MAGICAL STRINGS centers around the Celtic harp and hammered dulcimer of Philip and Pam Boulding, at times augmented by violin, cello, pennywhistle, percussion and various instruments from around the world. Over the years their sound has drawn a large and loyal following captivated by a combination of traditional Celtic arrangements, original compositions and subtle world music influences. Their virtuosity and expressive style have been described as "warm, graceful and sonically gorgeous" by the Washington Post. Their music and stories have the effect of holding an audience and opening their hearts to a forgotten world well-veiled by the bustle and trappings of modern life.
Magical Strings has toured nationwide and abroad for twenty years. They have recorded eight albums on Flying Fish/Rounder Records. Their ninth, released in July '96 on EarthBeat! Records titled Islands Calling features a collaboration of their family with fifteen guest artists (including cellist Eugene Friesen, guitarist Alex di Grassi, and Hawaiian slack-key virtuoso Keola Beamer) in a theme of island journeys reflecting their own
world travels, from Ireland to Jamaica, and Madagascar to Hawaii. The album is comprised mostly of original works with some pieces based upon traditional ethnic melodies. Their 10th, and newest CD, "Legend of Inishcahey", is a return to Celtic roots featuring the family quartet with a special guest 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.
Pam Boulding performs on hammered dulcimer, and Philip Boulding
plays Celtic harp (both nylon and wire strung), hammered dulcimer,
tin whistle and valiha (a bamboo harp from Madagascar). Philip
also designs and builds the harps and dulcimers, and has handcrafted
more than 2,000 instruments in the past 25 years. In addition
to the unique sound of Philip's instruments, he also has developed
some unusual techniques including innovative harmonics and a stunning
vibrato effect on the steel-strung harp. He is known for his expressive
power and dynamic pulsating rhythms. In addition to recording
and touring, for two decades Philip has run his School of Magical
Strings in Seattle where he teaches harp and dulcimer.
In 1988 Magical Strings dramatically expanded their fan base when Dan Fogelberg requested that they join him on a summer tour that took the duo to 30 major cities playing for crowds of up to 15,000. Fogelberg later had them record on his album River of Souls, and again, more recently, on his first Christmas album, to be released in the fall of '99. The family quartet, including Brittany on violin and Brenin on cello, toured Japan in February/March '97, performing ten sold-out concerts from Sapporo to Okinawa. Magical Strings has appeared frequently on radio and television including CNN, Japanese prime-time TV, and Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion." Their music was used to launch General Motor's TV advertising campaign for the Saturn car.
Philip Boulding's parents were university professors, authors and peace activists. His father, Kenneth, was an economist; his mother, Elise, a sociologist; and both were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Philip's
family often traveled and he began his lifelong love for islands during a childhood which included long intervals in Jamaica and Japan. Philip began his musical education at age six studying classical violin, but switched to
guitar at age 12. Shortly after he began building guitars in high school, he was captivated by the sound of a hammered dulcimer. He immediately built a dulcimer and taught himself to play it. When he moved to the Northwest in
1974 he fell in love with the Celtic harp at a folk gathering. He submerged himself in Celtic music and traveled to Ireland and Scotland to research both ancient and current music and instruments. Philip has been a professional musician for 25 years, receiving training at the Boston Conservatory and the University of Washington's Ethno-Musicology department, as well as private study with classical and jazz harpists, a master of the Rumanian cymbalom, an African kora player from Gambia, and valiha masters from Madagascar.
Pam began playing piano at age four and studied classical music through high school. She turned her attention to art at Pitzer College in Southern California where she earned a B.A. in painting, sculpture and art history. Her paintings have been widely exhibited and have received several awards. She has taught art and music courses at various West Coast colleges and Waldorf schools. She founded a summer art school for children in Maine, where she spent her childhood summers sailing amongst islands with her family. Her father often inspired her with music he brought back from his travels to many foreign lands.
Pam first heard a hammered dulcimer being played nearly 25 years
ago. "I knew instantly that I had to play this instrument," she
recalls. Unable to find a hammered dulcimer after many months
of searching, she decided to take a class at a school that also
provided an instrument to learn on. Philip was the teacher. "When
we met, it was like we had known each other all our lives."
"I had this dream," remembers Philip, "to combine the harp and dulcimer into one sound. When I met Pam, I realized she had a musical spirit similar to mine and soon we were playing music together. It was like finding two complementary halves and creating an aural texture that is unique and complete in its musical expression. It allowed us to bring together the music we love -- Celtic, classical and folk music from around the world -- and to create something uniquely our own."
Philip and Pam recorded their first album titled Glass Horse
in 1980, released on their own label. This was followed by touring
and seven top-selling albums on Flying Fish Records -- Springtide,
Above The Tower, On
The Burren, Philip Boulding - Harp,
Crossing to Skellig, Good
People All - A Celtic Yuletide Tradition (features the entire
family and captures the spirit of their annual Christmas concerts
held the past 19 years in the Pacific Northwest), and Bell
Off the Ledge, Islands Calling,
Legend of Inishcahey and Beneath
the Moon.
The Bouldings' love for music is embraced by all five of their
children ages 20 to 31, who currently return from colleges and
graduate schools across the country to bring together their talents
and merriment each December to Magical Strings' Celtic
Yuletide concerts. When not on the road Philip and Pam teach,
build instruments, run their
School of Magical Strings, give school
programs, compose, and seem to have boundless energy for their
creative life which is nurtured at their home on a beautiful farm
by the Puget Sound.
