Pass'd
Times - CDMusic was one of Colonial America's most important diversions, shared by all from the wealthy to the common folk, and even slaves could acquire a musical education. Many slaves and indentured servants, prized for their musical abilities, served as dance musicians. You could enjoy both popular and serious music - Handel, songs from the London stage, ballads, or the latest dance tunes, in concert, home or tavern - and a wide range of music was available here within weeks after it appeared in Europe. Men's clubs also gathered in taverns to sing and play music, or men and women played music together in their homes. Printed music was expensive, so people shared it with their friends. People copied out music for their music lessons, songs, or dance tunes, in their own books, called commonplace or copybooks. Several of these books are preserved today, which is partly how we know what was played.
The fifty tunes on this recording, available in the book Dances, Marches, Minuetts and Duetts of the Later 18th Century are from 18th century American commonplace books and a manuscript collection from the British Isles. Other sources are 18th century printed collections, from which some of the commonplace book owners may have copied or learned their tunes. The tunes have been chosen because they appeared so frequently in all these sources. Some are still popular folk tunes, others deserve to become so again.
Musicians include Sara and Maynard Johnson - hammered dulcimer, citterns, recorders, pochette, flageolet, etc.; Courtney Maxwell & Michael Thompson - fiddles; Nancy Bick Clark - Celtic Harp and Frank Clark - bodhran
Check the Feb-Apr 2000 print edition of Dulcimer Players News writeup in "What's New" page 47. You don't have Dulcimer Players News?
18th Century music, including many
Celtic tunes from Kitchen Musician Books. Sara Johnson on hammer
dulcimer and virginal, Courtney Maxwell on violin, Maynard Johnson
on cittern and mandolin.
Includes Girl I Left Behind Me (based on Bunting's 1793 harp transcription),
French Suite, Munster Cloak, Inverness Gathering, Kail Pot/Miss
Stewart's Jig, Last Night's Joy, Miss Drummond of Perth's Favourite
Scotch Measure (Niel Gow), Flitter Dance, Madame Bonaparte, Lord
Haddo's Favourite, New Riggit Ship, Dermot O'Dowd, Bourree
"It evokes politeness, refinement...put this on, and feel completely civilized..." - The Eagle's Cry
"The focus here is on Irish, Scottish, and French dance tunes...the result is compelling, unexpected and refreshing. Maxwell's ever-present violin gives continuity to the changing musical textures provided by the Johnsons' plucked and hammered menagerie of stringed instruments...Chameleon's intriguing instrumental mix and subtly introspective performance are solid evidence to me that they have indeed let the music guide their actions." - Dulcimer Players News
"...18th century music on violin, virginal, hammer dulcimer, cittern and mandolin. We're told the music was recorded at Baroque pitch...so it is a semitone flat from standard. Don't care what they say, the music sounded pretty sharp to me...They did not attempt to recreate some historically accurate playing style, but used more of the "Ouija" method - they tried to think historical thoughts and let the musical spirits guide them. They succeeded." - Victory Review
Neu . ant' . ics [n(y)u'.ant'.iks]
n. 1. The art of playing around with music 2. Recent tricks: being
other than old antics 3. New works of art from works of art made
at an earlier period, new antiques 4. Music that has been through
the Folk Process, i.e. Processed Folk
By Ten Strike, a 5-person group with ancient Celtic music in a
modern setting, with Sara Johnson on Hammer Dulcimer, plus Courtney
Maxwell on violin/viola, Chuck Wiggins on keyboards, piano &
percussion, Maynard Johnson on guitar, citterns, wind instruments,
Dobro & percussion, and Debbie Wiggins on vocals (Newbury
Jig/ Morrison's Jig, Though I Go to Bed/Mountain Field, Sultry
Maggie, Bach Invention/Col. McBain's Reel, The Parting Glass,
Childgroove, Mairi's Wedding ( and Honeymoon in the Bahamas),
Bourree Montbel, War Hent Kerrigoaurc'h/Sullivan's Polka, Carlin's
Daughter, etc)
__________________Pass'd Times - CD at $15.00
__________________Chameleon tape at $10.00 or CD at $15.00
__________________Neuantics tape at $10.00 or CD at $15.00
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each additional item.
Check or Money Order - US Dollars.
Snail Mail To :
Sara Johnson
The Kitchen Musician
449 Hidden Valley Lane
Cincinnati, OH 45215