Album Notes

Jody Marshall’s music spans the range from traditional Celtic to classical to contemporary and original compositions. Presenting lively performances on both hammered dulcimer and piano, Jody is known for her rich arrangements that draw on a variety of musical idioms and textures.

Carol of the Bells includes delightful performances of seasonal favorites and new compositions, spanning the centuries with haunting medieval melodies, lyrical Renaissance dances, playful Celtic jigs, classics by Tchaikovsky and other composers, and decidedly contemporary takes on familiar carols. Creative arrangements feature hammered dulcimer, Celtic harp, guitar, fiddle, recorders, and more—including rarely heard instruments such as mandocello, mandobass, and cornamuse. Guest performers include Paul Oorts (fretted instruments), Ellen James (Celtic harp), Barbara Heitz (flute), Andrea Hoag (fiddle), John Guillory (recorders and other wind instruments), and other fine musicians.

The Washington Post had this to say about Carol of the Bells: “Count the hammered dulcimer as an instrument seemingly designed for holiday music, whether folk variations on classical standards, . . .wassails and carols from England, Sweden, Ireland and France; or brisk Marshall originals. . .the charms of this centuries-spanning collection are in the sparkling interplay between Marshall’s hammered dulcimer and piano and various other instruments. . .when they swing through “Sleigh Ride Set” (a Marshall original cleverly paired with Prokofiev’s “Troika”), you’ll feel the spray of snow on your face.”