with Meav but I remember that show so very well!> The first time it got to me how real it was when Meav did her Grand individual solo of Danny Boy. As a fan of course I knew ahead of time how Lynn was, how she looked, felt on tour, thanks to video clips, pictures. I didn't see her first time with Lisa K but I did when Alex had her first run in 2008, As soon as I heard Lynn sing for Danny Boy in solo for the very first time, I was floored and in shock how perfectly re-replicated it was!..It was almost too perfectly and close to not missing Meav there that no one would miss out if they saw CW and not know about Meav in Danny Boy, I'm not saying Lynn nails 100% of Meav in Danny Boy, but too good as a replacer, she had big shoes to fill she replaced her but it naturally, Lynn was a natural addition, Alex was one also, she was very unique not as filling the Lisa K void, however when Orla departed, I was so excited to hear more of Alex's amazing voice, because the mezzo was missing from Orla, is as if they went with Alex as long as she went mezzo as much as possible.x Alex is beautiful when in both any style mezzo and power soprano, take Isle Of Hope for example, Alex is on full of emotion and strong abundance in that song, but contrast to Lynn with Meav, Alex had to switch tones with her singing. I couldn't believe it when Susan first arrived everyone said her voice reminded them of Alex, yet Susan kept her singing voice full volume like they gave reason she was taking the empty place of Lisa K. They probably would not of chosen Susan to replace Orla, but would they done the same if Susan was in 2008 filling for Lisa K instead of Alex, would they keep her like Alex afterwards the question is, since to me there is similarity like Alex or Chloe (Both combined) would Susan stay the way she is now, or would she have to go mezzo if they kept her and they lost Orla in mezzo, probably not, the difference is Susan may not do what Alex can, she did some on her version of Caledonia but she is not in a way she can be deep also like Chloe could if she put her heart to do. To me I always saw Chloe and Alex in duet outstandingly in piece and tune almost the same.

(https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12096058_10153242598549352_4703823582430081255_n.jpg?oh=2411f2771acf4fa216df4fac977c35d9&oe=56872348)


Perhaps Alex builds her new part as a Mezzo mixed in with higher range Soprano vocal from 2009-2010 with CW. However to me, I don't know why Alex out of all the member's had to change tone for Celtic Woman, I understand in the beginning they still had four and felt needed to continue the Orla mezzo aspect either they had to let go of Alex like Deirdre replace a Mezzo like Eabha could of at that time, but instead they went on to keep Alex.. They didn't keep Deirdre because Meav was ready open to come back after her pregnancy, They didn't suggest Deirdre to join fully for 2007 probably I have no clue is it because by then Deirdre did not want no more and wasn't going to be satisfied with the treatment of her departure by the management as if she didn't matter to CW other than a step filler needed for Meav. I wonder what she must of thought when they added a sixth member Hayley for ANJ and if she ever thought why it wasn't her being the sixth. My point is even though Susan was in placement of the Lisa K role for CW, her own way I mean, Lisa L, still did the Lynn position and Chloe herself, the (3) along Mairead C afterwards were powerhouses, and none one of them was told to switch tone, Lisa L did but it didn't stop her to still be her full-self, on HFC Meav, Susan, & Lisa L were Breathtaking as the 3 angelic soprano's. I accept that pattern CW did differently for that era 2012-2015 etc until Eabha, but that is why the beginning of CW wanting to keep the same format of 4, one mezzo, one contemporary, one traditional celtic, one classical pure. However since the lowering of three girls in 2011, it was okay when Lisa K was still in it, but since 2012 with Susan, the format changed and CW didn't ask anyone to make a change like they did only with Alex..

Building your own part is your own, Alex needed to do both sides, mezzo and her own unique higher tone. My Heart Was Home Again gave a rise to that, True Colors did not, and You'll be in My Heart (Almost)..that's why the singing style she does Caledonia, The Voice, and Amazing Grace this year the (May version) not (June version) is the favorite way I love Alex for.. :) Had Alex stayed a little longer would we gotten to see more of her other side, with Lynn gone by then I don't know. My Heart Was Home Again was her own, and maybe Believe with her would of showed a different side..Anyhow I was so happy Alex returned this year and got to stay on for a while as a CW and not just in 2008 for a replacement. I'm Happy! :)

So Lynn had to fill the Alex void in Emerald like LisaL and Meav all three on Amazing Grace for example..Makes sense why Eabha's placement now fits again not as Alex but like Orla back in a way..