Lullabies & Dances
Bill Crofut (banjo, voice), Julianne Baird (soprano), Carver Blanchard (guitar, lute), Joel Brown (guitar), Jim Cowdery (mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder)
This is a recording of folk and classical music transcribed for folk instruments. The connection between folk and classical is sometimes direct, as in Brahms's arrangements of existing folk tunes, or in the folk-based chorale tune of Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring; but more often the connection is one of mood, as in the folk dance-like character of My Lady Carrie's Dompe or the two bourées from Bach's English Suite. In trying to decide what to put on this recording we relied primarily on instinct, a feel for a piece, and whether it would work in transcription for folk instruments; but beyond any intellectual justification was the overriding sense of playing music we love. While the common theme is lullabies and dances, we did get sidetracked occasionally, when we simply wanted to play a particular piece.
Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Bourrées I & II from Englische Suite No. 2, BWV 807 | J.S. Bach | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Praeludium d from Clavier-Buchlein fur W.F. Bach, BWV 926 | J.S. Bach | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Die beiden Konigskinder from 28 deutsche Volksleider, No. 15 | Johannes Brahms | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Sandmännchen from Volks-Kinderlieder, No. 4 | Johannes Brahms | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Da Unten im Tale from Six Songs, Op. 97, No. 6 | Johannes Brahms | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Das Mädchen und der Tod | Johannes Brahms | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Nana from Siete Canciones Populares Españolas, No. 5 | Manuel De Falla | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Les Berceaux, Op. 23, No. 1 | Gabriel Fauré | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| All Through the Night | Franz Joseph Haydn | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Variations on "Ah, Vous Dirai-Je, Maman | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Von fremden Ländern und Menschen from Kinderszenen, Op. 15, No. 1 | Robert Schumann | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Ach Elslein, Liebes Elselein | Senfl | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Wiegenlied, Op. 41, No. 1 | Johann Strauss | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Lagrima | Tarrega | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Can Ye Sew Cushions | Traditional | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| Dandling Songs | Traditional | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| My Lady Carrie's Dompe | Traditional | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
| All the Pretty Little Horses | Traditional | Bill Crofut, banjo, voice, Julianne Baird, soprano, Carver Blanchard, guitar, lute, Joel Brown, guitar, Jim Cowdery, mandolin, pennywhistle, recorder |
Reviews
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"It's got folksy mandolin and elegant cello. Some of the songs are bona fide lullabies, some aren't. It's sold in both the children's and the classical sections of record stores. But all categories aside, this is some of the most heavenly music any child is likely to hear, and the way I figure it, letting your kids fall asleep or wake up to such sounds can only be a glorious thing to do for their souls."
*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.