Christmas carols and folk music

Before my December 10 radio show, I told a number of people that I planned to play some seasonal music. One of them commented, "Is there folk Christmas music? I can't think of any." For anyone who is wondering about that, here is the answer:

1. I have heard the popular Christmas songs performed in the style of classical, jazz, blues, folk, and pop. So in that sense, many Christmas songs could be folk or any other genre.
2. In my view, there are two definitions of folk music. One is the particular genre of music that I play on my radio show. The other, older definition is music that is made by the people, rather than only by professional performers. By that second definition, Christmas carols are among the few folk songs left in modern American culture.
3. There are seasonal songs within the folk genre. Examples include "Christmas in the Trenches" by John McCutcheon, "Ten Dollar Christmas Tree" by Bridget Ball and Christopher Shaw, and "Light One Candle" by Peter, Paul and Mary. (Light One Candle is a Chanukah song, not a Christmas song. As you can see in the first paragraph of this entry, I started off saying I was going to play "seasonal" songs, not only Christmas songs.)

Playlist November 1, 2006

Today I'm taking a fill-in slot on WRPI, and playing a bunch of CD's from Putumayo. Here's the playlist:

From the CD Asian Groove:

Remember Tomorrow by Mo' Horizons (Germany)
Kunglim Guli by Yulduz Usmanova (Uzbekistan)
Mamavatu by Susheela Raman (India/UK)

From the CD Africa:

Segne by Afia Mala (Togo)
Francoise by Henri Dikongue (Cameroon)

From the CD Cairo to Casablanca

Zwit Rwit by Idir (Algeria)
Ya Maalem by Maurice El Mediouni (Algeria)

From the CD A Mediterranean Odyssey

Que Son by Tekameli (France)
Bebiendo al Alba by Luis Delgado (Spain)

From the CD Dublin to Dakar

Soiridh Leis by Baka Beyond (France/UK/Senegal/Ghana)
Villemann og Magnhild by Rita Erikson (Norway)

From the CD Celtic Tides

An Gabhar Ban by Clannad (Ireland)
Feels So Near by Dougie MacLean (Scotland)

From the CD Sing Along with Putumayo

Bling-Blang by Arlo Guthrie (USA)
Michael Row the Boat Ashore by Eric Bibb (USA)

From the CD Zydeco

Creole Farmers Stomp by The Creole Zydeco Farmers (USA)

From the CD Republica Dominicana

Los Bodegueros by Joseito Mateo y Luis Kalaff (Dominican Republic)
Pegao de Que by Juan Bautista (Dominican Republic)

From the CD Puerto Rico

Homenaje A Caridad by Modesta Cepeda (Puerto Rico)
Bembe de Plena by Plena Libre (Puerto Rico)

From the CD Women of Latin America

Sinuoso Tropico by Jacqueline Fuentes (Chile)
Anda Mareado by Tania Libertad (Peru)
Yo Me Llamo Cumbia by Toto La Momposina (Colombia)

From the CD Acoustic Brazil

A Voz deo Povo by Paulinho da Viola (Brazil)
Cajuina by Caetano Veloso (Brazil)

From the CD Festa Brasil

Monsieur Samba by Ivete Sangalo (Brazil)
Filhos do Tempo by DiDa Banda Feminina (Brazil)

From the CD A Native American Odyssey

Qingauiit by Tudjaat (Inuit/ Canada)
Native Funk by Burning Sky (White River Ute/Dine/USA)
La Tortuga by Jaramar (Huave/Mexico)
Tema de Maimata by Los Incas (Andean/Peru)

From the CD Caribbean Party

L'Histoire du Zouk by Kali (Haiti/Martinique)
Chale Lanmou by Tabou Combo (Haiti)
Dokte by Ralph Thamar (Martinique)

Best albums of 2006 (so far)

I'm starting a list of my favorite albums of 2006 now, so I don't forget any. I'll keep adding to it as the year goes on.

• Andersen, Eric. Waves.
• Assorted. A Prairie Home Companion Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
• Assorted. Classic Labor Songs from Smithsonian Folkways.
• Assorted. This Line is Singin.' Picket Line Songs from the Freedom Song Network.
• Cottars, The. Forerunner.
• Duhks, The. Your Daughters and Your Sons.
• Duhks, The. Migrations.
• Greencards, The. Weather and Water.
• Jencks, Joe. Rise As One.
• McCutcheon, John. Mightier than the Sword.
• Ollabelle. Riverside Battle Songs.
• Tres Chicas. Bloom, Red, and the Ordinary Girl.

Some peace songs

Sometimes I don't like songs, bumper stickers, etc. about peace or other issues because to encapsulate them like that tends to oversimplify them. However, here are two peace songs that I do like.

"Riverside" by Ollabelle

This is a song I've known pretty much all my life. If you don't recognize the title "Riverside," maybe you'll know it as "Study War No More." Though I've known the song as long as I can remember, it never made a big impression until I heard Ollabelle's rendition, which makes it a plaintive, wistful plea for peace.

