A Winter's Night; Christmas in the Great Hall

Ensemble Galilei, Sue Richards | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2002)
• Original Release Date: August 1, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Maggie's Music
• ASIN: B00006I4W6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,303 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Founded in 1990, Ensemble Galilei has evolved into a six-woman group specializing in the performance of Celtic music, Early musi and new compositions. Featuring Celtic harp, fiddle, Scottish small pipes, oboe, recorders, penny-whistle, viola da gamba and percussion, the repertoire ranges from instrumental arrangements of chant by Hildegard von Bingen, to Renaissance dance music, to chaconnes from the Baroque, to Irish jigthe barriers that normally exist between the audience and the performer. The repertoire is very engaging and the audience is clearly enthusiastic." They have been interviewed by Robert Siegel on All Things Considered and have performed and been interviewed on the Diane Rehm Show. The following is from Ensemble Galilei: The idea of Celtic/Early music crossover was a happy accident. Ensemble Galilei was founded on the premise that for us, it was the music making that was most important, rather than the genre. Each of the musicians brings to the group her personal strengths, and it happens that our backgrounds are Celtic and Early music. Sue Richards is a four-time U.S. National Scottish Harp Champion, and Carolyn Anderson Surrick, who has an MA in musicology, has performed early music on the viola da gamba for 22 years. Liz Knowles, the featured Irish fiddler on the Michael Collins soundtrack, also toured with Riverdance (and is equally at home playing Bach), and Sarah Weiner won the 1996 Indiana University Early Music Institute Concerto Competition on Baroque oboe. What we share is a passion for music, and for making music together.s and reels, to music composed by the performers in the traditional style to music celebrating the Holiday season. Excerpts of their performancetwenty times since 1990, including Christmas Day 1997, and the group has done two in-studio 30 minute concerts there. Ben Roe of Performance Today has said "Theres have been heard on NPR

Product Description

Subtitled ''Christmas in the Great Hall,'' this album is sure to delight early music fans! Traditional Christmas favorites, medieval and renaissance dance music, Celtic carols from Galica and the Shetland islands, 17th century English carols and original compositions are the perfect musical accompaniment to celebrate the holiday season. In the practice rooms at music conservatories and at all night sessions in Irish pubs, this group continues to discover new ways to combine early music with traditional and Celtic folk traditions that give this popular group their unique sound.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Early Music-Celtic fusion at its best, September 30, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Winter's Night; Christmas in the Great Hall (Audio CD)

I've been to several of the ensemble's Christmas performances and can agree that their music is a wonderful fusion of the best of early music- unique and beautiful early music instruments and Cetlic instruments- the Celtic harp, the scottish small-pipes which are mellow sounding; and then even a classical instrument and a "new -age" touch with the addition of the oboe and its haunting plaintive sounds that create a beautiful reed sound. There's an amazing variety to the sounds and great use of arrangements that brings out a wonderful blend. And, best of all, its ancient carols and not so familiar christmas music that's good any time of the year.This CD does indeed captures their performances.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, May 5, 2007

By 

Someone (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Winter's Night; Christmas in the Great Hall (Audio CD)

Absolutely brilliant. This is not at all the same old Christmas music. Only a few of the songs are well known, but their takes on them are so fresh that you won't mind. All the songs are quite good, but What Child is This/O Come O Come Emmanuel is possibly the best.

1 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Little Disappointed, January 11, 2008

By 

MT & MLT Teacher "BB" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Winter's Night; Christmas in the Great Hall (Audio CD)

I bought the CD since I was looking for "Rorate" which is performed beautifully on this CD as are a number of other tracks. My husband and I both thought the CD was not very festive and found some of the original compositions to be slow and lackluster especially the second track, "New Prince, New Pomp". It did not put us in the Christmas spirit as we were driving many miles for the holidays...was rather dull. Overall, I was disappointed with the CD.