MAGGIE'S MUSIC NEWSLETTER
always the Newest News! Maggie Sansone, Editor

Irish words to learn today...Failte! (pronounced "fall-cha") means welcome;Slainte! To Your Health

RADIO EVENT AT XM RADIO

Maggie Sansone's & friends performed a live concert at XM Radio (Ben Smith, host of Fine Tuning, Station #76.) in March, 2007. It was aired throughout the month and featured Sansone's new CD: A Celtic Fair. Maggie Sansone was joined by award winning Cetlic musicians from the Washington D.C. area including 2 another Maggie's Music recording artists- Sue Richards, and Paul Oorts. Also Klezmer clarinetist and jazz sax player Seth Kibel, flute and guitarist Rob Greenway, percussionist Matt Bell and fiddler Andrea Hoag. . Below is Maggie Sansone & the Celtic Fair Band with a few audience members.

Photo by: Harmeet Kaur.

Maggie's Music is proud to announce the 2007 Wammie Nominees featuring recording artists and recordings from Maggie's Music record label. Classical Instrumentalist Tina Chancey ;Chamber Ensemble- Ensemble Galilei;Hesperus; Folk Traditional Instrumentalist- Bonnie Rideout; Maggie Sansone ;Folk- traditional Recording- A Celtic Fair, Maggie Sansone ; Washington Area Record Company- Maggie's Music. WAMA is an umbrella organization of Washington area musicians, concert promoters, lawyers, recording engineers, managers, graphic artists, and related businesses working together to address areas of common concern. www.wamadc.com ...

Mark your calendar for the WAMA Awards Ceremony. Feb. 18, 2008.
Sunday, February 17, 2008, State Theatre, Falls Church VA.

Hammered dulcimer teachers:Maggie Sansone group and private lessons, contact: Maryland Hall of Creative Arts, Annapolis. MD or call our office.. (410)867-0642;Karen Ashbrook Hammered Dulcimer Adult and Children lessons in Silver Spring, MD. 301/592-0101, mail@karenashbrook.com ;visit our links page and also see Ken Kolodner ( Baltimore, MD);and Jody Marshall(northern Virginia area)

REVIEW: Maggie Sansone- A CELTIC FAIR;(MM112) The ancient hammered dulcimer, according to Maggie 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." Dirty Linen Folk & World Magazine. Read more reviews on the Celtic Fair album page.

March/07: NEW CD featuring Maggie's Music Artists :Time-Life produced a 2- CD set that features all 12 Maggie's Music Recording Artists! This exciting new CD is called Celtic Tapesty: A Collection of Contemporary and Traditional Celtic Music. Its a one of a kind 2-CD collection produced by Time-Life and contains 32 tracks from the Maggies' Music catalog that includes recording artists Karen Ashbrook, Robin Bullock, Ceoltoiri, Ensemble Galilei, Hesperus, Ken Kolodner, Jody Marshall, Al Petteway & Amy White, The City of Washington Pipe Band; National Scottish fiddle and Celtic harp champions Bonnie Rideout and Sue Richards and Maggie Sansone. Celebrate the sound and essence of the Celtic spirit - the driving energy of jigs and reels; lilting melodies, haunting traditional and contemporary songs from artists bringing their own spirit to the genre. Available now! and through Amazon.com, all major retail outlets and wherever fine music is sold. For more information, visit: www.TimeLifeEntertainment.com

REVIEWS Celtic Tapestry: follow this links below....

http://www.corazine.com/reviews/celtic-tapestry-contemporary-and-traditional-celtic-songs

http://www.smother.net/reviews/items/world/729/Various_Artists-Celtic_Tapestry%3A_Contemporary_and_Traditional_Celtic_Songs.php

also a Contest! and win prize....

http://TheCelebrityCafe.com/contests/celtic_tapestry.html

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10/07:Maggie Sansone-musicians and now a published author! Read the nature article " Osprey."... click : http://www.bayweekly.com/year07/issuexv38/reflectxv38.html

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ACOUSTIC GUITAR REVIEW- Land of the Sky, click here:

a link to the article online: http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/173/173,7516,PLAYLIST-1.asp

NPR's ECHOES, http://www.echoes.org ;http://www.echoes.org/stattime.html

http://www.echoes.org/blog

Maggie Sansone & Friends: Thursday 11/23 & Sunday 11/26
A THANKSGIVING ECHOES ... An All Acoustic Living Room Concert for Thanksgiving with Alex De Grassi, Preston Reed, Eric Tingstad & Nancy Rumbel, Maggie Sansone & Friends. We go back through seven years of Echoes Thanksgiving performances to pull out some of our favorites in an all-acoustic performance..... Rounding out the show is Maggie Sansone and Friends, bringing a Celtic-Appalachia touch to the holiday with music for dulcimer and chamber group.

