Laments & Dances: Music from the Folk Traditions - Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo, Jay Ungar, Sally Rogers, Turtle Island String Quartet

1 Laments and Dances, from The Irish: 1. A Little Prelude for Brabizon 03:36
2 Laments and Dances, from The Irish: 2. The Father's Lament and Dance 04:56
3 Laments and Dances, from The Irish: 3. Carolan's Concerto 02:07
4 Laments and Dances, from The Irish: 4. Lord Galwey's Lament and The Cleric's Dance 03:24
5 Laments and Dances, from The Irish: 5. Reeling 05:58

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo

with the Turtle Island String Quartet

BENJAMIN BRITTEN
6 O Waly Waly 03:12
7 The Ash Grove 02:31
8 The Salley Gardens 02:10
9 Sweet Polly Oliver 02:04

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo

with Sally Rogers, vocals

DUSAN BOGDANOVIC
10 No Feathers on This Frog 03:54
11 Sonata Fantasia 08:59
12 Three Straws 03:19

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo

JAY UNGAR
13 Ashokan Farewell 03:14

HOWARD BURSEN
14 The Gentle Earl 02:49

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo

with Jay Ungar, fiddle

Sally Rogers, dulcimer

AARON COPLAND
15 Long Time Ago 02:21
16 The Dodger 02:05
17 Simple Gifts 01:46

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo

with Sally Rogers, vocals

TRADITIONAL NORWEGIAN
18 Hvem Kan Saile? (Norwegian folk song) 03:20
19 Pal Sine Honer (Norwegian folk song) 02:25

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo

with Jay Ungar, fiddle

Sally Rogers, dulcimer

TURLOUGH O'CAROLAN
20 Planxty Irwin 03:04
21 O'Carolan's Farewell to Music 02:24

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo

with Jay Ungar, fiddle

Folk music is about the intimate events of our lives -- births and deaths, love affairs, and family relationships. We learn folk music from those we love and by it we remember them. These songs that we hold so close to our hearts seem very innocent, and yet they have the power to shape nations. Folk music connects us to our past; to traditions, kindred, and lands that in our lives form a foundation stronger than stone. The line between folk music and so-called "art music" has never been distinct. Works of art are largely a product of their authors' heredity and environment, and many great composers have relied heavily on their ethnic milieu for inspiration. The composers of music on this collection have used folk music in some cases as a point of departure, and in others as the substance of their work.