Blackmore's Night is a British-American neo-medieval

folk rock Folk rock is a hybrid music genre that combines the elements of folk and rock music, which arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the folk music revival. Performers suc ...

band formed in 1997, consisting mainly of

Ritchie Blackmore Richard Hugh Blackmore (born 14 April 1945) is an English guitarist and songwriter. He was a founding member of Deep Purple in 1968, playing jam-style hard rock music that mixed guitar riffs and organ sounds. He is prolific in creating guitar ...

(

acoustic guitar An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...

hurdy gurdy The hurdy-gurdy is a string instrument that produces sound by a hand-crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to those of a vi ...

mandola The mandola (US and Canada) or tenor mandola (Ireland and UK) is a fretted, stringed musical instrument. It is to the mandolin what the viola is to the violin: the four double courses of strings tuned in fifths to the same pitches as the viola ...

mandolin A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...

, nyckelharpe, and

electric guitar An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gui ...

) and

Candice Night Candice Night (born May 8, 1971) is an American singer and musician. She has been the vocalist/lyricist and multi-instrumentalist for the traditional folk rock project Blackmore's Night since its origins in 1997 with her husband, guitarist Ritch ...

(lead vocals, lyricist, and

woodwinds Woodwind instruments are a family of musical instruments within the greater category of wind instruments. Common examples include flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone. There are two main types of woodwind instruments: flutes and reed ...

). Their lineup has seen many changes over the years; Blackmore and Night have been the only two constant members. They have released eleven studio albums. Their early releases were mostly acoustic and imitated

early music Early music generally comprises Medieval music (500–1400) and Renaissance music (1400–1600), but can also include Baroque music (1600–1750). Originating in Europe, early music is a broad musical era for the beginning of Western classical m ...

, but eventually Blackmore's Night started using more electric guitars and other modern instruments, as well as performing folk-rearranged cover versions of pop and rock songs.

History

Early

Candice Night was a

Rainbow A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured circular arc. Rainbows c ...

fan, and first encountered Ritchie Blackmore to ask him for an autograph in 1989, while she was working for a local New York radio station. The two started living together in 1991, and discovered they both had a passionate interest in

Renaissance music Renaissance music is traditionally understood to cover European music of the 15th and 16th centuries, later than the Renaissance era as it is understood in other disciplines. Rather than starting from the early 14th-century '' ars nova'', the Tr ...

. During the reformed Rainbow's recording of the album ''

Stranger in Us All ''Stranger in Us All'' is the eighth and most recent studio album by the British hard rock band Rainbow, released in 1995. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore put together a new line-up of members of little-known musicians in 1994. The album was origina ...

'' in 1995, on which Night contributed some of the lyrics and backing harmony vocals, the duo were already gearing up their debut album. In 1997, the project started as being a

pun A pun, also known as paronomasia, is a form of word play that exploits multiple meanings of a term, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use of homophonic ...

of their own names, which would consist of themselves plus session musicians.

1997 to 2005

Blackmores Night-2001-07-24-Live in Heidelberg

Their debut album ''

Shadow of the Moon ''Shadow of the Moon'' is the debut studio album by the group Blackmore's Night, released June 2, 1997. It stayed on the German charts for 17 weeks. It received a gold certification in Japan for 100,000 albums shipped to stores. Track listing ...

'' was a musical success and featured

Ian Anderson Ian Scott Anderson (born 10 August 1947) is a British musician, singer and songwriter best known for his work as the lead vocalist, flautist, acoustic guitarist and leader of the British rock band Jethro Tull. He is a multi-instrumentalist w ...

of Jethro Tull on flute for the song "Play Minstrel Play". In subsequent albums, particularly ''

Fires at Midnight ''Fires at Midnight'' is the third studio album by the group Blackmore's Night, released July 10, 2001 through SPV/ Steamhammer. In comparison to their previous two releases, there are more electric guitar parts on this album, whilst maintaini ...

'', there was an increased incorporation of rock guitar into the music, whilst maintaining a folk rock direction. Over time, Night has increasingly participated instrumentally as well as singing the vocals, and is competent in a wide variety of Renaissance instruments. The group performs at

Renaissance fair A Renaissance fair, Renaissance faire or Renaissance festival is an outdoor gathering open to the public and typically commercial in nature, which purportedly recreates a historical setting for the amusement of its guests. Some are permanent the ...

s and Renaissance festivals, as well as in stand-alone concert tours in appropriate venues including 'castle tours' of Europe, where they perform in historic surroundings for an audience dressed largely in period costume. The duo has been successful enough to inspire a number of international tribute bands including: ''Renaissance Night'', the Italian ''Morning Star,'' The ''Midnight'' and ''Elflore''. They have also performed the music for

MagiQuest MagiQuest is an interactive attraction in the form of a live action role-playing game where players take the role of magic users. The game takes place in dedicated MagiQuest locations. Players, known as Magi, use an infrared (IR) emitting wand to ...

