Journey to the Heartland Journey to the Heartland
MM231 (Maggie’s Music, Inc.)
Ken Kolodner (2004)

Ken Kolodner, Hammer Dulcimer and Fiddle
With guests Robin Bullock, Paddy
League, Laura Risk and Elke Baker
CD only: $15

For many years, I have had a strong interest in traditional folk music from around the world, but especially Appalachian music (also known as “oldtime”) and traditional Celtic music. These two music traditions are strongly linked since the origins of old-time music can be traced back to Celtic music. In more recent years, I have been drawn to another musical cousin–the traditional music of Quebec (called Quebecois or French Canadian). This recording brings together my love of these wonderful traditions. While there are characteristics that distinguish each of these, there is an especially great rhythmic energy and swing that unites the Quebecois and old-time repertoires. The Quebecois repertoire is rich with beautifully syncopated tunes and waltzes that offer great possibilities for exploring alternate chord progressions not often found in traditional American folk music. Old-time music brings me home to the music that I first started playing on the fiddle, affording great improvisational opportunities inherent in its simplicity. I learned most of the music on this recording in the true folk tradition – by ear, from musicians all around the world. The world of traditional music represents a community that covers a large geographic area yet remains very closely knit by a common love of the music. Enjoy the tunes!

  1. Caspian’s Return (Ken Kolodner, US)/Cuckoo’s Nest Hornpipe (Ireland) 5:41 (MP3 Sample | Full MP3 | Windows Media)

  2. Lady of the Lake/Farewell Trion/Shenandoah Falls (US) 5:51

  3. Coleman’s March (US)/North Carolina Breakdown (Arthur Smith, US) 4:49

  4. Journey to the Heartland (Ken Kolodner, US)/YZ Hamilton’s Breakdown (US) 4:43 (MP3 Sample | Full MP3 | Windows Media)

  5. Waltz of My Dreams/Marche du Mont. Saint Louis (Quebec) 5:06

  6. Polka of the Setting Sun/Reel Antoinette (Quebec) 3:28

  7. The Blacktail Canyon Waltz (Ken Kolodner, US)/Down Home Waltz (Buck White, US) 5:44(MP3 Sample | Full MP3 | Windows Media)

  8. Mike in the Wilderness/Red Bird (US) 3:48 (MP3 Sample | Full MP3 | Windows Media)

  9. Eddie’s Reel (Eddie Plante, US)/The Cicada Reel (Ken Kolodner, US) 3:31

  10. My Cape Breton Home (Jerry Holland, Cape Breton Island) 2:58

  11. The Banks Hornpipe (Scotland) 2:03

  12. Valse du Peril/L’hirondelle légère (Quebec) 5:17

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