Celtic Harp On The Prairie is a wonderful musical tribute to the 19th century Irish men, women, and children who came to America seeking a new life. Imagine an Irish girl named Katie O'Brien entertaining the guests in an Old West saloon, and you'll get an idea of the song selections on this album. Katie's CD features both traditional Irish and traditional American tunes on Celtic harp. In her arrangements you'll sometimes hear the stylistic characteristics of the parlor piano, which was so popular in 19th century America. This piano like playing can be heard on tunes such as "Listen to the Mockingbird" and "Shenandoah", and "Aura Lee". The Stephen Foster medley brings together three charming songs: "Oh! Susanna", "Beautiful Dreamer", and "Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair". Life for settlers in the Old West was fraught with many hardships, and a tune like "Whispering Hope" would provide comfort at times of sorrow. Tunes from Ireland include such gems as "Planxty Irwin", "Boulavogue", "The Fanaid Grove", "Maurice O'Connor", "Haste To The Wedding", and "Sheebeg Sheemore". Saloon guests would demand waltzes, and this album serves up some rare choices like "Starry Waves" and "Persian Princess Waltz" to keep the crowd happy. As an aside, these two songs were discovered in an old 19th century parlor organ book collecting dust in a garage. A lonely Irish girl playing in a saloon full of strangers would certainly miss her homeland. "The Fanaid Grove" is a song filled with bittersweet longing. According to the Irish Harp Foundation, "Originally, the harper provided music to accompany the recitation of heroic verse at the Celtic chieftain's court. After the dissolution of old Gaelic society, the harper became a wandering minstrel performing in the 'big houses' of the aristocracy. Then, in the 18th and 19th century, the tradition evolved anew as Irish 'high society' played for its own entertainment." This album is not quite 'high society' but more the story of a young Irish woman making her way as a harper on the prairies of a new country. "Oh then fare thee well sweet Donegal, The Rosses and Gweedore I'm crossing the main ocean Where the foaming billows roar. It breaks my heart from you to part Where I spent many happy days. Farewell to kind relations I am bound for Amerikay" -- excerpt from 'Mary From Dungloe' a traditional Irish song.