[.ca] Songs From The Mountain

From Amazon.com:
Songs from the Mountain is an album of passionate restraint, befitting the Appalachian heritage it celebrates and the novel that inspired the collection. The story--which may itself pass into folk legend--is that fiddler Dirk Powell and multi-instrumentalist and vocalist extraordinaire Tim O'Brien were so taken with Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain that they decided to do a companion CD with banjoist John Herrmann. The result is a superior collection of traditional tunes that echo the book's imagery and action--from songs of rebellion and revelry such as "The Drunkard's Hiccups" to the keen longing embodied in "Wayfarin' Stranger" and "The Blackest Crow." The liner notes capitalize on the music's links to the novel and vice versa. But this CD's intimacy and immediacy will transport even those unfamiliar with Frazier's debut. --Kerry Fried

Buy this if you are interested at all in Old Time music:
I think most people who come across this CD will do so because they saw the movie Cold Mountain and were captured by the music from the movie. Of course they will get here by looking at Amazons "Customers who bought this title also bought" links. Consider yourself fortunate to have come across Songs From the Mountain. Dirk Powell, Tim O'Brien, and John Herrmann are experts on this era of music and offer us a chance to hear incredibly accomplished musicians perform simply great songs. As mentioned, many I think will discover this cd while looking for the Cold Mountain soundtrack. If a comparison needs to be made then it's no question Songs From the Mountain is by far the better cd to hear and enjoy Old Time music. Listen to Cold Mountain first if you buy them both because you will grab this one ever after once you listen to it:) I don't mean to put down the Cold Mountain cd and I certainly respect Jack Whites efforts for his part (I think they are good) and interest in such traditional music. I do listen to Cold Mountain fairly often and readily enjoy it. Songs From the Mountain, like modern music cd's, evokes a range of emotions through its songs. Unlike much modern music it does it without pretense. Tunes like The Blackest Crow, Wafarin' Stranger, Fair Margaret and Sweet William will leave you with the most melancholy and wistful feelings while tunes such as Raleigh and Spencer, The Drunkards Hiccups (Jack of Diamonds), and Skillet Good and Greasy are rowdy and fun. I don't know if a more fitting song has been placed to finish off a great cd then Angle Band. Listening to it is like looking back on a life well lived and having a feeling of satisfaction and peace that all turned out good. Okay, I little melodramatic on the description (but I was listening to the cd while writing this) but I wanted to impress upon what this cd accomplishes. There is a little writing on the jacket of the history of Old Time music. You can clearly hear the late 1700's Scot/Irish and English foundation in the songs. This is not Blue Grass or Country. Although from what I read and can hear Blue Grass clearly evolved from it as I imagine Country did somehow. This music is played with pretty much fiddle, banjo, and guitar. Ironic to think that in this era of mass media produced music and performers and cookie cutter songs something so seeming fresh and original is actually the very root of American music.

Untainted Traditional American Roots Music:
Old time country music has been kept pure and pristine hidden in the mountains of North Carolina ... and wherever else the immigrants from Ireland, Scotland and England settled in the 1700s. The music is played on the fiddle, the guitar, the mandolin, occasionally the banjo and in some instances accompanied on the hammered dulcimer (but not on this CD). Before "Cold Mountain" the book was written by Charles Frazier and before the movie was conceived -- this music endured for several centuries. Musicians, Dirk Powell, Tim O'Brien, and John Hermann will guarantee it will be preserved for centuries to come in the future on such fine CDs as this. The alluring fiddle notes remind one of the haunting beauty of the Appalachian mountains in track #1, "Mountain Air/ Washington's March/ Bonaparte's Retreat". It uses the 8 beats to a measure ... so well known to "contra dancers" who dance the steps as did the ancestors of the immigrants from the shores of the English-speaking Old World. Other memorable songs are, "Wayfarin' Stranger" which is mentioned in the book "Cold Mountain". Sung with poignant emotion, the listener is transfixed by the mournful tune and words. Two gospel-type songs ... "When I Die I'll Live Again" and "Bow Down" have refrains that keep repeating themselves like a mantra the rest of the day after being heard. They are reminiscent of a time when strong physical endurance were accompanied by strong faith and a strong spirit ... to build a new life. Music lifted the spirit and maintained faith in G-d ... and the future. Two other songs mentioned in "Cold Mountain" (the book) are "Backstep Cindy" and "Fair Margaret and Sweet William". The liner notes include passages and references to scenes and events in the book, "Cold Mountain" next to the title of each track. This enhances the meaning and enjoyment of the music. The book was written in 1997. This CD was produced in 1998. The musicians were ahead of their time in recognizing and predicting the popularity of this musical genre ... This music is eery, haunting, poignant, heart-stopping and soul-searching ... it will appeal to anyone who wants to remember the best in both the book and film, "Cold Mountain". While it takes one back to a time when there was no TV, radio, computers or television ... by closing one's eyes, you feel caught up in the era when music stood for more than entertainment. It represented man's indominatable spirit against the elements and hope for the future ... even in the midst of the Civil War. This is a most highly recommended piece of musical history. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

The real "Cold Mountain" soundtrack:
The official "Cold Mountain" movie soundtrack has some good tracks by some fine artists. I've played it 3 or 4 times. It's been put back for now to be played again in the future. "Songs From the Mountain", the pre-movie, book "soundtrack" CD on the other hand, gets played over and over and over... with no tracks skipped.

SONGS FROM THE MOUNTAIN:
A gracious compliment to the book and movie, COLD MOUNTAIN. Especially noteworthy are HARD TIMES and ANGEL BAND,but I loved the entire CD.

A TREASURE - NOT TO BE MISSED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THIS MUSIC!:
I've grown up with this music, and I'd about thought I'd heard the best, until I heard this CD. Never did I expect to hear the special resonance that just about sent my teeth vibrating as I've heard on this CD. How many times can one hear, Poor Wayfairing Stranger, and still feel ones heart strings pulled. This one is SPECIAL. The first cut, Mountain Air, etc., was a special blend that truly rings to the mountains of the title. A TRULY SPECIAL addition to the special music of a special part of the planet. This one is a TREASURE!!!!

• Mountain Air/Washington's March/Bonaparte's Retreat
• Cluck Old Hen
• Raleigh And Spencer
• The Blackest Crow
• Stobrod's Tune
• When I Die I'll Live Again
• The Drunkard's Hiccups (Jack Of Diamonds)
• Backstep Cindy
• Wayfarin' Stranger
• Skillet Good And Greasy
• Mole In The Ground
• Claire Dechutes
• Cherokee Trail/Glory In The Meeting House
• Bow Down
• Lonesome John
• Fair Margaret And Sweet William
• Hard Times
• Angel Band