2007
This is the music I listened today as I made the macaroni and cheese. I first heard Kate Rusby on the dvd of Clatterford, singing the theme song, one of Ray Davies' best. I was enchanted. She has an incredibly lovely voice as if she is a visitor from an earlier day. One of the songs on the album is called Streams of Nancy, and somehow my name always sounds nicer in a British song, sung with a British accent (Noncy).
She sings a beloved traditional song which I first heard sung by the wonderful, Jean Redpath. It is called Blooming Heather (sometimes called Wild Mountain Thyme), and makes me long for a Scotland I've never even seen.
I know this is a long you tube but if you have seven minutes to spare, it will make your day better, I promise. There's an interview at the beginning, and then she does the song. See if you don't find yourself swaying in your computer chair as you sing along to this chorus.
And we'll all go together
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather
Will ye go, Lassie go?
She sings a beloved traditional song which I first heard sung by the wonderful, Jean Redpath. It is called Blooming Heather (sometimes called Wild Mountain Thyme), and makes me long for a Scotland I've never even seen.
I know this is a long you tube but if you have seven minutes to spare, it will make your day better, I promise. There's an interview at the beginning, and then she does the song. See if you don't find yourself swaying in your computer chair as you sing along to this chorus.
And we'll all go together
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the blooming heather
Will ye go, Lassie go?
Oh, how heavenly. Listening to her sing makes one think all in right in the world.
ReplyDeleteLinda (in Chapel Hill)
Love, love, love it! My specialty from college days is the the Brittish Isles-Appalachia-Bluegrass stream of heritage music, and we do a lot of that with the choir (sacred hymnody of course, a lot of it from the Sacred Harp). This was such a beautiful rendering of that song!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness Nan. You have a way different look going here. I like it.
ReplyDeleteLinda, isn't that just so true. The whole album is wonderful, and I plan to buy many more of hers.
ReplyDeleteJoyce, lucky you! what a great specialty. I bet you'd love her all her music.
Lisa, this 'different' look has been around about a month. :<) I've been very, very pleased. I like being able to use the whole page. I like the sidebar on the left. I like being able to put up photos that aren't always centered. I like having a lighter background with darker print. I'm like a little kid - I'm so thrilled with it. I must say to Tom a few times a week how glad I am I changed it. Thank you!!
That was absolutely lovely. Thanks for posting that. Beautiful and ethereal!
ReplyDeleteThank you for watching it, Nan! I almost used the word 'ethereal' in my post. :<)
ReplyDeleteI love the way she maintains her Yorkshire accent, it makes it all the more simple and moving.
ReplyDeleteCarole
That's so beautiful! I had never heard of her. Thank you for sharing :) I really liked the interview as well.
ReplyDeleteOh Nan, I love Kate Rusby. She has such a fine voice, she's a good song writer too.
ReplyDeleteIf you like Kate, try Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, another Northern lass with a great folk talent.
PS. I was always very fond of Jam and Jerusalem, it's a shame it's not still on.
Oh and I meant to say, the BBC are now showing a series called "Folk America" to go with last year's "Folk Brittania" series. There's some great young folk and blue grass talent around at the moment, it's been such a joy to hear it!
ReplyDeleteOh I love that song. The way I know it though, it goes:
ReplyDelete'And we'll all gang together
Through the bonny, blooming heather
Will ye go, lassie go?'
Brings tears to my eyes!
Carole, I do too. I've never been able to figure out why some people's singing voices are the same as their talking voices and others aren't.
ReplyDeleteSibylle, thanks for coming by. I loved the interview, too. I've just been over to your blog and was so pleased to see you are a "Gg" fan!
Dulce D. I knew you would love her! I went right to iTunes and listened to Rachel U. and while I could appreciate the talent, I didn't like the sound. It is that wee-bit-creepy folk sound I don't care for. But I thank you for the suggestion. As I'm still grateful for your leading me to Vashti! I'd love to know more names from both those BBC (lucky you to have it) programs. It is a broad label that sometimes includes singers I wouldn't expect. And then there is 'traditional' folk. Wish I could sit down in your kitchen and learn more about what you've heard. :<)
Call me madam, I think that's more the way Jean Redpath sings it. It makes me cry too, but the all time saddest song to me is Carrickfergus. I can barely write the name without getting choked up. And though many people sing it, it is Van and the Chieftains version that touches my heart the most. I actually mentioned it in the very early days of the weblog:
ReplyDeletehttp://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2006/11/todays-cd_30.html
Yes, perhaps she is a bit of an aquired taste!
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to Folk America.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/musictv/folkamerica/
I don't think you'll be able to access the videos, but you can read about the concert at The Barbican.
I've been enjoying the music of an American girl called Devon Sproule. Some of it's a bit upbeat and reminds me of 1970s women singer songwriters. I'd love to know what you think. Devon Sproule is on Youtube, I like "Old Virginia Block" the best!
Nan, you may also like this site.
ReplyDeletewww.womenfolk.net
...I'm doing a bit of folk evangelism here...
Well, Dulce D., this is almost like being in your kitchen, only I'm in the morning still and you are in the evening. Isn't time the strangest thing. The BBC site is loading now on my other browser as I write this. I love that little boy's expression. And after that's loaded, I'll go to the women folk, and I'll bookmark them both. And here's one for you. If you are able to get it, there's a local radio station that has a folk (and other music) show on Sunday mornings that is quite wonderful. Maybe it would be on before or after your church time.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pointfm.com/
http://www.pointfm.com/listen.php
http://www.pointfm.com/crossroads.php
Isn't this fun!
Oh, Dulce D., meant to say, I'm going to iTunes to hear Devon S. too.
ReplyDeleteDulce D. I'm buying
ReplyDeleteKeep Your Silver Shined right now from iTunes. I love her! Thanks a million.
What a delightful singer ... beautiful, sweet voice and a lovely innocence. I really enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteBecca, I'm so pleased. Thank you for writing.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you for this blog. I love Kate Rusby.
ReplyDeleteCait, thanks. I've been so happy with the comments!
ReplyDeleteOh Nan - thanks so much for sharing this. I've not heard of Kate Rusby before but will definitely buy her music! It does take one to a different place doesn't it? So lovely!
ReplyDeleteOh, I am such a huge Kate Rusby fan - and those icicles are something else!
ReplyDeleteSecond comment :)
ReplyDeleteMy absolutely favorite song of hers is "Underneath the Stars" which I think you will like a lot too.
Karla, she really is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I've jotted down the song which is also the album title, and will buy it in a while. I listened to a bit and it is so beautiful. Thank you! Those icicles have now melted a bit. They were just huge!
Marvelous music. I've crept out of my sick bed to take a peek at my favorite blogs and what a delight to listen to this lovely piece of music. Thank you, dear Nan.
ReplyDeleteLove your new header, btw.
Sorry, sorry you are sick, Les, and glad you had Kate R. to listen to. Thanks about the header. I love those old books.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to find a way to buy her version of David Bowie's 'Kooks', which is used in a season 3 episode of Clatterford. No luck so far...Let me know if anybody finds it!
ReplyDeleteI did a little searching around but couldn't come up with anything. :<(
ReplyDelete