, a live simulation game.

2006–present

In 2006, Night performed a duet with

Andi Deris Andreas "Andi" Deris (born 18 August 1964) is a German singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the power metal band Helloween, and co-founder and former lead singer of the metal band Pink Cream 69. Singing style Deris has a high baritone ...

Helloween Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. Its first lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, guitarist Michael Weik ...

's "Light the Universe", which was released as a single in certain countries and is available on their album '' Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy'', released in the same year. On 27 June 2008, the duo released its seventh studio album called ''

Secret Voyage ''Secret Voyage'' is the seventh studio album by the group Blackmore's Night. According to a SPV press release, ''Secret Voyage'' is another kaleidoscopic musical journey through time and space, incorporating and rearranging traditional melodie ...

'', a mix of medieval-sounding tracks and some contemporary ones. In addition to some covers of some traditional folk music (“Locked Within the Crystal Ball" is from the fourteenth century) and some originals, Blackmore's Night also performed a cover of a

song (“Rainbow Eyes”) and an

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

cover (" Can't Help Falling in Love"). A new album titled ''

Autumn Sky ''Autumn Sky'' is the eighth studio album by the group Blackmore's Night. It is dedicated to their daughter Autumn Esmerelda Blackmore, who was born on May 27, 2010. It was released on September 3, 2010 in Europe and on January 18, 2011 in the ...

'' was released at the end of 2010 in Europe and in 2011 in the U.S. This was followed by ''

Dancer and the Moon ''Dancer and the Moon'' is the ninth studio album by the group Blackmore's Night, released on June 11, 2013. It entered at # 189 on USA's Billboard Album Charts. It was also nominated for NAR award in Best Vocal Album of the Year. "Carry On… ...

'', in 2013, an album featuring covers of songs by

Randy Newman Randall Stuart Newman (born November 28, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist known for his Southern American English, Southern-accented singing style, early Americana (music), Americana-influenced songs (often ...

I Think It's Going to Rain Today "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" (or "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today") is a song by American singer-songwriter Randy Newman. It appears on Julius La Rosa's 1966 album ''You're Gonna Hear from Me'', Eric Burdon's 1967 album ''Eric Is Here'', on N ...

"), Uriah Heep (" Lady in Black") and another Rainbow song (“Temple Of The King”, originally from the album ''

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow ''Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow'' (sometimes stylised ''Ritchie Blackmore's R-A-I-N-B-O-W'') is the debut studio album by American/British rock band Rainbow, released in 1975. Recording During studio sessions in Tampa Bay, Florida on 12 December ...

''). Their album, ''All Our Yesterdays'', was released on 18 September 2015. Their latest studio album, ''Nature's Light'' was released worldwide on 12 March 2021.

Personal life

On 5 October 2008, Night and Blackmore were married after 19 years together. This is the fourth marriage for Blackmore. Autumn Esmerelda Blackmore was born on 27 May 2010. Their son Rory Dartanyan was born on 7 February 2012.

Personnel

Members

- acoustic and

domra The ''domra'' (Cyrillic: до́мра, ) is a long-necked Belarusian, Russian, and Ukrainian folk string instrument of the lute family with a round body and three or four metal strings. History The first known mention of domra is in ''Admonit ...

hurdy-gurdy The hurdy-gurdy is a string instrument that produces sound by a hand-crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to those of a vio ...

nyckelharpa A nyckelharpa (, "keyed fiddle", or literally "key harp", plural ) is the national musical instrument of Sweden. It is a string instrument or chordophone. Its keys are attached to tangents which, when a key is depressed, serve as frets to cha ...

- vocals, chanter,

cornamuse The cornamuse is a double reed instrument dating from the Renaissance period. It is similar to the crumhorn in having a windcap over the reed and cylindrical bore. The only evidence for the cornamuse comes from a description and a few comments b ...

shawm The shawm () is a Bore_(wind_instruments)#Conical_bore, conical bore, double-reed woodwind instrument made in Europe from the 12th century to the present day. It achieved its peak of popularity during the medieval and Renaissance periods, after ...

rauschpfeife Rauschpfeife is a commonly used term for a specific type of capped conical reed musical instrument of the woodwind family, used in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. In common with the crumhorn and cornamuse, it is a wooden double-reed instru ...

tambourine The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though ...

Additional personnel

;Current additional personnel * Bard David of Larchmont (David Baranowski) - keyboards, backing vocals (May 2003–present) * Earl Grey of Chimay (Mike Clemente) - bass, mandolin, rhythm guitar (Feb 2008–present) * Troubadour of Aberdeen (

David Keith David Keith may refer to: * David Keith (novelist) (1906–1994), pen name of American scholar Francis Steegmuller *David Keith (actor) (born 1954), American film and TV performer and director *David Keith (physicist), Canadian-born Harvard Profess ...

