After Candice Night had started singing in the background with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow in 1993 and after she had begun co-composing for the single "Ariel", her and Ritchie recorded "Shadow of the moon", the debut album of Blackmore's Night in October 1996. In Europe it was published in June 1997. The album contains not only self-compositions but also four titles which are rooted in the Renaissance. In "Play minstrel play" also Ian Anderson - one (transverse flute) of "Jethro Tull" - participated. Besides Ritchie and Candice, Pat Regan and "Minstrel  Consort" (Tom Brown, Gerald Flashman and Lady Green) also recorded. At the end of 1997 this volume toured with a new live-cast through Europe and Japan.

In June 1998 Ritchie and Candice worked in the studio on their new album "Under A violet moon". In Germany they toured through churches, castles and theatres in September and October. From January to spring 1999 they continued workink on "Under A violet moon". In May it appeared in Europe. The fans in Japan were pleased about the publication in April . In July the album also appeared in the USA. With the song "Wind on the willows" Strawbs Frontman John Ford sang as a guest. In June and July Blackmore's Night was on the "Under A violet moon tour" on their way through Europe. All concerts were sold off.
One year later, in the summer 2000, they came to Europe to the "Castle tour"

From February to April 2001 the new album "Fires at midnight" was recorded in the studio. It appeared in June and the "Fires at midnight German castle tour" began which was terminated in August. From September to October they performed concerts in England, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. In December they gave a charity-concert in favour of the "North Shore Animal League" and "Best Friend Animal Sanctuary". In the summer 2002 they toured through Germany and Europe again. They donate the proceeds of the single "Home again" to the victims of the flood disaster in Germany.

In winter the first live album "Past time with good companie" appeared.
The recordings are from concerts in Groningen and New York. Even during their summer tour 2002 they worked on their new album "Ghost of a rose". It appeared on 30 June 2003 in Europe shortly before their tour through Germany. In the States the album was published on 26 August 2003.