Al Petteway & Amy White:SONIC SEASONINGS 2006
LIVE PERFORMANCES FOR THE HOLIDAYS
WITH OTTMAR LIEBERT, THE CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO & AL PETTEWAY & AMY WHITE, ACOUSTIC EIDOLON....Immerse yourself in a different kind of Christmas soundscape with Sonic Seasonings 2006, a quartet of intimate acoustic performances for the holiday season featuring Ottmar Liebert, The California Guitar Trio, Al Petteway & Amy White and Acoustic Eidolon. Al Petteway and Amy White have just released a seasonal CD called Winter Tidings. With a delicate mix of guitars, mandolins and dulcimers, they play tunes that evoke the winter landscape of their North Carolina home. All four artists performed this winter on Sonic Seasonings 2006, heard on public radio stations throughout December and on Echoes December 22nd and December 24th. Contact: Kimberly Haas at kimberlyh@echoes.org for more information.http://www.echoes.org 610-827-960

stuff to do on our website that' s new and fun... Visit Apple I-tunes - straight from our website to digital download. You can preview all the music too!,www.itunes.com.

Download the Maggie's Music Catalog : Click:   here.

Photo gallery:Click here .

Listen to our music~At the top of every album page on our website- you will see the link click here to hear... This link will take you to our partner-internet retail store CD BABY. Once you get to the CD Baby website..you can then hear 2 min.audio samples of every tune on every Maggie's Music CD ( that's almost 50 CDs!)

Concert Highlights...Christmas Concert Highlights click here: Christmas Concerts ...

"Despite the differing contexts in which they are commonly found, the Irish-based hammered dulcimer and the Persian santur/santoor are two very similar instruments, both sonically and physically. With MYSTIC DANCE, Maggie Sansone borrows elements from both the Irish and Middle Eastern idioms, as well as those from the medieval period, to create a sound that blends influences from multiple cultures and timeframes. As with many of Sansone's releases, the overall mood of the album is rather joyous and upbeat, especially the "Celtic Wedding Set," which is awash with happy energy. In addition to the dulcimer/santur, the album also features backing accompaniment from an ensemble of musicians, including: Sue Richards on Celtic harp and Robin Bullock on guitar/mandolin." Washington Post.

http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmah/hdhist.htm.......and see more on our LINKS page.

 * Help us spread the word about Maggie's Music...

*Retail Stores: send us the name of a retail store in your area, including the name, address, city, state, email, phone- so we can make sure they carry Maggie's Music recordings.

*Websites: if you know of a good website we should be on, or search engine...please let us know .

*Radio Stations: send us an email with your favorite radio station, call letters, state, Radio host. 

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 Dust off those Hammered Dulcimer and learn to play or join Maggie Sansone's offers classes at the  Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis,MD,410-263-5544, also: Washington D.C. Area: Karen Ashbrook; Baltimore Area: Ken Kolodner; and Northern Virginia area; Jody Marshall.

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WAMA NEWS:  Raising the curtain on Washington, D.C. Music's annual Wammie Awards.

*Past winners are in the Folk/Traditional category are:Recording: Bonnie Rideout's Scottish Reflections; Duo/Group: Al Petteway & Amy White and Instrumental:  Al Petteway . Maggies' Music is a WAMMIE WINNER for Record label eight times and nominated every year since 1990.

WAMA is an umbrella organization of Washington area musicians, concert promoters, lawyers, recording engineers, managers, graphic artists, and related businesses working together to address areas of common concern. The Music Awards recognize significant career achievements by area musicians. Nominations and balloting come from the WAMA membership. Past show participants from Maggie's Music include The City of Washington Pipe Band, Bonnie Rideout as well as international stars: Emmylou Harris, Joan Jett, Bo Diddley, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Sweet Honey in the Rock

www.wamadc.com

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  Get Out Your Yoga Mats
and R-E-L-A-X!    Maggie Sansone's  Celtic Meditations: Into the Light-highlights in one special collection the most contemplative,quiet and peacefule music from her albums.It's music rooted in Celtic tradition with a universal quality, transcending borders.  
  REVIEWS: "This latest offering of Maggie Sansone reiterates her sensitive, innovative ability on the hammered dulcimer. Backed by an accomplished lineup of usicians, she presents a collection of lovely gentle tunes whose themes range from Celtic mythology to medieval, to contemporary. This album is marvelously calming, reflective, lovely collection of tunes played delicately and artfully by first rate artists." NEW AGE VOICE

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Merrily, Merrily...Christmas music..

