Kindred Voices - About Us


	Rosemary for Remembrance - Liner Notes In herbal lore, plants possess qualities both physical and spiritual, and since ancient times the herb rosemary has been the symbol of remembrance, friendship, and love. Shakespeare's Ophelia while gathering herbs says, "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray love, remember." In creating this collection of songs, we remember the long-ago. We look back through the doorway of time to the land of our ancestors, to their situations, their experiences. We have always been interested in the past, in ancient cultures and ways. In particular, we are drawn to the lands where many of our forefathers and mothers lived their lives, the countries where Celtic culture thrived and survived--Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Britain. What is it in us that responds so fervently to the skirling of bagpipes, the haunting and merry melodies, the poignant lyrics of Celtic music? Could it be that the memories of our ancestors lie deep within our own makeup, inspiring thoughts, longings and responses in us that we don't consciously perceive or understand? Scriptural writings refer to a time when the heart of the fathers shall turn to the children, "and the heart of the children to their fathers." It is with this spirit also that we remember our origins. Most of the tunes and lyrics performed on our CD are rooted in antiquity, yet still hold a significance in the "now." Subsistence, love, longing, death, betrayal, spirituality, and rejoicing are all given a cathartic voice. The American folk-musician Burl Ives says, "When...I discovered that there were many beautiful and exciting songs that nobody sang, that were looked down on as 'folk,' I chose them for my own...I did not sing them because they were folk, but because I thought them musically beautiful and their content meaningful, either dramatically, lyrically, or humorously--always expressive of a genuine human value..." The power of folk music lies not only in the lyrics but also in the structure of the music itself. Celtic melodies were passed down through the ages by accomplished bardic musicians. The Irish classical-folk singer Mary O'Hara, in her book "A Song for Ireland," speaks of the "true classic folk tradition" of Gaelic speaking Ireland, saying, "...very few knew...of the music of the highly-skilled composers who carried on their work in the finest traditions of the bards. Many of their songs...have achieved such perfection of artistic expression that they have rightly been ranked with the greatest chansons and liede. The amhrán mór or 'high song' of Gaelic Ireland is, in my opinion, unsurpassed, not only in its emotional range, but also in its structure." Folk music and folk tales matter. We need them. Whether your fore-bearers were Slovakian or Chinese, Norwegian or Polynesian, Danish or Irish, African or Apache, the threads that wove the fabric of their lives glowed with the same colors. Songs and stories from the four corners of the world contain the same fundamental truths. In our fast-paced and fragmented modern world, folk tradition provides a sense of meaning and purpose by linking us to our ancestors, thus enhancing our own sense of identity. Folk tradition serves to re-connect us to our past, give us joy in our present, and hope for our future. "Pray, love, remember..." Sláinte! Rebekah Bales-Dunford & Kindred Voices, July, 2005 Rosemary Music by: Rebekah Bales-Dunford Poem by: Edna St. Vincent Millay Arranged by: Brandon Bales & Rebekah Bales-Dunford Flute arranged by: Chris Watts Some time ago I was refurbishing a charming 150 year old stone house in Pleasant Grove. As I worked I imagined the woman who might have done likewise many years ago. The words to Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Rosemary" were running through my head, and as I leaned out of an upstairs casement window shaking my dust cloth, a melody for the words was born. Later I added the cello and harmony parts, and Brandon wrote the guitar accompaniment. 2. The Lark in the Morning We learned this lilting song from a recording sung by Paddy Tunney of County Fermanagh. The vocal turns and grace notes seem to imitate the uilleann pipes native to Ireland. 3. Dúlamán Dúlamán is the Gaelic word for seaweed, which was used both as fertilizer on the land, and as food. Especially during the great famine, rural people made use of dúlamán to keep body and soul together. We hear that if it is simmered slowly over a peat fire, it is both nutritious and delicious. 4. Soldier, Soldier This song comes from Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary and tells the story of a rogue of a soldier who gets what he wants from a besotted maiden without giving anything in return! 5. Down By the Salley Gardens William Butler Yeats, the Irish poet, playwright, and politician wrote the words to this song. The melody is very old and is also sung as "The Maids of Mourne Shore." A salley tree is a willow, and most villages planted salley gardens nearby to use the flexible willow wands for thatching roofs. 6. My Johnny Was a Shoemaker This traditional song was popular in Ireland, Wales, and England. It appears in Colm O'Lochlainn's "Irish Street Ballads, Volume 2" as an Irish song, although some claim that it is of English origin. 7. The Cobbler In this amusing song from County Armagh, Nick sings about the cobbler Dick Darby who gets even with a nagging wife! When Dick refers to his wife as "black" he means she is "black Irish," a strain that is typified by dark skin, black hair, and brown eyes. 8. Na Hao-Ri-U This haunting, unusual song comes from the Isle of Skye, in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. We have rarely heard a melody so unique and unforgettable. The Gaelic lyrics tell of a grieving young girl who is being mistreated by her stepmother. While she is out minding cattle, the ghost of her dead mother comes to comfort her. 9. Star of the County Down Although the melody is Irish, it traveled to Scotland and became well known there as "Gilderoy." It has also been used as the melody for several English and American carols and hymns, and those of the LDS faith will recognize it as the hymn "If You Could Hie to Kolob." 10. Raggle Taggle Gypsy-O In this Scotish ballad, which is based on an actual event, the lady of the manor is so charmed by a gypsy with a beautiful voice that she leaves her new husband and all her wealth to run away with him. 11. By Kell's Waters Although we searched high and low, we couldn't find any lyrics to this beautiful Welsh melody, so I wrote some, using as my inspiration the rich mythology of the Mabinogian, and the significance of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water in pre-Christian worship. The word hiraeth that appears in the third stanza is Welsh for "longing." Cymru is the Welsh people's own name for their native land. 12. The Rocky Road to Dublin The singing of this slip jig is quite challenging, owing to the fast-paced melody, and the fact that there is hardly any time to breathe between phrases. Brandon requires CPR each time he sings it! 11. Calliope House/Cowboy Jig (Instrumental) 14. Cockles and Mussels Molly Malone was known to have several trades of varying repute; however Ben has decided to sing of the more wholesome aspects of her life. In Dublin there is actually a statue erected in honor of Molly Malone. The fever she died of was probably typhoid. 15. My Lagan Love The melody of My Lagan Love is not technically a folk song, rather it belongs to the genre of amhrán mór, or "high songs" of Ireland. A leanan sidhe is an immortal being, paradoxical in that she acts both as an inspiration to poets and as a "la belle dame sans merci." The singing of a cricket on the hearth is a good omen, so it was the custom of newly-weds to bring crickets from the hearthstones of their parents to grace the hearth of the new abode. 16. The Blacksmith Blacksmiths are interesting characters in folklore and song. They stood as symbols of virility with their characteristic strength, and were valued in the community for the necessary skills they possessed. Supernatural abilities were also sometimes attributed to blacksmiths, which possibly stemmed from beliefs Saxon invaders brought to Britain in the form of "Weyland Smith", a Norse god of the forge. 17. For a Child Since childhood I have loved this truth-filled poem by Fannie Steams Davis. The melody serendipitously came to me at age 11 while in the shower. It is a dream come true to hear it so beautifully sung here by Celeste. 18. Puirt A Beul Puirt a beul is Gaelic for "mouth music," and originated in rural parts of Scotland where instruments to accompany dancing were not always available. The Gaelic lyrics tell of sheep that need to be milked, old women dancing the reel, and a girl with red hair just like her mother. 19. The Jug of Punch Many versions exist of this popular song. We owe ours to the well known Dublin based band Altan, who learned it in County Tyrone. 20. Lisa Lân There are two branches on the Celtic language tree, Brythonic or P-Celtic, spoken by the Welsh, the Cornish, and the Bretons, and Gaelic or Q-Celtic, spoken by the Irish, the Scots, and the Manx. This moving song is sung in Welsh, and expresses a young man's love and longing for "Fair Lisa." 21. The Lark in the Clear Air As you hear this song, listen for the way the original composer skillfully wove the trill of the meadow-lark into his melody. Perhaps this is why later on, Sir Samuel Ferguson was inspired to write lyrics about a lark rising in the clear air, as the heart of the young girl soars with her love. 22. Reel in B Minor (Instrumental) 23. She Moved Through the Fair Here is a ghost song both moving and chilling. According to some scholars, the melody dates back to medieval times. The lyrics are from Donegal, and were later "reworked" by Padraic Colum into the version we sing here. 24. Spancil Hill This is a song of exile. Over the years, many Irish people sailed from the shores of their homeland for one reason or another. Most often they left out of great necessity, such as in the terrible famine times of the mid-nineteenth century. Numerous Irish immigrants came to America, settling in Boston, Massachusetts, New York, and California. Their hearts and dreams, however were anchored far away in the green hills and quiet valleys of Erin. 25. Rare Ould Times Brandon and Celeste learned this song from Alfie and Helen McCracken originally of Dublin, now living in Hawaii. Helen says that the song serves as the anthem for "old" Dublin. The chorus of "ring-a-ring-a-rosie" refers to a game that Dublin children played on the streets when she was a girl and before. No one plays the game in these modern times; the old ways are largely forgotten, but when our audiences hear this song, whether Irish or not, it invariably moves them to tears as it evokes the innocent times of childhood, and the "good old days." 26. Auld Lang Syne We conclude with the quintessential "forget-me-not" song of Scotland, which like "Rare Ould Times," has universal appeal. Auld lang syne translates to "old times long gone." In the barren cold of December's dark, a red bird sings. The clear, bright notes foretell a time of healing and renewal just around the curve of the year's path. Hope kindles in the hearts of those who sorrow or despair. What is this birdsong that dares challenge the frozen darkness? It may be heard differently by different folk, yet the essence of what it is, and the hope it imparts, is the same for all children of earth. Listen with your heart. Believe before you see. In this eclectic compilation of Winter/Christmas music, we bridge the span of miles and years, bringing you songs from the Celtic lands, original compositions, contemporary favorites, and ancient tunes of the season. As we look more closely at the origins of many of these songs, we see the compatibility of seemingly different belief structures in the mingling of ancient symbols and ways with Christian thought--another refrain in the song of the bird. Its message includes the gathering and embracing of all truths, wherever they may be found. When we are able to hear in the songs of others, notes that harmonize with our own, the melody of life is whole and sweet. There is no need, then, for the clashing discord of violence, or for exclusivity of any kind. Look for the unifying elements in all beliefs--you will find them. Light and warmth will come to heart and earth. Sing with the bird this new song of harmony and hope. Sláinte! Nollaig Shona Duit! Rebekah Bales-Dunford & Kindred Voices December, 2006 I Heard a Bird Sing /Amhran Dochais Music by Rebekah Bales-Dunford Poem by Oliver Herford Arranged by Rebekah Bales-Dunford & Kindred Voices Dedicated to My Family, & Emily, & Cindy Amhran Dochais (Hope Song) Music & Lyrics by Rebekah Bales-Dunford Arranged by Rebekah Bales-Dunford & Kindred Voices Christmas Is Coming Old English Traditional Arranged by Kindred Voices The Christmas Song Music & Lyrics by Mel Torme, & Robert Wells Arranged by Audrey Snyder, & Kindred Voices Marshmallow World Music by Peter de Rose Lyrics by Carl Sigman Arranged by Kindred Voices Blessed Be That Maid Marie England--12th Century Arranged by Kindred Voices The Apple Tree New Hampshire--1784 Arranged by Kindred Voices Gaudete Czech--12th Century Arranged by Kindred Voices Aspenglow Music & Lyrics by John Denver Arranged by Kindred Voices John Denver so perfectly captured the essence of the Yule season and all its meaning in this song. The word "skoal" is Danish, derived from Old Norse, and means much the same thing as the Anglo-Saxon "wassail"--a cup or bowl from which a toast to good health is made. The Holly and the Ivy/Makenna Jo's Song England--11th Century Music for "Makenna Jo's Song" by Mark J. Bales Arranged by Kindred Voices This is one of the oldest songs we sing, with origins in ancient autumnal equinox and winter solstice rituals. The tune was notated in the 11th century, but is very likely far older. Holly and Ivy were sacred plants, and significant symbols to the ancients--holly representing the masculine, and ivy, the feminine. Each was believed to contain prophetic and protective powers. The prickle on the holly leaf, and the retention of its green color through the winter, rendered it "King" of trees, thus the line "the holly bears the crown." Early Christians praised a different King, and used holly and ivy in turn, to symbolize elements sacred to them. Fragments of original words remain--"the rising of the sun" refers to the longed for return of light after the dark of winter solstice. The "running of the deer," has roots in a sacrificial autumn ritual involving the great herds of deer once roaming the forests of Europe, which were so vital to the survival of tribal folk. Themes of light and sacrifice were of course familiar to Christian folk as well, and this blending of two ways resulted in the lyrics we are familiar with today. I Saw Three Ships England--12th Century Arranged by Kindred Voices There is an interesting Celtic legend, that Joseph of Arimathea, the young Christ, and the three Mary's traveled by ship to the British Isles, spending significant time in Glastonbury. Perhaps this song stems from such an event, as news of the three approaching ships and whom they were carrying spread along the coast. Christ Child's Lullaby (Taladh Chriosda) Scotland, Isle of Skye & Barra Lyrics by Father Ranald Rankin--1855 Adapted by Rebekah Bales-Dunford Arranged by Kindred Voices The Friendly Beasts England--12th Century Arranged by Kindred Voices Pat-A-Pan Burgundy--1700 Arranged by Kindred Voices I Wonder As I Wander Appalachia--Collected by John Jacob Niles Arranged by Rebekah Bales-Dunford & Michael Dowdle Many Irish, Scotch, and Welsh immigrants settled in the mountains of Appalachia, bringing with them the poignant music and tales, and the old wisdom of their Celtic heritage. Silver Bells Music by Ray Evans Words by Jay Livingston Arranged by Mark Hanson, Steven Lerud, & Kindred Voices Greensleeves/O Come, O Come Emmanuel England--16th Century Latin Lyrics--12th Century Music--France 15th Century, Adapted from 12th Century Plainsong Arranged by Kindred Voices (Instrumental) Wexford Carol Ireland--12th Century Arranged by Anna Laura Page, & Kindred Voices Before Christian times in ancient Ireland, folk referred to the "Dagda," or the "good God" of the people known as the Tuatha De Danann. In histories recorded in the Middle Ages it is said that while the origin of the Tuatha De Dannan was not known, --it seems likely-- that they came from heaven on account of their intelligence and for the excellence of their knowledge. We find the use of the term "good God" interesting in this context, and feel it demonstrates an amicable blending of beliefs, whether conscious, or unconscious. Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head Southern Appalachia--Collected by John Jacob Niles Arranged by Kindred Voices Sing We Now of Christmas France--12th Century Arranged by Chemain Evans All Poor Men and Humble (O Deued Pob Christion) Wales Arranged by Kindred Voices Carol of the Bells/The Christmas Eve/Christmas Day I' Da Mornin' Ukraine/Ireland Arranged by Russell Wulfenstein Ukraine meets Eire in this delightful medley. The melody for Carol of the Bells was initially a Ukrainian winter "well-wishing" song, sung in many Ukrainian villages on January 13th, which is New Year's Eve on the Julian calendar. The original lyrics tell of a swallow flying into a cottage foretelling good fortune for the family in the New Year. Dedicated to Gennady, Helen, and Alex Kalyta (Instrumental) Some Children See Him Music by Alfred Burt Lyrics by Wihla Hutson Arranged by Kindred Voices A Holly Jolly Christmas Music & Lyrics by Johnny Marks Arranged by Kindred Voices Balaloo Lammy Scotland, Shetland Isles--17th Century Arranged by Chemain Evans, & Kindred Voices The King Wales Arranged by Kindred Voices In olden days, the wren was sacred to the druids, and considered to be King of the birds. Existing still today in Wales and Ireland, is a Yule tradition called "Hunting the Wren." Boys and men search the hedgerows for a worthy wren, capture it, adorn it with finery, and parade it through the village from house to house singing "wren songs," and asking for a penny. This is one such "wren song." Here We Come A-Wassailing Old English Traditional Arranged by Kindred Voices The word wassail is from the Middle English waes haeil, derived from Old Norse ves heill, which means "be well," or "be whole." When Angle and Saxon adventurers settled in the area now known as East Anglia and other coastal villages in Britain, they brought this Yule tradition with them.