Once in a Red Moon (released 2001 by Universal Music – 548 678-2) is the fourth studio album by Secret Garden, excluding the compilation album Dreamcatcher, a Best Of.
With the album Once in a Red Moon Secret Garden continues their tradition of organic storytelling melodies and directly from the heart performances with a retrospct to the innocence and raw simplicity of their debut.
The first track, «Awakening», was inspired by the 1899 novel of the same name by Kate Chopin. Guest performers on the second track, «You Raise Me Up», include: Brian Kennedy (vocal), Liam O'Flynn (uilleann pipes and tin whistle), the London Community Gospel Choir, and Irish choral group Anúna. The vocalist on track 4, «Greenwaves», is Karen Matheson, lead singer of Scottish band Capercaillie. Julian Lloyd Webber plays cello on track 6, «Duo». Track 8, «Gates of Dawn», features vocals by Karen Matheson and choral backing by Anúna, who also perform on track 12 «Elegie».
The Allmusic reviewer Jonathan Widran awarded the album 4.5 stars.
Violin – Fionnuala Sherry
Keyboards, harmonium & piano – Rolf Løvland (tracks: 1-3, 9 & 11)
Piano, harmonium, keyboards & organ – Bjørn Ole Rasch (tracks: 2, 5, 8, 10)
Piano (global C) – Bjørn Ole Rasch, Einar Sogstad & Trond Tellefsen (track: 12)
Bass – Per Elias Drabløs (tracks: 3-5, 7, 8, 10 & 12)
Percussion – Noel Eccles (tracks: 3-5, 7, 8, 10 & 12)
Bagpipes (Uilleann pipes) – Mick O'Brien (tracks: 4 & 5)
Bagpipes (Uilleann pipes) & tin whistle – Liam O'Flynn (track: 2)
Cello – Julian Lloyd Webber (track: 6)
Choir – Anúna (tracks: 2, 8, 12) & London Community Gospel Choir (track: 2)
Clarinet – John Finucane (track: 11)
Oboe – Simon Emes (tracks: 4-5, 7, 8, 10 & 12)
Oboe, Cor Anglais – Simon Emes (track: 3)
Guitar – Des Moore (tracks: 4, 7, 11 & 12)
Guitar – Steve Cooney (tracks: 5, 8 & 10)
Harmonium & keyboards – Kjetil Bjerkestrand (tracks: 4, 7 & 12)
Harp – Andrea Marlish (track: 3)
Concert harp – Andrea Marlish (track: 4)
Irish harp – Laoise Kelly (tracks: 7, 10, 12)
Nyckelharpa (Keyharp) – Åsa Jinder (tracks: 1, 5, 7-8, 10 & 12)
Keyboards – Kjetil Bjerkestrand (tracks: 3 & 11)
Mandolin & guitar – Des Moore (track: 3)
Whistle – Hans Fredrik Jacobsen (tracks: 3-5, 7-8, 10 & 12), Mick O'Brien (track: 5)
Willow flute – Hans Fredrik Jacobsen (tracks: 1)
Zither – Rolf Kristensen (tracks: 4 & 7)
Backing Vocals – Marian Lisland, Per Øystein Sørensen & Rolf Løvland (tracks: 4 & 8)
Leader [Gospel Choir Principal] – Bazil Meade (track: 2)
Leader [Orchestra] – Elaine Clark (tracks: 1-2, 6, 9, 11) & Threse Timoney (tracks: 3-5, 7-8, 10 & 12)
Members of Orchestra – Irish National Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Anúna direction – Michael McGlynn (tracks: 2, 8 & 12)
Choir organised coordinator by Yvonne White
Orchestra organised coordinator by Tommy Kane
Cover design & booklet – Anne-C. Holm, Sigrid Therese Pfanzelter
Assistant engineer (Dublin) – Quentin Guiné
Assistant engineer (London) – Jake Jackson, Ricky Graham (2)
Mastering – Bjørn Engelmann
Other (hair) – Benedikte Hansen
Other (stylist / costumes) – Hilde Ottem Berntsen
Photographer – Nancy Bundt
Assistant photographer – Nina Reistad
Studio snapshots – Secret Garden
Producer – Fionnuala Sherry
Producer, composer & arranger – Rolf Lovland
Recording (Glasgow) – Kim Plannert
Recording (Kristiansand) – Alf Emil Eik
Recording (Oslo) – Trond Engebretsen
Recording, mixing & Co-producer – Andrew Boland