  MM228-Merrily Greet The Time newest CD from Maggie and Sue of Seasonal & Holiday music with guest musicians from the label joining on four tracks-Connie McKenna on vocals; Karen Ashbrook on Irish flute and hammered dulcimer and Ralph Gordon on cello. Recorded in the XM studios in Washington D.C. and with liner notes by Radio/TV host Robert Aubry Davis.

A Winter's NIght (MM226)  (see Ensemble Galilei); The World's first SCOTTISH CHRISTMA DVD by SONY/BMG Special Products. Maggie's Music, and Bonnie Rideout teamed up with the big guys! to produce this live concert DVD. Go to our Christmas Page for more details, artists photos and track listings. Also see A Scottish Christmas which features much of the same music that's on the DVD and includes world famous piper- Eric Rigler who is known as the "Braveheart/ Titantic " piper because Eirc performed all the bagpipe music on the soundtrack for the films: Braveheart, Titantic,The Fugitive.

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  celtic marketplace - See our  special gift items here: Celtic marketplace . NEW! Celtic  scarves, sarongs, instrument covers an dmore! BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS..Folk Artists pay tribute to Celtic art and tradition in colorful hand made scarves/sarongs- with a thousands uses including: wall art/tapestries,covers for musical instruments/ table/desk covers, or wrap around beach wear and cover-ups. 44 in.x 64 in. and 100% rayon.Colors:purple, blue ( ask about our other colors, too). Call for prices, new colors and designs coming in every week.

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  Maggie's Music & Johnny Depp? Yes, it's true...Maggie's Music goes to the Movies, and TV too! ABC-TV- Paramont- Sony- have come calling. Tell your favorite Hollywood & INDIE film producers Maggie's Music has perfect music to license for TV and film projects.  Al Petteway's music was recently heard on the soundtrack for PBS's Mark Twain by Ken Burns and Hesperus's music was featured on Paramount Film's Sleepy Hollow based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow which tell of Ichabod Crane’s encounter with the Headless Horseman.  Here's what Hesperus says about their debut on Paramont: "If the music in the party scene of the movie Sleepy Hollow sounds familiar, it is! Two selections from our Maggie’s Music CD, Early American Roots were used in the film; a medley of two cotillions, The Swallow and The Collyflower, and the country dance tune Argeers. And after the movie ends, if you stay through the ten minutes of credits you’ll see the group properly mentioned just before the very end. I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me, my agent, my parents, my therapist." 

 Maggie's Music and the soaps!   Maggie Sansone's recording of  the tune Abbotts Bromley Horn Dance from Traditions (MM104) was heard on the TV soap opera- General Hospital in Dec, 2002. So, if you missed the show, just let your imagination run wild as you read this excerpt from the General Hospital daily events: Courtney stresses over Jason being in custody. Ric asks to see the newspaper story outlining the facts of the arrests. Skye isn't in the mood to do the moral inventory prescribed by AA and prefers to remain drunk. AJ worries that she is going to blow their deal to set up with Jason if she doesn't sober up. Skye stumbles out into the snow and passes out on a park bench. Sonny and Jason are sure they will be released as soon as they post bail but Taggert is certain that no judge is going to grant such an decree on Christmas Eve. 

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More CD Reviews are Coming in & they're GREAT!

Celtic Cafe (MM224)
Karen Ashbrook & Paul Oorts

"HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for ears thirsting for true musical adventure...If you love music full of raw energy & cultural diversity (Irish, French & Flemish), you won't be able to eject this CD. Bright and full of a range of emotions not often stirred by the "pop" music you'll hear these days, Celtic Cafe will expand your mental boundaries. The pipes (Mark Hillman) & woodwinds (Bobby Read) add an element of enchantment that will stay in your mind for days (even years, I'd imagine)... people who love life & the living will cherish this unique album for many listens to come. Joy is clearly expressed in Bonnie Rideout's Scottish fiddle playing. It's the kind of music that you can get up & dance to without having to "put on airs". I fell in love with it right away... it's a "keeper"! I rate it MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for ears thirsting for true musical adventure." Improvijazzation Nation (issue # 47)Rotcod Zzaj

