A Celtic Fair

Maggie Sansone (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 24, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Maggie's Music, Inc.
• ASIN: B000R4EPY6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,407 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Steeped in tradition yet often wed to the contemporary and with unexpected color, rhythmic vitality and a venturesome spirit." --The Washington Post

In Sansone's hands, the hammered dulcimer not only dances, it swings. With understanding and musicianship she adapts traditional tunes suited to it while retaining their Celtic roots. --Irish Edition

The ancient hammered dulcimer, according to Sansone, has followed the migrations of early travelers across Asia Minor to the European continent. And in these 12 pieces, Sansone and company have pushed that versatile instrument on into the 21st century. This collection rings with the rich melodies of centuries-old compositions, presented in ways their original composers could never have imagined. The arrangements include not only the typical Celtic mix- Irish flute, fiddle, bodhrán -but the addition of such instruments as woodwinds and even sax that lend a contemporary, even jazz-new-age flavor, creating pensive tones, mystical auras and all manner of merriment. Sansone performs masterfully on hammered dulcimer and smallpipes, along with Sara Read on fiddle and Rob Greenway (guitar, Irish flute, button accordion). Most notable, however, is the contribution of Bobby Read [producer] performer on sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, flutes, accordion, woodwinds, keyboards, percussion. He also performs with the Bruce Hornsby Band. Read s innovative arrangements and seamless engineering allow the material to retain its Celtic sensibility, which is only enhanced by the some brilliant innovation. Standout tracks include Breton An Dro, in which delicate string-reedy tones are overtaken by the silky, gentle swing of a sax. In this richly textured presentation, the artists demonstrate just how much can be accomplished within a simple, repetitive melody. There are two jig sets, the typical toe-tapper Breton Jig/Castlebar/Train to Dublin (Sansone s original) and the more moody Comb Your Hair & Curl It/The Butterfly/Barney Brallaghan. The lovely Variations on an Irish Air (Pretty Girl Milking the Cow) has all the emotional impact of the most heart-wrenching traditional song.Throughout, Sansone performs in that hold-your-breath emotive style that has the listener hanging onto every note, awaiting the next bend in the road - and for sure it will be a delight. --Dirty Linen Folk & World Magazine

Product Description

A Celtic Fair is a festive musical gathering of traditional Celtic music and innovative arrangements. It features Maggie Sansone on Hammered dulcimer and Scottish smallpipes on Tr. 3, 9 and with Bobby Read, (Producer and performer on soprano saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, wooden flute, C flute, alto flute, piccolo, keyboard, percussion and drum programming; Sara Read on fiddle and Rob Greenway on guitar, Irish flute, button accordion. From the traditions of the past to the sounds of today, Maggie Sansone's music expands the boundaries of Celtic in a new release that rings with a Renaissance spirit, Celtic melodies and world percussion. Includes: lively jigs and reels, haunting Gaelic airs from the Celtic lands of Ireland, Scotland, traditional circle dance tunes from Brittany, France, new variations and compositions including Train to Dublin by Sansone. Praised as America's premier hammered dulcimer player and recording artists, Rock N Reel says, "Sansone opens the perception of Celtic music far beyond the usual sources with a Celtic jazzy crossover that bubbles with life." Sometimes called a melody drum, the hammered dulcimer has a unique sound that is both percussive and melodious and with a continuous sustain that brings a special beauty to the music. Trapezoidal shaped it has over seventy five strings and is played with wooden mallets. Sansone s own dulcimer, made by Nick Blanton, has an extended range and pedal dampers which creates a marimba-like sound allowing a greater variety of sounds and textures Sansone says the unique nature of the hammered dulcimer with its percussive undertones as the mallets strike the strings blends well with the larger family of percussion instruments and sounds to create rich rhythmic textures throughout the recording. In her collaboration with producer Bobby Read, Sansone says Celtic music reflects many things... Celtic can mean more than a specific place or a time it can reflect a timeless spirit, a sensibility, a groove and this is achieved on this recording, she says with a music that is rooted in the past.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Blend, May 6, 2009

By 

Michael "Hope" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Celtic Fair (Audio CD)

Maggie is a wonderful artist, all her work is a delight. I particularly like this one because it's a really well matched with the other Celtic instrumentation. Also I found the melodies on this one step forward and get my attention. Well Done! She keeps getting better and that's saying a lot for someone so talented.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good, March 2, 2008

By 

khjrn (Maryland) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Celtic Fair (Audio CD)

This is a very good CD. Celtic with a new take-jazzy & upbeat.
Selection #2 & #5 are excellent. Maggie Sansone is
an incredible musician , we've seen her perform & she gives it her all
as well as the people who accompany her.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great album, April 28, 2011

By 

Brent (Agoura Hills, California, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Celtic Fair (Audio CD)

This a great album. I like to listen to it while studying medieval history. It fits the mood really well. The music is nice and fairly energetic. Some songs are particularly great, but all are really good. Listen to the samples of tracks 2 and 3 to see if it's your kind of album.