Folk, traditional, ethnic, world music cds and books: Skylark Productions

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Compact discs (see below for songbooks)

I CAN'T COMPLAIN
I Can't Complain - but sometimes I still do.
Recorded in 2010, a collection of Yiddish songs, including two originals ("Epes fun Gornisht" and "Hilda's Waltz"). Vocals, piano, concertina, fiddle.Contents: Zing Brider Zing!, Birobidzhan, Di elter, Epes fun gornisht, Gris bagris, Don un Donye, A bisl libe, Hilda's waltz, Fraytig oyf der nakht, Harbstlid, Got fun Avrom, Bobenyu, Glik, A yidishe khasene, Ta'am Haman
LISTEN:
Glik
Birobidzhan
Ta'am Haman
Zing, Brider, Zing!
- Yiddish Songs
MAPPAMUNDI
Mappamundi: World Music Our Way
A gleeful collection of "More or Less Traditional Music from the Northern Hemisphere and the Previous Millennium." Contents: Djulber Nedo, Okrug Selo, Bonnie Laboring Boy, Rose and Crown, Doffin Mistress, Sinii Platochek (The Blue Scarf), S'iz der step shoyn opgeshorn (Di Arbuzn), Tsi Darf Es Azoy Zayn?, Sheyn Vi Di Levone, A la una yo naci, Kelesh Doncho, Down Among the Dead Men, William Glenn, Oy Mame, Bin Ikh Farlibt, Polegnala e Todoro, Chernyi Voron, Savo Vodo, Minka, Za Lesom, The Grecian Queen, Now Is Come Our Joyful Feast
LISTEN:
Di Arbuzn
Kelesh Doncho
Minka
Now Is Come Our Joyful Feast
- Wild ride across the globe
WE DID IT!
WE DID IT!
Recorded in 2008, a collection of murder ballads which also includes lesser deadly sins and some cheery fiddle tunes to enliven the mixture. Contents: What a Shocking World This Is for Scandal, Lucy Wan, Punch and Judy, Marrowbones, The Death of Piracy, Cat in the Cradle medley, Bowie Bowerie (The Two Sisters), Rubberman medley, Gypsen Davy, Jesuitmont (Justamont), Lamkin, Slip Jigs and Reels, David's tunes (Flying Home to Shelley, Paddy on the Landfill, Music for a Found Harmonium), The Creel, The Laily Worm, The Wizard's medley (Tamlin, Napoleon's, The Wizard's Walk), Fear No More the Heat of the Sun
LISTEN:
Lucy Wan (with cigarbox fiddle)
Marrowbones
The Laily Worm
Cat in the Cradle
Music for a Found Harmonium
- People Behaving Badly
RAG FAIRE.
RAG FAIRE
This cd was just recorded in October 2006, the first new Pratie Head cd since 1988. Steve Winick of Dirty Linen magazine wrote, back in the day: "The Pratie Heads were their state's premiere performers of British Isles traditional music ... they have made some of the best Celtic, English, and early American folk music available in recorded form. They have picked beautiful, uncommon songs to play, have thoroughly researched tunes and texts to produce the best possible versions, and have lovingly and impeccably arranged them. And still it emerges as spontaneous, joyful music - it's a rare gift they have." Into the West, Berayna, Monymusk x 4, Sea Duck/Thirty Year Jig, Frozen Girl, Jamestown Homeward Bound, Bagira's Walk, Mayn Shvester Khaye, Strings in the Earth and Air, New Land/Toda Una Vida, Boutros the Cat, Daichovo Horo, Rag Fair, Siete modos de guisar las berenjenas, Old Songs/John Roy Lyall's Air, Bonny Ship the Diamond/Willafjord, Rosehill Reel, Lord Franklin
Listen:
Into the West
Mayn Shvester Khaye (Yiddish)
Monymusk x 4 (Scottish, Irish, American)
Seaduck's Waltz (Swedish)
Strings in the Earth and Air
Daichovo Horo (Bulgarian)
Lord Franklin
Rosehill Reel
The Jamestown Homeward Bound
- Celtic, Early American, more
COURTING DISASTER
COURTING DISASTER
This recording and the concerts promoting it were prototypes for the Mappamundi repertoire. Beth and Jane were joined by Joe Newberry on guitar, Dave Digiuseppe on bouzouki and accordion, Stephen Smith and Doug Holmgren (no relation) on piano.
Victory Review: "Warm, vibrant, expressive voices on these 21 songs about love from a woman's perspective. The variety is staggering... Their harmonies generate energy; their solo vocals soothe and soar. ... A rich, beautifully sung collection."
Cue Magazine: "They unfolded a fine collection of folk music from around the world in a most entertaining performance ... very colorful, interesting songs given exemplar performances by very fine artists. Peppler has a very special soprano voice -- clear and bell-like -- that's perfectly matched to the songs she sings. And the lady plays a hunk of fiddle as well. Holmgren has a lovely mezzo voice that creates great warmth with its rich, velvety quality. Their perfect blend of vocal colors and ensemble precision is first-rate and an auditory joy. They made a real night of it with a flawless musical performance. ... the audience would not let them leave the stage..."
