Search - Various Artists;Ensemble Galilei;Sue Richards;Bonnie Rideout;Maggie Sansone :: Music In The Great Hall: Instrumental Music From The Ancient Celtic Lands

Ensemble Galilei & Celtic musicians- divine!

10/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Instrumental music from the ancient Celtic lands performed in a wonderful historic hall on authentic folk and celtic instruments and elegant early music insruments- a perfect blending of the now popular chamber folk sound. Special Guests Bonnie Rideout on Scottish Fiddle adds a dynamic edge and with Maggie Sansone on hammered dulcimer and Sue Richards on Celtic harp you have a some of the finest Celtic musicians performing together on one CD with top notch early music ensemble headed up by director Carolyn Anderson Surrick who also plays viola da gamba on the album."

Superior musicianship on a nice selection of material

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 06/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Albums on the Maggie's Music label offer much to enthuse traditional music fans. This live project was recorded live in 1991 and 1992 at Annapolis, Md. by Ensemble Galilei, a group of six that gets its name and inspiration from Renaissance composer Vincenzo Galilei. They display some superior musicianship on a nice collection of favorites and less oft-heard pieces. Although the sound would've been a little more clean and crisp in a studio setting, it's not bad but still feels a little distant. I am particularly grateful that this album has only minimal applause that can be quite annoying on many live projects. Their arrangements are engaging and tastefully rendered, but "The Halting March" feels a tad bit rushed and overplayed by all the instruments. They clearly play with much relaxed showmanship, and it's certain that even these concerts in the Great Hall were very intimate musical experiences. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)"

No guts, no glory

J. Ross | 05/28/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Maggie Sansone and her cohorts on this album are all accomplished musicians, and their performances show mastery of their instruments and sensitivity to the varying styles of the melodies. What I miss in their recordings is passion: although the Welsh medley is chipper enough and "The Reaper of Glanree" is lovely, in general they're too careful. A traditional tune is a living thing; it grows through taking on the personalities of the musicians who have performed it, and dies if you try to freeze it into some "official" form. This group is too reverential, and their renditions of traditional tunes often freeze. The recording quality is, in general, very good for a live performance, although there are occasional glitches: the bones accompaniment gets off to a bad start, and near the end of one track there's a muffled shout in the background. (It reminded me of that classic cartoon by George Booth showing an amateur orchestra, the conductor of which is proclaiming, "Near the end of the third movement, I thought I heard a scream" ...)"