Secret Garden (duo)
| Secret Garden | |
|---|---|
 Rolf Løvland & Fionnuala Sherry | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Norway and Ireland |
| Genres | New age, neo-classical, Celtic, Nordic folk |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Associated acts | Fionnuala Gill |
| Website | Official website |
| Members |
Fionnuala Sherry Rolf Løvland |
Secret Garden is an Irish-Norwegian duo playing new instrumental music, also sometimes erroneously known as neo-classical music. Secret Garden features the Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and the Norwegian composer-pianist Rolf Løvland.[1]
The duo has sold over 3 million albums and won the Eurovision Song Contest, representing Norway with the composition "Nocturne" which is the only predominantly instrumental piece to win the Contest.
History
Eurovision Song Contest
The duo won the Eurovision Song Contest for Norway's second time in 1995, with the composition "Nocturne". It was the only time to date that a predominantly instrumental piece has won the Eurovision Song Contest, although a few Norwegian lyrics, written by screenwriter Petter Skavlan, were included to ensure that the entry adhered to the contest's rules. Norwegian singer Gunnhild Tvinnereim sang the song in the Eurovision Song Contest and Swedish nyckelharpist Åsa Jinder also guested on the occasion, although neither is a regular member of the group. Ten years earlier, Rolf Løvland also co-wrote the song "La det swinge" (Let it swing) that secured Norway its first Eurovision Song Contest victory in 1985.[1][2]
Songs from a Secret Garden
Their success at Eurovision spearheaded the success of their first album Songs from a Secret Garden. It sold a million copies around the world going platinum in Norway and Korea, gold in Ireland, Hong Kong and New Zealand and spending two years in the Billboard new-age charts in 1996 and 1997. Barbra Streisand adapted "Heartstrings" from this album as the song "I've Dreamed of You" on her A Love Like Ours album. She also used "Heartstrings" in her wedding to James Brolin.
White Stones
The album White Stones followed in 1997 also making the top ten on Billboard New Age charts. Dawn of a New Century, again with lyrics by Norway's Petter Skavlan, in 1999, Dreamcatcher in 2001 and Once in a Red Moon also enjoyed success around the world including reaching top ten on the Billboard.
Their most famous song "You Raise Me Up", performed by Brian Kennedy, has been recorded by more than a hundred other artists including Josh Groban, Russell Watson, Westlife, Sissel Kyrkjebø, Becky Taylor, Celtic Woman, Lena Park, Robert Tremlett, Il Divo, Rhydian, and Sergio Dalma.
Secret Garden has released a Dreamcatcher: Best Of album for its tour through Australia and New Zealand in 2004. It reached the top of the Australian New Age charts and the ARIA top 50 album charts.
Their piece "Adagio", with a cor anglais solo, was used in the Wong Kar-wai film 2046 released in 2004.[3]
In 2010, Fionnuala Sherry released her solo debut entitled Songs From Before.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Peak positions | Certification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR [4] |
USA New Age [5] | |||
| 1996 | Songs from a Secret Garden | 1 | 5 | |
| 1997 | White Stones | 6 | 7 | |
| 1999 | Dawn of a New Century | 10 | 4 | |
| 2002 | Once in a Red Moon | 2 | 2 | |
| 2005 | Earthsongs | 9 | 1 | |
| 2007 | Inside I'm Singing | 1 | ||
| 2011 | Winter Poem | 5 | 5 | |
| 2013 | Just the Two of Us | 6 | 7 | |
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | Peak positions | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOR [4] | |||
| 1998 | Fairytales | 18 | |
| 1999 | Highlights | 30 | |
| 2000/ 2004 |
Dreamcatcher: Best of Secret Garden UK version (2000) US version (2001) Australian tour edition (2004) |
– | |
| 2004 | The Ultimate Secret Garden (Asia) | – | |
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Thompson, Dave. "Secret Garden Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
- ↑ Bergh, Johs. "Melodi Grand Prix". Store Norske Leksikon. Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
- ↑ 2046 (Special Features: The Music of 2046). Wong Kar-wai. Culver City, CA: Sony Pictures Classics. 2006 [2004]. 11730LTR.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Secret Garden discography". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ↑ "Secret Garden Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettiganwith "Rock 'n' Roll Kids" |
Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 |
Succeeded by Eimear Quinn with "The Voice" |
| Preceded by Elisabeth Andreassen and Jan Werner Danielsen with "Duett" |
Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 |
Succeeded by Elisabeth Andreassen with "I evighet" |
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