Folk & Traditional Music Performances

Gabriella Snyder's renditions of folk and traditional music celebrate life, love, work and play. She's equally at home interpreting Celtic ballads, Appalachian hymns, Renaissance airs, Shaker dances, American folk songs, contemporary and original songs.

Her CD, Ancient Christmas - Songs & Carols, with Steve McWhirk on guitar and Myra Franks on fiddle, showcases rarely heard carols from the Appalachian mountains, the native American Huron tribe, the British Isles, and France -- from Medieval times to the present. These extraordinary pieces evoke spiritual peace and joy for a time of celebration.

Here's what the critics say...

"Gabriella Snyder has composed an original 'ancient' carol which has the elegance and simplicity of the high Renaissance. The surprise upon hearing the exquisite 'Come With Me' is that it was written in 1996 and not 1596."

Internet reviewer, Richard Keith Banks of Christmasreviews.com wrote this about Ancient Christmas - Songs & Carols:

The title is Ancient Christmas, a title which describes the contents of this work without quite doing justice. I might have named it Come With Me--the title of Gabriella Snyder's excellent original Christmas song--because the title of this song better conveys her mission: leading us on a quest to discover Christmas through ancient and traditional carols. I appreciated her song for its authenticity and truth, as well as enjoying the renaissance flavor of the entire CD.

With Ms. Snyder on hammer dulcimer [sic], Steve McWhirk on guitar, and Myra Franks on violin and viola, the string arrangements splendidly evoke the "ancient" mood of the eleven selections, many of which were unknown to me. I appreciate toe-tapping seasonal melodies, so my favorite tune was Stars of Glory, a moody, celtic arrangement whose viola part particularly moved me.

Ancient Christmas is a well-conceived effort, taking listeners on a unique journey through several centuries of caroling. Come with me, Ms. Snyder seems to say, and listen to the music I love.

I'll come with you!

- Richard Keith Banks, appearing at www.christmasreviews.com

Snyder's year-round program displays her clear, souring voice and the gentle acoustics of the mountain dulcimer. Each song reflects her artistic sensitivity and respect for the roots of the music.

In the Celtic realm, she's equally at home in danceable standards like I'll Tell My Ma and rich love songs like Wild Mountain Thyme or Fare Thee Well.

Her renditions of driving Appalachian ballads like Hold On and Wayfarin' Stranger get your feet tapping and your heart pounding. On the other hand, her renditions of Shaker hymns like Simple Gifts and O the Beautiful Treasures, are hauntingly beautiful.

You can hear Snyder's vocal power and range in her original songs Oh What a Day and God's Hand to You.

She relates, "I love singing traditional songs and ballads. They're musical gems that have stories to tell and beautiful melodies."

For Booking or Concert Information call (781) 321-2714