) - drums, percussion (2012–present) * Scarlet Fiddler (Claire Smith) - violin (2012–present) * Lady Lynn (Christina Lynn Skleros) - harmony vocals, shawm, flute, and recorder (2014–present) ;Former additional personnel * Scott Hazell - harmony & backing vocals (Jan 1997–Mar 2001) * Jessie Haynes - guitars, recorder, backing vocals (Jul 1997–Oct 1998, May 2022) * Mick Cervino - bass (Jul 1997-Aug 2000) * Joseph James - keyboards (Jul 1997–Dec 1997) * John O'Reilly - drums, percussion (Jul 1997–Dec 1997) * Sue Goehringer - backing vocals (1998–Mar 2001) * Rachel Birkin - violin (Sep 1998–Oct 1998) * Alex Alexander - drums, percussion (Sep 1998–Jan 2000) * Adam Forgione - keyboards (Sep 1998–Jan 2000) * Jim Hurley - violin (Jun 1999-May 2000) * Marci Geller - keyboards, backing vocals (Jun 1999–May 2001) * Carmine Giglio - keyboards, backing vocals (Apr 2000–Aug 2002) * Mike Sorrentino - percussion (Apr 2000–Aug 2001) * Chris Devine - violin, flute, guitar (Jul 2000–May 2002) * Sir Robert of Normandie (Robert Curiano) - bass, guitars, backing vocals (Oct 2000–2007) * Vita Gasparro (Lady Vita) - guitar, vocals (Jul 2001–Dec 2001) * Squire Malcolm of Lumley (Malcolm Dick) - drums, percussion (Aug 2001–2011) * Lady Rraine (Lorraine Ferro) - harmony vocals (Apr 2002–May 2002, Oct 2007) * Lord Marnen of Wolfhurst (Marnen Laibow-Koser) - violin, flute, recorder (Jul 2002–Dec 2003) * Lady Nancy (Nancy Posner) - backing vocals (Jul 2002–2007) * Lady Madeline (Madeline Posner) - backing vocals (Jul 2002–2007) *

Tudor Rose The Tudor rose (sometimes called the Union rose) is the traditional floral heraldic badge, heraldic emblem of England and takes its name and origins from the House of Tudor, which united the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The Tudor ...

(Tina Chancey) - violin, flute (May 2004–2007) * Baron St James - bass (Apr 2007–Mar 2008) * Gypsy Rose (Elizabeth Cary) - violin, backing vocals (Oct 2007–2011) * Lady Kelly De Winter (Kelly Morris) - French horn, harmony vocals (2012–Nov 2013) * The Minstrel Albert (Albert Dannenmann) - Bagpipes, Renaissance wind instruments, backing vocals ;Studio musicians * Pat Regan - various string instruments, keyboards (1997–2008) * Kevin Dunne - drums (1998–1999)

Timeline

Discography

* ''

'' (1997) * ''

Under a Violet Moon ''Under a Violet Moon'' is the second studio album by the group Blackmore's Night, released May 25, 1999. ''Under a Violet Moon'' won the New Age Voice award for the best vocal album of the year. Track listing Personnel ;Blackmore's Night *R ...

'' (1999) * ''

'' (2001) * ''

Ghost of a Rose ''Ghost of a Rose'' is the fourth studio album by the folk rock group Blackmore's Night, released June 30, 2003. It features covers of Joan Baez's "Diamonds and Rust", and Jethro Tull's "Rainbow Blues". Background Allusive to the alchemical f ...

'' (2003) * ''

The Village Lanterne ''The Village Lanterne'' is the fifth studio album by the group Blackmore's Night, released on Steamhammer US on 4 April 2006. It featured the single "Just Call My Name (I'll Be There)". The song "Olde Mill Inn" was included as soundtrack in ...

'' (2006) * ''

Winter Carols ''Winter Carols'' is the sixth studio album by the group Blackmore's Night, released in the United Kingdom on October, 2006, and in the United States on November 7, 2006. It is a Christmas themed album. The cover artwork for this album, painte ...

'' (2006) * ''

'' (2008) * ''

'' (2010) * ''

'' (2013) * '' All Our Yesterdays'' (2015) * '' Nature's Light'' (2021)

References

* *

External links

Blackmore's Night official website
{{Authority control Medieval folk rock groups Renaissance fair performers Musical groups established in 1997 Musical groups from Long Island British folk rock groups Folk rock duos Married couples AFM Records artists Frontiers Records artists SPV GmbH artists Spinefarm Records artists Ariola Records artists British musical duos Male–female musical duos