You would think that an ensemble consisting of fiddle, pennywhistle, Celtic harp and bowed psaltery would have a specialized repertoire. And in some ways you would be right.
But if you're talking about Ensemble Galilei, you'd be wrong.As anyone who has ever seen the group perform or heard one of its CDs can tell you, this six-member group plays a wide variety of music. And they'll be bringing this wide-ranging repertoire with them when they come to Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 24.
According to Carolyn Surrick, who started Ensemble Galilei in 1990, the program will consist of medieval and Renaissance dances, original pieces and Irish songs.
Speaking by telephone from her home in Maryland, Surrick said, "The group was founded on the idea that making music is more important than the genre. And the ideal is to make music with like-minded people.
"Some of the ensemble's members have a Celtic background and some have an early-music background. But we all believe that it's not enough just to play music. You need to play from the heart. That's why we're together."
Surrick said she and the other members of the ensemble -- Jan Hagiwara, Liz Knowles, Deborah Nuse, Sue Richards and Sarah Weiner -- are excited that the future looks bright for them. "Each year we're getting more bookings than the year before. We're in our fourth season of touring, and we started what I think will be a long association with Telarc, which is a fabulous record label.
"Our newest CD -- which is to be released this fall -- is also our first with Telarc, and it's our most beautiful (album) so far."
Surrick is a prolific composer, having written many pieces in traditional style that are suitable for the ensemble. She also does the arranging for the group.
One thing Surrick and the others would like to do is travel a bit farther afield. "We would love to tour Europe. I keep whispering, 'Europe, Europe,' in our agent's ear, but so far it hasn't worked.
"I would love to spend the last New Year's Eve of this century in Scotland -- but we'll be playing in Mobile, Alabama, instead."
The April 24 concert takes place at the University of Utah's Marriott Center for Dance. Tickets are $20, available at all ArtTix locations, or by calling 801-355-ARTS (2787) or 1-888-451-ARTS. Discount tickets for students and senior citizens can be purchased at Kingsbury Hall or by calling 801-581-7100.
On Monday, April 26, Ensemble Galilei will give a repeat performance at Peery's Egyptian Theater, 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden. For information, call the Dee Events Center at 1-800-WSU-TIKS.
In addition, the Salt Lake Recorder Society will conduct a music workshop with Sarah Weiner on Sunday, April 25, at All Saints Episcopal Church (1710 S. Foothill Drive). The workshop is open to the general public. For more information contact Mary Johnson at 801-272-9015 or 801-278-5826.