Search - Ann Mayo Muir & Ensemble Galilei :: Notes from Across the Sea

The compositional side of a folk singer I remembered from th

Steven I. Ramm | Phila, PA USA | 07/22/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I discovered this album by hearing the track "Winter's Blanket" on a radio sampler - ironically one marked "classical" - and wanted to hear more. My interest was further peaked because the name of the composer of the track was Ann Mayo Muir, a folk singer I knew back in the 1960s when she appeared a folk festivals with Maine singer/songwriter Gordon Bok. I had Ann's first LP put away somewhere and remembered I liked it.



When the full CD arrived I was pleased to see that it was a concept imagined by her daughter, Christina (though produced by engineer Bob Dawson and Carolyn Surrick) and consisted of all instrumental tunes composed by Ann. The musicians are a group known as Ensemble Galilei, who play "crossover" music combining early instruments like the Celtic harp, recorder and the viola da gamba. Some of the tunes are quiet and meditative - yes, almost classical - while others have a gypsy or Celtic sound. This is certainly different than the vocal sounds I remembered from Ann's ealy Lps, but no less enjoyable.



The musicians are all talented - and play in other groups in the Washington DC/Maryland area.



A very pleasant CD that I've found makes a nice background when I just want to relax.



If Celtic or quiet instrumental folk music is what you are looking for, this album will certainly fill the bill. You can feel Ann's spirit in nearly every track even though its her composition skills, rather than her performing talents on display here.



Steve Ramm

"Anything Phonographic"





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