Jay Ungar
& Molly Mason
HARVEST HOME
Angel 56720
visit Jay and Molly's website
album is available from there
Every now and again there comes a work of art that reaches in and touches the heart. This is one such piece for me. There are times in this showing of the cycles of the seasons where I will just break down and feel the rhythm of my blood as it courses through my body. Times of great and intense joy and love, and also times of horrible anguish and tears. This is portrayed and echoed in the musical score, the playing, particularly of Jay's fiddle, and also with Molly's singing. It is a tremendously moving piece at both a very primitive and a very cerebral level. It is a fusion of music from the folk tradition with orchestral music and it works. It is a celebration of a simpler and more natural time that involved a community that was in touch with the cycles of nature. This allowed people both to take advantage of the proper times to plant and harvest, and so as to reap the most from their lives. Communities were more like families because cooperation was necessary if life was to be maintained. There was more interaction and more involvement. A time where being part of a family, in all senses of the word, was crucial, and contribution was expected and necessary. The musicianship on this disc is absolutely stellar, whether it is the smaller groupings of the folk musicians or with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra conducted by Paul Gambrill. There are many shifts and changes in the music and nary a step is missed in whichever format is used. A favorite of mine is the hauntingly beautiful PRAIRIE SPRING. That in its changes so closely mimics the coming of spring to the open western prairies. It is a waltz that makes me want to get up and dance with a very special loved one. There are too many special moments here to single a few out however I am going to mention LA CHANSON DE MARDI GRAS (SONG OF FAT TUESDAY), an old and traditional song from the Cajun country of Southwestern Louisiana. Here Jay and Molly use musicians for the stellar Cajun group, Balfa Toujours (Rounder records) to fullest advantage. I have been fortunate to see Jay bust loose and I am waiting for him to do a full disc of Cajun music. I salute Angel Records for putting this out and most strongly recommend this to anyone who likes music that is played straight from the heart. Jay and Molly, Jacquelyn Schwab, and Paul Horn are among the few that consistently put out music like that. Get this one!
Produced by - Jay Ungar Molly Mason and Gregory K. Squires
Songs, times, writers, and musicians
1. BOUND FOR ANOTHER HARVEST HOME - 4:06 - Molly Mason
Molly - vocal, guitar
Jay - fiddle
Ruth Ungar - harmony vocal
Steve Rust - bass
2. THE FARMER'S SET - 7:29 - Jay Ungar & Molly Mason
Jay - fiddle
Molly - piano
Keith Murphy - mandolin, feet
Jeremiah McLane - piano accordion
Harry Aceto - bass
3. PRAIRIE SPRING - 3:42 - Jay Ungar
Jay - fiddle
Molly - guitar
John Kirk - harmony fiddle
Steve Rust - bass
4. HAYMAKER'S HOEDOWN - 2:45 - Jay Ungar
Jay - fiddle
Molly - guitar
Kevin Wimmer - fiddle
Dirk Powell - banjo
Ganey Arsement - bass
Gary Burke - percussion
5. SOLSTICE HYMN - 2:54
Traditional arranged by Jay Ungar & Molly Mason (after Geoffrey Shaw)
Jay - fiddle
Mary Lea - fiddle
Abby Newton - cello
Molly - bass
6. THANKSGIVING WALTZ - 3:46 - Jay Ungar
Jay and Mary Lea - fiddles
Molly - guitar
Abby Newton - cello
Steve Rust - bass
7. LA CHANSON DE MARDI GRAS - 3:50 -
Traditional arranged by Jay Ungar, Molly Mason, and Balfa Toujours
Jay and Kevin Wimmer - fiddles
Molly - guitar
Christine Balfa - vocals, triangle
Dirk Powell - fiddle, horse clops. Cajun accordion
Ganey Anderson - bass
8. BONAPARTE'S RETREAT HOEDOWN - 5:10 - William Step/Aaron Copland
Jay - fiddle
Molly - guitar
Nashville Chamber Orchestra conducted by Paul Gambill
9. ASHOKAN FAREWELL - 5:08 - Jay Ungar
Jay - fiddle
Molly - guitar
Nashville Chamber Orchestra conducted by Paul Gambill
THE HARVEST HOME SUITE - Jay Ungar & Molly Mason
Orchestration by Connie Ellisor
Jay - fiddle
Molly - guitar
Nashville Chamber Orchestra conducted by Paul Gambill
10. OVERTURE 4:11
11. AUTUMN - 3:13
12. WINTER - 4:18
14. SPRING - 4:16
15. SUMMER - 4:48