Beyond the Hills
Beyond the Hills is a folk album featuring original and traditional songs.
The first four tracks feature Shakespearean lyrics from “As You Like It.” I set these words to music and performed the songs initially in my college production of Shakespeare's "As You Like It." These compositions have grown from guitar and voice into their recorded form with the help of Victoria Van Arnam on hammered dulcimer and Lary Chaplan on violin. I added a touch of technology with my digital accordion’s bagpipe setting for the second half of The Lusty Horn.
The Fancy is an original song telling the tale of pirate legend Henry Avery. The song recants how his ship, The Fancy, sails to the Indian Ocean and captures a treasure ship of the Grand Moghul of India. It was written while researching the life of Samuel Bellamy and pirates in the early 18th century.
Victoria Van Arnam, Tom Leidenfrost, and Lary Chaplan
This album features a number of traditional Irish tunes: Hi for the Beggarman is a fun and upbeat Irish song with Whiskey for Breakfast snuck in for an instrumental break. Health to the Company is a ballad that brings everything home and is my farewell to the listener. I had originally intended to end the album with Health to the Company, but I decided to close with Donato, an original instrumental, as a kind of bonus track. Donato features my friends Marc Mills on violin and Asia Lupo on cajon.
The tune of Dark Eyes is a song I have always found mystical and exciting. Lary Chaplan’s violin helps me express my love of this piece. He is featured on many of the tracks and has an inescapable energy in his playing.
Recording with Lary
The unique and rare pairing of accordion and hammered dulcimer is presented on tracks throughout the album. It’s distinct sound is featured on Musical Priest, Earl's Rocking Chair, Silver Spire, and Levan Polka/Korobeiniki.
Recording the hammered dulcimer.
I would like to thank Victoria Van Arnam for her help navigating the process of creating this album. Thank you to Lary Chaplan for adding his considerable talent to this project. Finally, thank you to my family for your constant support.
Original version of Blow Thou Winter Winds - MCLA’s As You Like It (2010)