The Boston Camerata, led by Joel Cohen, has made dozens of excellent recordings of music from a variety of European and American early music and folk traditions. This album of music from the time of the American Revolution and the years following is intriguing and should interest anyone who wants to hear the kind of music early Americans were likely to hear and sing and play. These songs, even the Billings anthems, were the popular music of the day, the kind of music people would sing to themselves at home or on the streets ...
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The Boston Camerata, led by Joel Cohen, has made dozens of excellent recordings of music from a variety of European and American early music and folk traditions. This album of music from the time of the American Revolution and the years following is intriguing and should interest anyone who wants to hear the kind of music early Americans were likely to hear and sing and play. These songs, even the Billings anthems, were the popular music of the day, the kind of music people would sing to themselves at home or on the streets or in churches or in various public gatherings, but the members of the Boston Camerata bring to them the purity and crisp precision of a professional choir, which they are. Some of the pieces come from British or American folk traditions, but the performances are all based on scores that were written down during this era. There is considerable scholarly debate as to what exactly constitutes informed performance practice of American music of this era, but given the folk origins of many of these tunes and the raunchiness of some of the lyrics, it's unlikely that this level of refined polish and vocal purity would have been the norm. Much of the repertoire is delightful: the tune "God Save the King," with a text that begins "God save each female's right;" a loopy version of "Yankee Doodle" with naughty lyrics and a tune for the chorus that sounds like it's from some nearly parallel universe; and "Greensleeves" set as an ode to Thomas Jefferson. The performing forces are nicely varied, with unaccompanied chorus, instrumentals, small vocal groups, and solos both accompanied and a cappella. The Boston Camerata is joined on some tracks by members of the Harvard University Choir. Erato's sound is clean and natural. ~ Stephen Eddins, Rovi
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Add this copy of Liberty Tree: Early American Music 1776-1861 to cart. $8.49, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Ruby rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1998 by Erato.
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Add this copy of Liberty Tree: Early American Music 1776-1861 to cart. $35.40, like new condition, Sold by First Coast Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eatonton, GA, UNITED STATES, published 1998 by Erato.
