Celtic musician Maggie Sansone welcomes in 2009 with old Irish tradition.
Sansone will perform traditional and original Celtic music at Rams Head Tavern on New Year’s Day. “The winter solstice is one of the Celtic holidays that highlights the beginning of winter, and suits the Celtic mood and music very nicely,” Sansone said.
A native of Miami, Sansone moved to Baltimore in the 1970s and discovered a love for the hammered dulcimer, a percussion instrument that consists of strings pulled over a trapezoidal sounding board which are then hit with a small mallet hammer to produce sound. Since then, Sansone has recorded numerous albums, written several books and established herself as a premier dulcimer musician. She also founded her record label, Maggie’s Music, and resides along the Chesapeake shore in Shady Side, teaching workshops and performing.
How did you discover Celtic music?
What I love about Celtic music is that it’s very welcoming and there’s a strong sense of community. What really helped get me started was these very open and welcoming sessions of musicians sharing music every week at J. Patrick’s and other places. I’m still friends with those people, over 25 years. I still perform with them. We all went off on our different paths over the years but we always come back together. Sometimes I say it’s like a dysfunctional family — people do some recording and then move on, but we are all still together.
What attracts you primarily to Celtic music?
I actually enjoy playing a variety of music. But I’m attracted to the haunting, modal sounds of Celtic music. I like the Gaelic airs, the beautiful way the melodies spin imagery in my mind, sort of a haunting beauty. Plus I like the lively jigs and reels, which are very driving.
Celtic music wasn’t really popular [when I first started], but luckily it’s been growing and growing because of “Riverdance.” And the music just hits the spot, and feeds the soul.
How has Maggie’s Music been doing?
My record label has been around for about 25 years and we’ve really grown, to about 50 albums and 12 recording artists. We were featured on “CBS Sunday Morning,” which was incredible, with two of our label’s guitarists, Bonnie Rideout and Robin Bullock.
I’m also a very active musician on the local Celtic scene as well. My newest albums are “Celtic Fair,” which I did last year with Sue Richards, and “Merrily Greet the Time.”
Maggie Sansone and Friends
» Where: Rams Head Tavern, 33 West St., Annapolis
» When: 7 p.m. Thursday
» Tickets: $15
» Info: www.maggiesmusic.com
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