Callings From the Quiet Grove

Callings From the Quiet Grove

Editorial Reviews
HearthFire Journal #1 1997
Reprinted by permission, all rights reserved. The title track Callings From the Quiet Grove evokes images of the ancient groves of old -growth trees for which the Pacific Northwest is still famous, groves wherin it is easy to believe that elves might dwell there. Harp and mandocello combine to create haunting rhythms and melodies in a successful mixture of Celtic and New Age traditions. Erev Shel Shoshanim is a traditional Israeli tune played on harp and violin with a timeless melody of love that is gentle, romantic and exotic. A personal favorite. Another favorite is Elven Home, which is a moving and fast paced mandocello masterpiece which will lift the spirit and allow it to roam free.

Be Glad #12 British Tribute Magazine for the Incredible String Band
David Helfand is a gifted American harper and stroker of other assorted strings. On "Callings From the Quiet Grove," he assembles a collection of mostly self-composed instrumental pieces highlighting the harp with sprinkling fiddles, guitars, mandolin, mandocello and keyboards to winning effect. The tracks range from langorous atmospherics of Ebbing of the Tide and the title track to the lively Levantine- flavoured Remember and the almost Alan Stivell-like Seven Vaults of Love. An ideal... read more

Album Description
"Callings From the Quiet Grove" is the debut solo CD from Oregon composer and multi-instrumentalist David Helfand. On this premier recording, David composed, arranged, produced and performed music on Celtic harp, mandocello, guitar, keyboards and percussion. On three beautiful tracks David is also accompanied by David Burham on exquisite acoustic and electric violin, and Nick Hall on keyboards. "Callings From the Quiet Grove" is an album of eleven highly evocative instrumental pieces that range from deeply introspective to compelling passionate soundscapes, that builds on a combining of angelic and gypsy like themes. Along with David's original music on this CD he has also included a hauntingly beautiful version of an Israeli love song called "Erev Shel Shoshanim" which translates to (Evening of the Roses.) Listening to "Callings From the Quiet Grove" in it's entirety is like embarking on a journey from beginning to end that takes you to distant shores.