Stars in the Rafters

A podcast of comfort and community through traditional music and poetry, hosted by Julie Vallimont.

Episode 11: On the sea

Episode summary
 
The sea evokes so many memories for so many of us. And it’s so much bigger than us, so closely tied to the moon, too large to comprehend, soothing in its regularity and vastness and timelessness. Sometimes we lose track of how long it’s been since we’ve all been apart, and life feels like bobbing on the waves, not unlike being out at sea. This week’s episode features music from Oliver Scanlon, Eric McDonald, Mary Lea, and the band MAC. Charis Boke reads an excerpt from T.S. Eliot. Julie Vallimont reads a poem by Cale Young Rice, and Nils Fredland reads a classic poem by Eugene Field with accompaniment by Rachel Panitch. Everyone is welcome to submit music and poetry to the podcast! You can reach out to us at starsintherafters.com.
 
Episode notes

1. Joan’s Waltz – Oliver Scanlon (Burlington, VT). This gently swinging waltz by Oliver is from his 2014 solo album, The Pond Jam. www.petesposse.com  

2. We Shall Not Cease, from Little Gidding, by T.S. Eliot. Read by Charis Boke (Springfield, VT).  

3. Chasing Horizons – Eric McDonald (Montréal, QC). This song is from an EP by Connor Garvey, a singer/songwriter from Portland, ME, which features Eric on mandolin. It’s an EP of songs he wrote while he was on a ship sailing from Portland to Iceland. Eric says, “It has that sense of contemplative space and endlessness that I always associate with the sea, and somewhat what I feel when I listen to your podcast. You can visit Connor’s website to hear about it in his words.”  www.chasing-horizons.com  

4. Transfusion, an excerpt from Songs to A. H. R. by Cale Young Rice, read by Julie Vallimont (Brattleboro, VT).  

5. Flor de Canela – Mary Lea (Brattleboro, VT). This traditional Mexican song from Michoacán State is played by Mary Lea – violin; Lise Brown – flute; Kate Barnes – piano; Ralph Gordon – bass. From Between Two Worlds, by Mary Lea & Friends.  

6. Wynken, Blynken, and Nod by Eugene Field, read by Nils Fredland (Hartland, VT). Fiddle accompaniment by Rachel Panitch (Boston, MA).  

7. Row On – MAC (CA and WA).  This traditional song is performed by the band MAC, featuring Elias Alexander, Ryan McKasson, and Colin Cotter. It is found on their album Perfectly Manufactured Reality. The song tells a story of hope and perseverance on the seas. www.tunesbymac.com  

The opening music is “The Pearl in Sorrow’s Hand” by Julie Vallimont, from her album Dark Sky, Bright Stars.  Produced by Julie Vallimont. Mixed and mastered by Dana Billings.  All content courtesy of the artists, all rights reserved. This series is supported in part by the Country Dance and Song Society.