Episode Summary
The sunlight of late summer is gentler, casting an evening glow on the fields still green and full of wildflowers. In June we had poppies, then Queen Anne’s lace in July, and now in late August, it’s sunflowers, hundreds of blooms. As we begin to get to work for the fall, there are still so many possibilities of what the months ahead could hold, chances to make changes for the better while we have our momentum from summer. This week we have music from Joanne Garton, Julie Vallimont, Ian Robb, Eleanor Lincoln, and Peter and Mary Alice Amidon. Charis Boke reads a poem by e.e. cummings, Julie reads a poem by Cale Young Rice, and Margaret Youngberg reads a poem by William Wordsworth. If you’ve been enjoying the podcast, we could really use your support to make it sustainable. You can donate at patreon.com/starsintherafters. Take care, everyone.
Episode Notes
1. The Bee’s Knees / Hey, Rusty! / A Boy’s Lament for His Dragon – Joanne Garton (Montpelier, VT). Performed with Michael Ayles, Simeon Chapin, Hollis Easter, and Aaron Marcus on Joanne’s 2019 album The Bee’s Knees. Joanne says, “‘The Bee’s Knees’ was written one summer night in gratitude for the friendship of two amazing friends who truly encompass the tune’s name. ‘Hey, Rusty!’ comes from a fiddle soulmate in Melbourne, Australia. ‘A Boy’s Lament’ was learned from my piping teacher, Ken MacKenzie of Montreal.” www.joannegarton.com/
2. i thank you, by e.e. cummings. Read by Charis Boke (Springfield, VT).
3. Black Mountain Spring – Julie Vallimont (Brattleboro, VT). Julie wrote this tune while on the plane home from LEAF, a magical music and dance festival in Black Mountain, NC. Recorded in five minutes of free time one day in the C Sharp dance hall at Pinewoods Camp. She dedicates this tune to her bandmate Noah VanNorstrand. www.julievallimont.com
4. The Rose of Allandale / Swannanoa – Ian Robb (Ottawa, ON). From Ian’s album Jiig, with James Stephens, Greg Brown and Ian Clark. Ian writes, “‘The Rose of Allandale’ is from the repertoire of England’s great Copper Family, but I learned it from Nic Jones. One of the great choruses. Followed by Rayna Gellert’s lovely waltz, ‘Swannanoa.’” www.ianrobb.com/
5. Sense-sweetness, by Cale Young Rice. Read by Julie Vallimont (Brattleboro, VT).
6. Emilie’s Waltz – Eleanor Lincoln (Northampton, MA). Composed and performed on piano and violin by Eleanor.
7. Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802, by William Wordsworth. Read by Margaret Youngberg (Greenfield, MA).
8. Lullaby for the Girls – Peter and Mary Alice Amidon (Brattleboro, VT). Mary Alice dedicates this song to her nieces. It’s from the Amidons’ album A Song in My Heart. www.amidonmusic.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. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting it via Patreon: www.patreon.com/starsintherafters