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Bonnie Rideout News - Gi'me Elbow Room is a wonderful and entertaining introduction to Scottish music for children and adults alike! It was produced by GRAMMY winner Marcy Marxer. And, it's a TOTALwork of art with Bonnie Rideout original drawings on the CD disc and throughout the CD Booklet.  It took the #1 top prize:  Parent's Choice Gold winner- the national award and highest honor and it was included in Music for Little People catalog. Bonnie also won a  WAMMIE award in the Children's Category. It's a well deserved recognition for her contributions in this field and for her children's album .    News from the road... The Fiddle and The Great Highland Pipes: Bonnie is now touring with her new show featuring members of the Bonnie Rideout Scottish Trio & The City of Washington Pipe Band! This thrilling display of pipes and drums is a memorable spectacle with Rideout's fiery fiddling. A full musical spectrum from tenderness and introspection to humor and rantingly raucous piping and fiddling, this is a once in a life-time show to see. If you can't be there, you can purchase the live concert DVD and video entitled: A Scottish Christmas which highlights Bonnie and The City of Washington Pipe Band in all their glory. Also, have a listen to 2 minute long music samples of City of Washington Pipe Band's CD: Scottish Rant. on CDBaby.

Music for Kids & Christmas Albums: excerpts from article by Ed Pearlman:It's Christmas eve at the magic hour of midnight, and kids old enough to know better lie secretly awake, straining their ears to be the first to really hear the thump on the roof or the tinkle of sleigh bells high in the sky. They will, no doubt, always remember their young hopes and noble effort. For them as for most of us, Christmas and children will always be tightly linked. So it seems appropriate to review together some of the key children's and Christmas albums coming out of the Scottish and Nova Scotian traditions. We'll start with the kids' music and then take a look at Christmas music for the grownups.....In the U.S., two children's recordings with a Scottish flavor have won the Parent's Choice Gold Award in recent years: Nancy and Jerry Bell's Celtic Tales for Bedtime Kids and Bonnie Rideout's Gi'me Elbow Room. Fiddler Bonnie Rideout's Gi'me Elbow Room is full of singing, fiddling, poems and children's rhymes. The singing is by Bonnie herself and by children, a homey plus for some listeners, though perhaps a musical minus for others. Children and parents will enjoy many of the familiar tunes, songs and rhymes on this recording. There is here and there a tinge of nostalgia, however, which may account for one child's comment that the album wasn't as cheerful as he had hoped. Rideout's Christmas album, A Scottish Christmas , is a highlight of the genre, a varied, all-instrumental exploration of traditional music relating to the season. Bagpiper Eric Rigler (of Braveheart and Titanic soundtrack fame) joins the fiddle, guitar, hammer dulcimer and cello for a mostly quiet album, ranging in pace from slow to moderate. Including popular melodies as well as aptly titled traditional tunes, it could well serve as a nice antidote to holiday stress. Nothing has the power to boost--or calm--your holidays as well as music. So to your kids and to you all, Nollaig Chridheil, and much happy music!
 

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Sue Richards News & highlights ...

St. Patrick's- Sue & the Chieftains! Sue Richards performed with the Chieftains at the Kennedy Center!  With a sold out crowd of over 2500 Celtic fans, Sue Richards - Celtic harper extraordianaire and 4 time National Scottish harp champion joined the Chieftians who are considered to be the best Irish band in the world! The Chieftains employed the best Celtic harpers in every city to join them in concert for their USA tour as a tribute to their Chieftian band mate Celtic harper Derek Bell, who died suddenly last October. 

SCOTLAND News:    Sue also has performed at The  Endinburgh International Harp Festival . Its THE MOST prestigious harp event in the world and includes world famous harpers like Deborah Hensen Conant, Kim Roberson. Sue is a 4- time National Scottish harp champion and we are proud that she was the very first recording artist signed to the Maggie's Music record label in 1991! She also tours with Ceoltoiri Celtic Ensemble and Ensemble Galilei. Sue's CDs are: Merrily Greet the Time ( new Christmas CD -2003; H azel Grove , Morning Aire , Grey Eyed Morn ; with Ensemble Galilei : A Winter's Night and Ancient Noels ; with Ceoltoiri Celtic Ensemble : Women of Ireland .

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If You Missed a Concert- Don't Worry, Be Happy!
See Maggie's Music Artists on the Web
"Live" concerts on the internet!    (go to archives)  Kennedy Center "Millennium Stage"   (go to archives-and click the artist name:  features Maggie Sansone, Bonnie Rideout, Karen Ashbrook....

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  lots n' lots of new music books  

Maggie's new BIG BOOK of Celtic Tunes and More BY MAGGIE SANSONE is available. now. Scottish Fire by BONNIE RIDEOUT is available.see www.MelBay.com or our music book link below.

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Maggie Sansone now has her very own page.
Click here! . 

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Office: 410/867-0642- 10-4, Mon-Thurs.Eastern Standard Time.

Maggie's Music ~ PO Box 490 ~ Shady Side, MD 20764, FAX: 410/867-0265