Was That the Human Thing to Do?, Away with these self-loving lads, Why Do Fools Fall in Love?, Na pirino mome, Kissin's nae sin, Chant de foulon, Garten mother's lullaby, To meadows, Tayere Malkele, The fit's come on me now, Making Whoopie, Kon' bjezhit, To the begging I will go, Na ugorje, Break now, my heart, and die, I'm Beginning to See the Light, Karamfilo, You Got to Know How, Take a bumper and try, You're Driving me Crazy, Daj mi, daj
LISTEN:
Making Whoopie
Tayere Malkele (Yiddish)
Was that the human thing to do?
Kon' Bjezhit (Russian)
- Failed love songs
EARLY FARE
EARLY FARE
Steve Winick of Dirty Linen went on to say, about the music reproduced on this two-cd set (back when it was still on cassettes): ... Peppler's voice is a clear soprano wonder with a feeling of intense but controlled wildness that she may owe to her training in Slavic and Balkan singing ... as amazing on fiddle as she is singing, with great tone on the slower tunes and real speed on the quick ones. My suggestion is to buy a copy of each tape, and then make a dub of each. Put the originals away in a cool, dark place and play the dubs. That way, when you've worn out your copies, you can repeat the process without having to pay for more tapes. Don't say I didn't warn you."
this is a remastered collection of most of the songs and tunes from the four recordings made by the Pratie Heads in the 1980s - "Flowers of the Forest," "Todlin' Home," "Kiss Quick, Mother's Coming," and "Heritage." Almost 2-1/2 hours of music on two discs.
Disc One: Green Shores of America, Knickerbocker Line, The Girl that Broke My Heart/Sault's Own Hornpipe/Killoran's, Greenwood Laddy, The Bundling Song, An Acre of Ground, Rolling Ages/Poor Mourning Souls/Lovely Vine, The Foggy Dew, Paddy Ryan's Dream/Shark's Favorite, How Stands the Glass Around, King Henry, Five English Dances, Mary and the Gallant Soldier, The Turfman from Ardee, Flower of Northumberland, My Former Wife/Lord Inchaquin/The Contradiction, My Faithful Johnny, Morgan Flowers of the Forest, Spotted Cow/Lady Mary Hayes' Scotch Measure
Disc Two: The Lord of Drum, Cathy Whitesides/I Live Not Where I Love, The Black Fox, Kiss Quick/Peter and David, Tuppence on the Rope, The Barleygrain for Me, Though I Go to Bed Little Do I Sleep/Lord President Forbes'/The Haggis, Bonny May, Trip to Durrow/Byker Hill/The Bishop/Orleans Baffled, Road to Drumleven, Maxwell's Rant/Random Hornpipe, The Beggar Song, The Bold Robber, Shieling in the Braes of Rannoch/Tyndrum, The Long Pegging Awl, Rock and a Wee Pickle/White Petticoat/Market Town, Todlin' Home, Dalkeith's Strathspey/Lady Caroline Montague, Peter and David (reprise)
LISTEN:
The Barleygrain For Me
King Henry
Todlin' Home
Flowers of the Forest
The Knickerbocker Line
My Father Gave Me an Acre of Ground
- Celtic, Colonial American
SEDGEFIELD FAIR
SEDGEFIELD FAIR
review in "Folk Roots" Magazine:
"Highlights of this one are the invention and audacity of Schwab's piano playing (she also featured on the scandalously unrepeated BBC2 American Civil War series). Whereas in so many cases the instrument shouldn't be permitted within a mile of a folk song, she skips in and around the tunes in ways you'd scarcely think possibly, cunningly aided and abbetted by Link's double bass."
Reviewed in English Dance & Song:
"This is a lighthearted recording of well-loved tunes ... Jacqueline Schwab's piano playing is the highlight of this cd. She colours her accompaniment to reflect the mood of the lyrics. Delicate and etherial one minute, dancing and lilting the next, her playing is rich and bold and she uses the entire range of the instrument. An unexpected treat is the bass playing of Robbie Link. He solos both with bow and without, providing counter-melodies far beyond the usual oom-pah. Peppler's viola, with its dark, woody tone, is especially effective on "The Lass of Glenshee."
Jane Peppler teamed up with bassist Robbie Link and Jacqueline Schwab (pianist with the wonderful English country dance band Bare Necessities and pianist for Ken Burns' Grammy-winning Civil War series on PBS) to present this romantic, funny, haunting collection of 17th and 18th century country songs.
