The Baltimore instrumental folk trio Helicon is breaking out of its winter hibernation with a recital tonight at the University of Maryland at Baltimore, concert trips this month to the Midwest and a sparkling new compact disc called "The Titan."

Helicon has moved beyond its Celtic music start to add tunes from Hungary, Poland, Nova Scotia, Haiti and Bolivia for the Turquoise Records CD.

This is tantalizing music with which to welcome spring, forget the blues, dance reels or dream. Not that the music is all happy; a wistful quality prevails in parts.

Ken Kolodner on hammered dulcimer, Chris Norman on flutes and Robin Bullock on guitar and fiddle play old music freshly and new music like the old stuff. They still whip out the Scottish and Irish reels, Welsh waltzes and French schottisches (a polka-like dance).

"We're having a great time and our music's growing," Baltimore native Kolodner reported. He earned a doctorate at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health but also taught himself to hammer at the dulcimer. He now makes more of a living with Helicon.

Norman is from a classical background; Bullock, rock 'n' roll, bluegrass, classical, and Kolodner, folk music. They improvise some but use a basic framework for their tunes.

Tonight's 7 p.m. is in the auditorium of the university's Medical School Teaching Facility at 10 South Pine St.

Freyda Epstein, of Charlottesville, Va., will sing (she played viola in one "Titan" piece). Tickets are $8 for general admission and $6 for seniors, and students. Call 328-8035.