Sometimes it might seem disappointing when a folk music recording includes orchestrations. For another point of view, I listened to “When the Day the Day is Done: The Orchestrations of Robert Kirby” on Ace Records and I came to the realization that in the right hands it can be quite beautiful. Robert Kirby adds string and horn parts to some of my favorite recordings; we’ll hear three of those arrangements alongside others with interesting brass or string accompaniment. Stringing along … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

LISTEN:

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways
Childsplay / “My Cape Breton Home” / The Great Waltz / Self-produced
Richard and Linda Thompson / “First Light” / When the Day is Done / Ace
The Super Saturated Sugar Strings / “Amplified” / All Their Many Miles / Self-produced
Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues / “Lay Down Sally” / Different Voices / Dawnserly Records

Judy Collins / “Tom Thumb’s Blues” / In My Life / Elektra
Nick Drake / “Introduction” / When the Day is Done / Ace
Balsam Ridge / “Jack Diamond” / Mountain Overture / Mountain Home
Childsplay / The Great Waltz of China” / The Great Waltz / Self-produced

Moira Smiley / “Wise Man” / Unzip the Horizon / Self-produced
Will Sexton & Simone Stevens / “Come Josephine in my Flying Machine” / The Beautiful Old . Doubloon
Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra / “Farewell to Whiskey-Money Musk” / Mistwold / F&W
Tim Hart & Maddy Prior / “Dancing at Whitsun” / When the Day is Done / Ace

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas / “Highlander’s Farewell” / Highlander’s Farewell / Culburnie
Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways