From the Angelic Harp Realm - The Best of Christina Tourin is a stunning 2-CD set that includes thirty tracks that span a career of well-over thirty years and seventeen albums. I have to admit that I wasn't familiar with Christina and her music until recently, but I am beyond moved and impressed with this collection of beautiful instrumentals that includes a variety of harps as well as a mix of guitars, synths, flutes, vocalizations and cello. The pieces themselves are a combination of original compositions and improvisations, classical works arranged for harp solo or harp and other instruments, and traditional pieces. The album offers "a journey into peace, tranquility and wonder, capturing messages that the heavens bestowed upon her [Christina]." Soothing and relaxing, but never ear candy, this is a wonderful album as background music as well as for focused listening. The physical CD set includes liner notes that explain the origins of each of the pieces and which albums they have appeared on. Those liner notes can also be accessed on Christina's website if you prefer to download or stream the music.

In addition to her recordings, Christina Tourin is one of the foremost educators of the harp in the world and her International Harp Therapy Program has training centers in several countries and in several languages. She is also a professionally-trained Therapeutic Musician and orchestral harpist and was the resident harpist for the Von Trapp Family in Vermont for seventeen years. She taught music in public schools for twenty years as well as in Waldorf schools in Vermont and England. She has also done extensive harp teaching to blind children in the US and abroad. What an amazing and influential career Christina has had so far! She is currently preparing for a world tour to promote this album across the US as well as France, Italy, Australia and Japan.

There are too many tracks to tell you about all of them, so I'll choose a few favorites to give you an idea of why I like this album so much. Disc 1 begins with "Harbor Cove," a piece inspired on the Maine Coast as Christina played her harp to the ocean waves. The piece also features Kim Robertson on a second harp as well as synth strings. Sparkling and hypnotic, this piece draws you in right away and lets you know that this album is something special! "Tranquility/Reflections" is a harp solo that was created by a stream in Ireland and reflects the easy flow of the water as well as sunlight dancing and sparkling on its surface. "Passacaglia - Handel's Healing Harp" was arranged to fit on the Celtic harp and features Suzanne Doucet on synth and Peter Sprague on guitar. It provides a lovely reminder of the timelessness of great music! "Prelude in C" is one of JS Bach's best-known shorter pieces adapted for harp with synth accompaniment - heavenly! "Music Is Love" overflows with gentle warmth and compassion - sure to bring a smile! The fascinating "Sky's Invitation" features David Eastoe on guitar and synth. Sometimes melodic and sometimes more ambient, it has a very peaceful, ethereal feeling. Debussy's "Claire de Lune" has been a favorite of mine to play as well as to listen to for more years than I care to admit, and Christina's harp along with some synth and nature sounds are perfection.


Disc 2 begins with a new piece called "Imaginings" that features Peter Sprague on guitar. Lively and upbeat, it's a bit of musical sunshine and overflows with optimism! "Willow" features the harp, Steve Kujala on flute, and nature sounds (mostly birds and a flowing stream) in a piece that is both ambient and very serene. Regina Christianson adds her wordless vocals to an elegant arrangement of Pachelbel's "Canon in D" which also has some gentle orchestrations in some of the variations on the theme. "Light of Life" is a trio for harp, flute (Karen Kevra) and cello (Judith Hitt) that is both silky-smooth and sparkling - fascinating from start to finish! Saint-Saëns' "The Swan" has been one of my favorites since I was very young piano student, and this gorgeous arrangement is a trio for harp, flute (Kevra) and cello (Hitt) - love it! "Birch" is based on a Russian folk song and includes harp, flute (Kujala) and percussion (Tom Aros). It's a bit darker with a Native American flavor and has a haunting flute solo in the middle. I really like this one, too! The album comes to a close with "Cherubim," a harp solo that honors and celebrates the angels and life itself.

From the Angelic Harp Realm - The Best of Christina Tourin is a beautifully uplifting musical experience that you'll want to revisit often! It is available as a two-CD set with extensive liner notes and a three-panel digipak as well as a download or to stream on Amazon, to download or stream on Apple Music/iTunes and on many streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora. Very highly recommended!