When I was younger, I was disappointed when a folk music album included orchestrations behind the player or band. I hadn’t given it much of a thought lately but with the reissue of “When the Day the Day is Done: The Orchestrations of Robert Kirby” on Ace Records I came to the realization that in the right hands orchestral arrangements can be quite lovely. Robert Kirby added string and horn parts to some of my favorite recordings. This week on the Sing Out! Radio Magazine we’ll hear three of those arrangements alongside others with interesting brass or string accompaniment. Orchestrally thinking … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

LISTEN:

Artist / “Title” / 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