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Ensemble Galilei

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Ensemble Galilei is an American group that combines early music, Celtic traditionals and new compositions. From 1987 it recorded a series of albums, beginning with The Mystic and the Muse. In the 1990s came Music in the Great Hall in 1992, and Ancient Noëls and Following the Moon in 1993. After that came Come, Gentle Night: Music of Shakespeare's World in 2000, From the Isles to the Courts in 2001 and A Winter's Night in 2002.

Music and breakthrough

The group kept recording in later years too. From the Edge of the World appeared in 2007, A Change of Worlds in 2012, Surrounded by Angels: A Christmas Celebration with Ensemble Galilei in 2013 and From Whence We Came in 2015. The titles show where the ensemble focused: music from the British Isles and the Celtic world, the age of Shakespeare, and Christmas and winter repertoire.

Influence

The sound of such a group is chamber-musical. Strings, flutes and percussion create a soft, acoustic atmosphere in which medieval and Renaissance music sounds not like a museum piece but like living folk music. In this way the ensemble tapped into the interest in early and Celtic music that grew among a wide audience from the 1980s onwards. Nothing about its founding and line-up is recorded in the available source, and that has yet to be researched.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a track from the album A Winter's Night and notice the acoustic instruments and the calm, chamber-musical atmosphere in which the melody takes pride of place.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists