#3998: Folk Songs

Norwegian violinist Bjarte Eike and Barokksolistene mix period performance practices of Purcell overtures with tavern music of the era - English sea shanties and Scandinavian folk songs - on a record called The Alehouse Sessions. Hear an "old pop music" tune from that collection sung by director, actor & musician, Thomas Guthrie. Plus, music from Galway-raised troubadour Adrian Crowley & several songs for the birds. 

Also, hear an Appalachian folk-based tune from Quebec-born, Toronto-based, African-Canadian Kaia Kater & her banjo, along with a song from New York-based singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Hite (aka Julia Easterlin) with roots in southern Appalachian folk music.

Then, listen to the Kronos Quartet’s arrangements of traditional folk songs with four distinctive voices: Vermont-born country balladeer and shape-note singer Sam Amidon; classically-trained singer and pianist Olivia Chaney, also a student of the Indian harmonium and British folk revivalism; banjo-playing singer & founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon Giddens; songwriter, pianist, and lead vocalist for 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant.

PROGRAM #3998, Folk Songs (First Aired: 7/11/2017)            

ARTIST: Kronos Quartet & Rhiannon Giddens
WORK: Factory Girl, excerpt [1:30]
RECORDING: Folk Songs
SOURCE: Nonesuch 559151
INFO: nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Kronos Quartet & Natalie Merchant
WORK: The Butcher’s Boy [3:54]
RECORDING: Folk Songs
SOURCE: Nonesuch 559151
INFO: nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Bjarte Eike, Thomas Guthrie and Barokksolistene
WORK: I drew my ship [5:24] 
RECORDING: The Alehouse Sessions
SOURCE: Rubicon 1017
INFO: rubiconclassics.com

ARTIST: Kronos Quartet & Olivia Chaney
WORK: Ramblin' Boy [5:49]
RECORDING: Folk Songs
SOURCE: Nonesuch 559151
INFO: nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Adrian Crowley
WORK: The Magpie Song [4:57] 
RECORDING: Some Blue Morning
SOURCE: Chemikal Underground CHEM 212
INFO: chemikal.co.uk

ARTIST: Hite (Julia Easterlin)
WORK: Old Crow [3:51]
RECORDING: Light Of A Strange Day
SOURCE: Six Degrees Records
INFO: heyhite.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: John Harle & Sarah Leonard
WORK: Harle: The Three Ravens (pt. 2) [5:33] 
RECORDING: Terror and Magnificence
SOURCE: Argo #452 605 
INFO: Out of print, but try auction sites or Amazon.com

ARTIST: Sam Amidon
WORK: Blackbird [2:46]
RECORDING: The Following Mountain
SOURCE: Nonesuch 559648
INFO: nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Kronos Quartet & Sam Amidon
WORK: Oh Where [3:18] 
RECORDING: Folk Songs
SOURCE: Nonesuch 559151
INFO: nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Kaia Kater
WORK: Come and Rest [3:25]
RECORDING: Sorrow Bound
SOURCE/INFO: kaiakater.com

ARTIST: Kronos Quartet & Rhiannon Giddens
WORK: Factory Girl [7:09] 
RECORDING: Folk Songs
SOURCE: Nonesuch 559151
INFO: nonesuch.com