Celtic New Age

Celtic new age is a substyle of New Age which primarily engages with influences from traditional Celtic Folk Music and its performing styles, with an emphasis especially on Irish Folk Music. It originally overlapped with Celtic Rock in the 1970s before pivoting to commercially friendly songwriting styles, represented best by Enya, Clannad and Loreena McKennitt. Other major acts, coming from various musical styles, have included Mike Oldfield (particularly in his piece of music Ommadawn) and his sister Sally Oldfield; the Celtic Electronica duo Dagda; and the Norwegian group Secret Garden, particularly on the latter's successful album Songs From a Secret Garden. Like new age music in general, Celtic new age can be either vocal or purely instrumental. It incorporates instruments from Celtic folk styles, such as harps, fiddles, flutes and frame drums, which evoke a pastoral and bucolic atmosphere. Lyrical themes include nostalgia and wistful longing for the ancient pasts of the Celtic nations and their peoples, or for the scenes and figures of Celtic mythology.