Loreena McKennitt

I grew up in rural Manitoba, Canada, the daughter of a nurse and a livestock dealer, and my childhood was shaped by the freedom and simplicity of country life. As a young girl I dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, but life has a way of redirecting even the best‑laid plans. In the end, it felt as though music chose me rather than the other way around. Even after years of performing, I still don’t see myself as the naturally outgoing type you might expect in this line of work — I’m far more at ease on a farm or in a relaxed circle of friends than in the center of attention. My fascination with what we now call Celtic music began in the late 1970s, but the real turning point came when I started exploring its deeper history. At an exhibition of Celtic artifacts in Venice in 1991, I learned about the vast geographic and cultural reach of the Celtic world. That discovery pulled me into an ancient web of rhythms, stories and traditions. I found myths echoing one another across distant regions, communities with shared traits yet distinct identities — a reminder of how interconnected human cultures can be.
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Penelope’s Song

Caravanserai

La Serenissima

Two Trees

The Dark Night Of The Soul

The highwayman

Beneath a Phrygian Sky

The old ways

The Mystics Dream

Egyptian music

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