Déjà Review: this review was first published in September 2011 and the recording is still available.
Come to the River: An Early American Gathering
Apollo’s Fire / Jeannette Sorrell (harpsichord)
rec. 2009/2010, St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights, USA
Sung texts provided
Avie AV2205 [66]
Jeannette Sorrell explains in the booklet that this disc is intended to provide “a kaleidoscope of the styles one might find on a journey through early 19th-century America”. Thus the first group ranges from traditional New England/Appalachian fiddle tunes, a Southern lullaby and a Kentucky spiritual to a song with Elizabethan words and Ravenscroft’s “Willie, prithee go to bed”. The other groups are as varied and one of the chief pleasures of the programme is that it rarely settles in succession to items from the same tradition. The scorings are similarly varied – it would have been good if the booklet had listed who is playing what in each – and above all there is a real feeling of the energy and variety of music in America at that time. Vocal and purely instrumental items are cunningly mixed to make this very much a programme to be listened to as a whole with pleasure. My only doubt is about the very long and dull version of “The Three Ravens”. This is well sung by Sandra Simon but does seem to last must longer than its actual eight and a half minutes.
Despite the references to period instruments and the careful listing of the origins of the various items I remain somewhat unclear as to whether Apollo’s Fire are seeking to recreate the performance practice of this music as it might have been played and sung in the early 19th century or whether they regard that as a starting point for a modern interpretation of the music. I suspect the latter, and certainly that seems to be the case for the final item, described as an Appalachian Barn Dance – Encore Version. In addition they explain that although “Wild Bill Jones” is a Traditional Appalachian/Kentucky ballad it is performed in the Bluegrass style of the 1940s. It is very convincing but does mean that their journey through early 19th century America has taken a very different turning at some point.
However once you accept the selection for what it is I am in no doubt that it is a very enjoyable disc which can be played as a whole – repeatedly – with great pleasure.
John Sheppard
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Contents
Appalachian Wagon Train –
Appalachian Barn Dance
Nobody but the baby
Hold on
The fox went out on a chilly night
Willie, prithee go to bed
Ways of the world
Love and Death –
The three ravens
Lark in the morning medley
Old Virginny
The girl who broke my heart
Wild Bill Jones
Revival Meeting –
Wayfaring Stanger
Glory in the meeting house
Return again/Saviour visit thy plantation
What wondrous love in this
Dances from New England and Ireland
Morning Trumpet/When shall I see Jesus
Down in the river to pray
Old Joe Clark