Sedgefield Fair, Bushes and Briars, Reynard the Fox, The Lass of Glenshee, The Ploughboy, Artichokes & Cauliflowers, Adieu, Adieu, Mothering Sunday, Barracks Street, Bonny Lass of Anglesey, Rambling Comber, Maidstone Hall, Buy Broom Besoms, Black-Eyed Susan, Come Lasses and Lads
- English & Scottish songs
SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED
Philadelphia City Paper: "To ease an ache for beautiful singing, try the Solstice Assembly's Some Assembly Required. The voices blend perfectly, in a surprising array of styles, from the Bobs' modern a-cappella-with-attitude to French sea shanties and back to the Renaissance. Think of all the hyperbole about celestial sounds and angelic harmonies, double them and apply them here.'' CUE Magazine: "The Solstice Assembly then took the stage, and I mean TOOK IT, with an earthy vocal/choral style that reaches far back into folk traditions. Their singing tone is a full-throated delivery that commands attention and delivers great excitement and driving energy."
The Charleston Post & Courier: "The harmonious and high-spirited Solstice Assembly belted out a cappella renditions with enough talent to raise the roof ... Sixteen voices full of musical gusto sang the reverent to the irreverent as a class act in the Piccolo Spoleto Traditional Folk Music Series ... the audience wanted more as they showed their appreciation with applause and shouts of encore."
Whitsuntide is Come, Sigh No More, Love is Come Again, Ripe and Bearded Barley, Roulez!, Vegan Fight Song, Spontaneous Human Combustion, Agincourt Carol, Gaude Mater Polonia, The Peddler's Song, Fine Knacks for Ladies, Chicken on a Raft, Double Cheese and Ham, Go Back Home, Canaan's Land, Northfield, Schnirele Perele, Up Above My Head, No Ozone, Drive Dull Care Away, Imi Notna Leviva-li, One More Shopping Day, Last Month of the Year, So Will We Yet, Suzannana
LISTEN:
One More Shopping Day
- Eclectic, mostly a cappella
UNDER THE DRAWBRIDGE
UNDER THE DRAWBRIDGE
CD Review Magazine: "An all-seasons follow-up to Three Log Night, a regional Christmas favorite, Under the Drawbridge is an impressive introduction to the elegant, elastic vocal stylings of North Carolina's Solstice Assembly, an inventive 18- voice choral group that specializes in updating folk songs that span the last 800 years. These modern minstrels, favorites on the East Coast Renaissance festival circuit ... whether singing a cappella or accompanied by guitars, fiddles, percussion and recorders, showcase forceful harmonies with reverent relish and a youthful spirit. The alternately festive, romantic, and haunting arrangements mirror a variety of familiar vocal settings, including madrigal choruses, barbershop quartets, even such peers as the Bobs and the Roches... The most lasting pleasures ... are the older songs, all performed with an earnest affection that accents their beauty rather than their age." As featured on National Public Radio's Weekend Edition; debuted the peculiar genre of Medieval Beach Music.
Down with the Rosemary and Bays; Cro-Magn the Barbarian; Li joliz temps d'estey; Rainbow; Rainmaker; Padaj kiso; Margot labourez les vignes; The Silent Bird; Pokraj more loze; Con el viento; Touch but my lips; Hard Times; White Collar Holler; Blind Bartimus; Once I had a sweetheart; John the Revelator; No hiding place; Cadgwith Anthem; The Hock Cart; Windham; Cuando el rey Nimrod; Resonet in laudibus; Long Journey; Let memory keep us all; Black-eyed Suzy
LISTEN:
Sigh No More, Ladies
Let Memory Keep Us All
- From medieval to the Bobs
THREE LOG NIGHT
THREE LOG NIGHT: Uncommon Music for the Holiday Season
Download liner notes.
The first recording by the Solstice Assembly, also including the trio "The Buds" (Joe Newberry, Carl Jones, and Andy Cohen) and the "Band of Ages" - issued on cassette in 1988 but still requested 21 years later, so we've reissued it on cd - I used to make "authorized bootlegs" but now it's a real cd with a pretty cover, and with additional tracks from "Under the Drawbridge" by the Solstice Assembly and "World Music Our Way" by Mappamundi.
Thank you soooo much, I grew up with this cassette and was heartbroken that I could not find it on CD. You have totally filled me with Christmas cheer! - E. N., Monmouth Oregon
Let Memory Keep Us All, Sherburne, The Lord at First did Adam Make, Time to Remember the Poor, Ma-Oz Tsur, Y'vanim, Simu Shemen, Svivon sov sov sov, Hanerot halalu, The Sussex Mummers carol, Gloucester Wassail, May Waltz, In the Bleak Midwinter, Fulfillment, Blessed be that Maid Marie, Gaudete, Gedeonis, Cookham, Sainte Nicholaes, The Very First Blessing Mary Had, The Holly and the Ivy, The Boar's Head Carol, Tappster, Dryngker!, Rock the Cradle, Joe!, Pastime with Good Company, The King, The Holly Bears a Berry, Now is Come our Joyful Feast
Listen:
In the Bleak Midwinter
Ma-Oz Tsur (Italian)
Gloucester Wassail
- Uncommon Holiday Music