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Our Review

Maggie Sansone's music is magic, and her work here with the Ensemble Galilei (Jim Brooks, Marcia Diehl, Sue Richards, Carolyn Anderson Surrick) is no exception. Sansone's other excellent holiday releases include Sounds of the Season (reviewed here), Sounds of the Season II (reviewed here), and Merrily Greet the Time (reviewed here). In addition to her masterful dulcimer playing, Sansone has an acclaimed independent label (www.maggiesmusic.com) that showcases acoustic music from Scotland, Ireland, and the Middle Ages.

On Ancient Noels the rich holiday music exudes a slightly exotic and mystical flavor, evoking "images of desert landscapes and stone monasteries." As always, Sansone's music is technically astute, and the musicanship is first rate. More than that, this album is all about creating a mood; in this case, the music successfully creates the sense of barren and wind-swept vistas from the middle ages. The instrumental sounds are well-mannered and somewhat eclectic. During a time of year when listeners tire of the unending onslaught of routine Christmas carols, Ancient Noels carries enough holiday flavor to put you in the mood, but enough (relatively) unfamiliar content to give the album excellent re-playability during the dreary cold months.

I like all 13 tracks, but particularly enjoy the Gloucestershire Wassail/Tomorrow Will Be My Dancing Day/The Sussex Carol medley, in part because I cherish the dancing sounds of the middle carol, but also because the flow and fit are just fantastic throughout (the interplay of dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, and cittern creates spontaneous smiles). Another favorite is the chant-like I Must Go Gather Comfort/There Was a Maid So Lovely/When Judah's Loyal Soul Alone medley, which includes the wonderful bass viola da gamba (like a cello) foundation, providing intense pleasure in a minimalist structure before breaking into an almost dreamlike state in the cut's final third. The treble viol sings especially sweetly on Cantiga, A Madre Do Que Livrou, and the hand drum excitement on the opening Cantiga de Santa Maria, No. 48 is a very nice touch. Compared with the other albums, Ancient Noels is perhaps a bit more serious and contemplative, although its message remains upbeat.

Maggie Sansone has hit another home run with Ancient Noels, this time with the Ensemble Galilei on her team. Lovely!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Traditional carols, medieval cantigas and Renaissance dances bring to life images of desert landscapes and stone monasteries where the spirit of Christ was born.

Musicians:

Maggie Sansone: Hammered dulcimer

Ensemble Galilei:
Jim Brooks: Recorders, cocertina
Marcia Diehl: Recorders, psaltery, pennywhistle
Sue Richards: Celtic harp
Carolyn Anderson Surric: Treble viol, bass viola da gamba

Guest Musicians:
Ben Harms: Hand drums, tambourine
Zan McLeod: Guitar, cittern
Bonnie Rideout: Fiddle

Produced by Charlie Pilzer
Executive Producer: Maggie Sansone

Maggie Sansone and Ensemble Galilei

Ancient Noels

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Track List