Magical Strings

With dancing hammers and pulsating strings, Philip and Pam Boulding have created the distinctive music of Magical Strings, described by The Washington Post as "warm, graceful and sonically gorgeous." Centered around a tightly-knit blend of Celtic harps and hammered dulcimers, their performances are colorfully augmented by pennywhistles, concertina, valiha (Malagasy harp) and storytelling. Over the past 20 years they have drawn a large and loyal following worldwide, captivated by their energetic arrangements of Celtic music and their own engaging compositions, intertwining Celtic roots with classical/world music influences.

Magical Strings has toured throughout the United States, Canada, the British Isles, and Japan (winter '97) where, with their family quartet, including Brittany and Brenin on violin and cello, stepdancing and juggling to music, they performed ten sold-out concerts from Okinawa to Sapporo. Philip and Pam have toured with Dan Fogelberg, sharing their lively yet heart-felt music with enthusiastic crowds of up to 15,000 a night in 30 major U.S.cities, and then recorded on Dan's album, River of Souls.

Since 1980 Magical Strings has recorded 10 albums on Flying Fish/Rounder, EarthBeat Records, and their own label, Magic Hill Music, which have received a growing stream of international airplay and acclaim over the years. Islands Calling, hailed as "their best album yet" by Billboard Magazine, features their family with several guest artists including Alex de Grassi and Hawaiian slack-key virtuoso Keola Beamer. Their newest CD, Legend of Inishcahey, is a return to Celtic roots featuring the family quartet with a special quest appearance by cellist Eugene Friesen. "Legend of Inishcahey" has been hailed by the leading English music magazine, "Folk Roots", as "...an exciting cross-pollination of Irish/World sounds delivered with freshness, style and panache... 'Legend of Inishcahey' is musical manna from heaven.

Philip and Pam have performed on radio and television networks around the country, including "A Prairie Home Companion", NPR's Weekend Edition, CNN both at home and in Europe, and prime time TV in Japan. They have placed first in a group competition in Ireland, have collaborated with Northwest ballet and theatre companies, and performed for Boris Yeltsin when he visited Seattle. In the summer of '98 they returned to Ireland where they composed new music as part of an artist residency in a cottage by the sea, awarded to them by the Cil Rialaig Irish arts organization.

Philip and Pam seem to have boundless energy for their creative life, which is nurtured by their home on a beautiful farm nestled against Magic Hill, overlooking the Puget Sound.

"If you want an exciting cross-pollination of Irish/World sounds delivered with freshness, style and panache, look no further."
-John O'Regan, Folk Roots Magazine

Listen to an MP3 sample:

Harp and Hammered Dulcimer:
Sample Clip - 3.9 MB

Solo Harp:
Sample Clip - 2.5 MB

To book this group call (206) 923-0774
or email the Booking Questionaire to us at Booking@bluejaylivemusic.com

This site is for serious booking inquiries only. If you are fans or friends of the artist please visit the Fans page.

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