Episode Summary
This week, we have music from Jeremiah McLane, Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen, Eloise & Co., and Cardamom Quartet. Julie reads a poem by Susan Reid, Margaret Youngberg reads a poem by Emily Dickinson, and Ben Williams reads a poem by Anna Akhmatova. This winter, we can put conscious energy into finding the wonderful good things of the season, despite our current isolation. This is the time of winter, after the holidays, when I crack open the first mason jar of tomatoes from the garden that I put up back in August. It tastes like summer in a bottle and reminds me that the warmth of summer will come back. But first, to hunker down and stay safe and keep our hearts and hearths aglow the best we can. Take care, everyone.
Episode Notes
1. Winter Snow / Never Go Astray / Lion’s Mane – Jeremiah McLane (Sharon, VT). This track is on Jeremiah’s most recent solo album, The Grinding Stone. The first tune is a traditional English carol; the others are original tunes by Jeremiah. www.jeremiahmclane.com
2. The art of winter, by Susan Reid (Montpelier, VT). Read by Julie Vallimont (Brattleboro, VT).
3. Courage – Cindy Kallet (Bloomington, IN). Cindy Kallet wrote the verses to this song, but the words to the chorus came directly from an e-mail sent to her by Grey Larsen, at a time when life was especially challenging for both of them. It was recorded on their duo album, Cross the Water. www.cindykallet.com
4. I taste a liquor never brewed, by Emily Dickinson. Read by Margaret Youngberg (Greenfield, MA).
5. Chili and Chocolate – Eloise & Co. (Brattleboro, VT). Eloise & Co. is Becky Tracy and Rachel Bell. Becky played the beginning of this melody as an air for her sister Ruth’s wedding. She dedicates the tune to Ruth and her husband Dave. This track is on More, Please! https://eloiseandco.bandcamp.com
6. I taught myself to live simply, by Anna Akhmatova. Read by Ben Williams (Northampton, MA).
7. O Successores Fortissimi Leonis – Cardamom Quartet (Boston, MA). Cardamom Quartet is Lisa Goddard, Rachel Panitch, Gillian Gallagher, and Ariel Friedman. Rachel writes, “This ancient song by Hildegard von Bingen was arranged for string quartet by Lisa Goddard. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, each member of Cardamom Quartet recorded their part separately from home – and this special arrangement allowed them to play “together” without the use of a click track.” Check out the video Lisa produced. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xumOD3tdkR0 http://www.cardamomquartet.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, CDS-Boston, and Pinewoods Camp. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting it via Patreon: www.patreon.com/starsintherafters