Episode summary
This week we have music from lydia ievins, Alex Sturbaum, Curt Osgood, Peter and Mary Alice Amidon, and Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand. Charis Boke reads a poem by Rumi, and Julie reads a poem by Cale Young Rice and an excerpt from Endymion by John Keats, with piano music from Aaron Marcus. This episode goes out to those who live their lives the way they need to live them, to the continuing spirit of creativity even in difficult times, to the persistence of love and beauty across the centuries, and to things that sustain us. Anyone is welcome to submit music or poetry to the podcast! You can reach out at starsintherafters.com; we would love to hear from you. Take care, everyone.
Episode notes
1. Polska efter Schedin – lydia ievins (Montague, MA). A traditional Swedish slängpolska tune from Västmanland, played here on nyckelharpa and piano. This thoroughly satisfying tune is a popular favorite with dancers. Recorded on Koivu, lydia’s duo album with Helsinki-based pianist Juha Kujanpää. www.lydiamusic.org
2. Stop the words now, by Rumi. Read by Charis Boke (Springfield, VT).
3. Sweet Mary Starbuck – Alex Sturbaum (Olympia, WA). Alex’s “new old” song will be on their upcoming album Loomings, coming out July 24. www.alexsturbaum.com
4. Sea-Hoardings by Cale Young Rice. Read by Julie Vallimont (Brattleboro, VT).
5. Farrell O’Gara – Curt Osgood (Binghamton, NY). Curt says, “Sometimes a spirited melody can sound as beautiful when presented in an air-like fashion. Farrell O’Gara is one of several I’ve found. A big thanks goes out to two amazing musicians, John Kirk and Jane Knoeck, whose immense talents added so much to the Newfield Sessions CD I produced a number of years ago and on which this melody and others can be heard.” www.curtosgood.com
6. Johnny Appleseed – Mary Alice Amidon (Brattleboro, VT). This is Mary Alice Amidon’s setting of the poem Johnny Appleseed by Stephen Vincent Benet and Rosemary Benet. Peter Amidon composed and is playing the piano accompaniment. Mary Alice vocals and banjo, Sam Amidon fiddle. This is from Peter and Mary Alice’s album Hymns and Ballads. It was recorded in Brattleboro’s Soundesign Studio in Brattleboro by Al Stockwell. A video of this song with its accompanying picture book is included on their Stories and Music Activities for Children page. www.amidonmusic.com. https://amidonmusic.com/workshops/workshop-notes/stories-and-music-activities-for-children/
7. An excerpt from Endymion Book I, by John Keats. Read by Julie Vallimont (Brattleboro, VT), with piano accompaniment by Aaron Marcus (Montpelier, VT).
8. Waiting on the Dawn – Noah VanNorstrand (Asheville, NC). This beautiful fiddle tune is from Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand’s album A Certain Tree. https://greatbearrecords.bandcamp.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, NEFFA, and Pinewoods Camp.