Customer Reviews

Sounds of the Season

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Unfortunately, many people - especially those who are employed in the record stores - would probably consider this 'New Age' or E/Z Listening Christmas music. That's because most of those record store people do not know their musical history. Nor do they probably care to as long as they have the so called holiday music of Mariah Carey and the like to dilute their senses.
This collection by Ms. Sansone is just one in a long line of Old World style Christmas Music (see my other reviews for more of this type of music) that is pretty much only available at Amazon. It's a great introduction to this type of instrumental Christmas music for those who want to get their feet wet, mainly because many of the wonderful well-known tunes are here: Deck The Halls, Joy To The World, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, etc. But it's the not-so-well-known tunes that really jump out at you, such as Abbot's Bromley Horn Dance, Wexford Carol, Gower Wassail, and Baloo Lammy. After a few listens you'll begin to recognize and anticipate these lesser known songs every bit as much as the popular ones. By the end of the Season you'll be scouring Amazon for more of this style of music - it becomes an addiction. Just ask anyone who collects it! Next thing you know you'll be playing it for your friends, who of course, will want copies of THEIR own. Then you realize something: you've been spending your Holiday Season listening almost exclusively to this Old World Christmas Music and you're not sick of it! And you don't even miss Santa Claus Is Coming To Town or Feliz Navidad or so many of the other over-played carols! Because you now have fresh Christmas music to give you the spirit.
A fine collection to brighten the Holidays.

Hammered dulcimer lends a magical, peaceful quality to the holiday spirit in the air. Throw on the Christmas tree lights, mull some cider and kick up your heels (either in a jig or on an ottoman!)to these uplifting, instrumental versions of traditional carols. Mixed in are wonderful medleys of melodies that round out the cast of regulars perfectly: #9 ("Il Est Ne/Jeannette Isabella) brightens my mood every time I hear it.

The sounds of the season truly come alive with this most beautiful album (as well as the successor album, Sounds of the Season II). The hammered dulcimer and celtic harp are prominent in the instrumental arrangements and are wonderful to listen to; I've been in love with hammered dulcimers ever since I bought this album.

This CD has become the traditional music for our Christmas morning festivities. The dulcimer is played expertly, and the selection of songs is diverse and instrument appropriate. Because it is instrumental only, it can serve as nice background music for any holiday occassion. This has been our family's favorite holiday CD since we first acquired it four or five years ago.

This is a wonderful album which we have listened to for years. The variety of tunes is enjoyable. It makes a great Christmas gift, as well.

Maggie Sansone's Sounds of the Seasons is an absolutely sensational recording. After listening to it every year I just enjoy it more and more. You will love it!