Appalachian Celebration

Revels North is excited to announce the release of a new CD recording, "I Know the Road: Music of Southern Appalachia." The album features the artists from the 2006 Revels North production, The Christmas Revels-- featuring Daron Douglas, Suzannah Park, and Pete and Karen Sutherland-- but it is not simply a duplication of the show. Instead, this album is a musical visit to the mountains of Appalachia in all seasons. The CD includes solo and ensemble collaborations as well as contributions from the whole Revels chorus. In addition to the songs, the album includes instrumental numbers featuring fiddle, banjo, and mountain dulcimer.

I Know the Road was recorded in December and January with Pete Sutherland producing; Pete also created the beautiful collage that is the artwork on the CD cover. This marks the first Revels North CD since our 1997 production of "A Celtic Feast of Song." Like that album, we anticipate that this new release will help provide an ongoing source of financial support for Revels North.

We appreciate donations to help cover Revels North's substantial production costs. All contributions are tax-deductible and will be matched dollar for dollar by a challenge grant Revels recently received from the Byrne Foundation.

The album is available for sale ($15) by mail. Complete information (including shipping costs) is available on the order form. If you don't have the free Acrobat Reader to open PDF documents, click here.

Introduction

The notion does seem unusual -- a Revels community from northern New England releasing an album of Appalachian songs and tunes. As you listen, however, you'll feel any doubts disappear as you're caught up in this musical celebration.

For our 32nd annual production of The Christmas Revels, Revels North created a show celebrating the culture of Appalachia. The journey toward that show, and this CD, began on Maureen's front porch. Daron sent some tapes recorded in her southern living room, but listening, we were deep in Appalachian hills-just close your eyes and you were there, back in time with her, singing the same music Cecil Sharp collected from Daron's great-grandmother, Jane Gentry. Pete and Karen, Suzannah, and Dan joined us, each bringing their own deep relationship with the music of those mountains.

The Appalachians and the Scottish Highlands were once one mountain range, joined on the ancient continent of Laurentia. No wonder the music of the British Isles felt so comfortable arriving and flourishing in our south. Up here in Vermont and New Hampshire, we're part of that range as well-the magic just travels right on up the trail and makes itself at home.

What we wanted to capture is the quiet of those mountains and the way that Appalachian musicians passed those songs from person to person, generation to generation, like a sacred touch. The music holds it all-the natural world, the hardship, the dark and light of human relationships.

This recording includes many of the traditional pieces from our show, but stretches beyond the dark days of winter to showcase not a single season but rather a varied selection of tunes and songs from a rich tradition. Individual talent and our chorus members add the larger community element that is natural to this music. The album sounds different from others produced by our sister Revels cities across the country. There are fewer choral pieces and there's a more intimate feel. We wanted the music as it's sung on a Sunday in church or played on a Saturday night in someone's living room. Welcome!

Contents

Top of page

A Celtic Feast of Song