Other than being surrounded by books and antiques, there are three "atmospheric" things I truly need on hand while I write:

     A hot cup of Twining's (since 1706!) Earl Grey tea with sugar and milk
     (Walker's shortbread optional)

         A fragrant, flavorful candle burning
         (baked apple, brown sugar, pumpkin bread, you get the idea)

         A traditional, instrumental CD featuring music from the British Isles


    Here are some of my favorite musicians . . .

    David Agnew (oboe)

     

    Into the Mist
    Patrick Ball (Celtic harp)

    Fiona
    O'Carolan's Dream
    Secret Isles
    The Music of Turlough O'Carolan

    Derek Bell (Celtic harp) 

    Ancient Music for the Irish Harp
    Carolan's Receipt
    Mystic Harp
    Mystic Harp 2

     

    Maire Breatnach (orchestral)

    Angels Candles
    Celtic Lovers
    The Voyage of Bran

     

    Patrick Cassidy (orchestral) 

    Cruit
    Deidre of the Sorrows
    The Children of Lir

     

    William Coulter (guitar) 

    Celtic Crossings
    Celtic Sessions
    The Crooked Road

     

         . . .  with Barry Phillips (cello)  

    Simple Gifts
    Tree of Life
    Music on the Mountain

     

    Michael & Jeff Danna (orchestral)

    A Celtic Romance
    A Celtic Tale

     

    John Doan (harp guitar) 

    Isle of the Saints
    Remembrance
    Wayfarer
    Wrapped in White

     

    Ensemble Galilei  

    Ancient Noels
    Come, Gentle Night
    Following the Moon
    From the Isles to the Courts
    The Mystic and the Muse

     

    William Jackson (harp, orchestra) 

    A Scottish Island
    Celtic Experience
    Celtic Tranquility
    Inchcolm
    The Ancient Harp of Scotland
    The Celtic Suites

    Abby Newton (cello) 

    Crossing to Scotland
    Castles, Kirks and Caves

     

    John O'Conor (piano, orchestra)  My Ireland

     

    Shelley Phillips (harpist) et al 

    Fairie Round
    Pavone
    Wondrous Love

     

    Kim Robertson (Celtic harp) 

    Angels in Disguise
    Gratitude
    Moonrise
    Tender Shepherd
    Treasures of the Celtic Harp
    Water - Spirit

     

    Sue Richards (Celtic harp) 

    Hazel Grove
    Grey-Eyed Morn
    Morning Aire

     

    Movie soundtracks can be very inspiring as I write. Though I have not seen, nor do I recommend, all of the films below, I highly recommend the music!

    Soundtracks  

    A Beautiful Mind
    A Thousand Acres
    Angels in America
    Anna and the King
    Bliss
    Braveheart
    Charlotte Gray
    Chocolat
    Dancing at Lughnasa
    Dangerous Beauty
    Elizabeth
    Emma
    Ever After
    Finding Neverland
    First Knight
    Girl with a Pearl Earring
    Gladiator
    Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown
    House of Sand and Fog
    Immortal Beloved
    Jane Eyre
    King Arthur
    Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate
      Events
    Les Misérables
    Little Women
    Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
    Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
    Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
    Mansfield Park
    Master and Commander
    Meet Joe Black
    Message in a Bottle
    Nicholas Nickleby
    Out of Africa
    Pirates of the Caribbean
    Posession
    Pride and Prejudice
    Quills
    Road to Perdition
    Rob Roy
    Sense and Sensibility
    Schindler's List
    Shadowlands
    Shakespeare in Love
    Sylvia
    The Affair of the Necklace
    The Cider House Rules
    The Count of Monte Cristo
    The End of the Affair
    The English Patient
    The Horse Whisperer
    The Hours
    The Human Stain
    The Last of the Mohicans
    The Last Samurai
    The Lion in Winter (2004)
    The Mission
    The Passion of the Christ
    The Patriot
    The Piano
    The Shipping News
    The Time Machine
    The Village
    Troy
    Tuck Everlasting
    Unfaithful
    Van Helsing
    Vanity Fair
    Washington Square
    Winds of Dawn

    Especially when I'm traveling in the U.K., Scottish singer Jean Redpath lives in my CD player as I drive:

     

    Jean Redpath  

    Jean Redpath
    Leaving the Land
    Lowlands
    The Moon's Silver Cradle
    The Songs of Robert Burns Vol. 1&2
    The Songs of Robert Burns Vol. 3&4
    The Songs of Robert Burns Vol. 5&6
    The Songs of Robert Burns Vol. 7
    Think on Me

    On the hunt for some great Celtic music? Here are my recommended Web sites:

    www.MusicScotland.com

    www.MaggiesMusic.com

    www.GreenLinnet.com

    www.Greentrax.com