We the People by Schooner Fare

Sometimes people making fun of folk music say things like, "Let's all hold hands and sing 'Kumbaya.'" Though this is said derisively, it touches on the power some folk music has to ignite a sense of universal love and inspiration. "We the People" is an upbeat song that gives me that feeling of wanting to go out and make the world a better place.

Clearwater and inclusiveness

Clearwater is a folk festival. It's also an environmental advocacy organization. It's also a boat. But Clearwater is not just any folk festival, not just any environmental organization, not just any boat. What makes Clearwater special in my opinion is that Clearwater has a soul. Clearwater has values and tries to put them into practice in everything it does. These values are environmental sustainability and inclusiveness. At the Clearwater festival, the sound systems are powered by sustainable energy sources. The park where the festival is held only collects trash, so a crew of Clearwater volunteers collects recyclables. There is also a crew of volunteers dedicated to accessibility. There are sign language interpreters on each stage. While most folk musicians, whether at the Clearwater festival or elsewhere, encourage singalongs to a certain degree, there is an area at the Clearwater festival dedicated to participatory singing, with no sound system so that the professional musicians are not separated from the other participants. In addition to music and crafts, the festival offers information on peace and environmental activism and green living.

When I went on the Clearwater boat many years ago, I was working for an organization whose goal was to do good in the world. However, there was tension because not all who wanted to do good were welcomed participants. I can appreciate the value of setting one's priorities based on the needs of the people you serve, rather than the needs of the people who want to help. I can appreciate that people who want to help but don't have the proper training and experience can do more harm than good. Nonetheless, after being in a climate of keeping people out, it was refreshing to take a sail on the Clearwater and find myself in a climate which welcomed people. When the boat arrived at a new dock, the people aboard would talk with anyone who happened to be around at the dock, and invite them on board for a tour.

I'm reminded of what I read about the Almanac Singers, who were a predecessor to the Weavers. The Almanc Singers were loose about practicing and who was a member. Not all were happy with that situation. Some wanted higher musical standards. The Weavers were formed with that intent.

It's no coincidence that Clearwater and the Almanac Singers both have/had an inclusive approach. Pete Seeger was a driving force in both.

I know that there's value in maintaining high standards, but I don't think this means you have to completely sacrifice inclusivity. Just because you invite people onto your boat doesn't mean you have to make them captain. If someone who wants to help you do good in the world isn't qualified to go to the Middle East to make peace, they may be able to organize a great fundraising event at home. It takes time to listen to people and discover what each has to offer. But taking this time is how you keep your soul. You lose something if you just focus on efficiently implementing the mission of the organization, at the expense of values and community.

I know that Clearwater is not perfect. I personally have witnessed conflict and disgruntled people within Clearwater. Building a welcoming community is no easy task, and the road will not be perfectly smooth. But despite the difficulties, a visitor to the festival can clearly see the expression of Clearwater's values. To create an expression of those values on such a large scale is quite an achievement.

Broadside Electric

Broadside Electric is a folk rock band in the Philadelphia area. Their influences include Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull, and Child ballads. They describe their music as "folk music with teeth" and they say, ""This is the only record you'll hear that has a Croatian dance, an English music hall song and a Bob Dylan cover." You can listen to some of their songs on their myspace profile.

One reason I took an interest in them is because some of them went to Haverford College, as did I. They are younger than I am, but I do remember one of them, Tom Rhoads from college. I didn't know him well, but we knew some of the same people, and he seemed like a cool guy. Too bad I didn't get to know him better. But back then, I didn't even know I was going to turn out to be a folkie.

Hail to the Chief

Hail to the Chief is an amusing song by John McCutcheon. The lyrics are a collection of funny things said by George W. Bush, such as "How can a man still put food on his family." The song is from the album Hail to the Chief and other short shelf-life classics. From what I've told you so far, you can probably already tell the type of songs that are on it, but as an example, another song on the album is called "Talking Tinky-Winky Blues."

Today's song: What You Are by Patty Griffin

Today's song of the day is "What You Are." I found it on the Greencards' myspace profile. It was written by Patty Griffin. It says, "Do you wish you were the light of every star? Nobody knows, but maybe that's just what you are." You can find the full lyrics at various places on the internet, including http://www.lyricsdir.com/patty-griffin-what-you-are-lyrics.html.

Today's song: "Peace Is" by Fred Small

Today's song of the day is "Peace Is" by Fred Small. You can find the lyrics at http://www.jg.org/folk/artists/fredsmall/everything.possible.lyrics.html. It's actually a song about peace and war, but the reason it's the song of the day today is the part that goes, "Life is a chance we take when we make this earth our home." Today I feel like maybe I can feel at home on the earth.

Today's song: "Out of the Rain" by the Duhks

Today's song is "Out of the Rain," which I found on the Duhks' myspace profile. I like to listen to this over and over when I'm feeling blue.

Today's song: "Life is a Merry-Go-Round" by Donovan

Today's song is "Life is a Merry-Go-Round" by Donovan. It says

Make up your mind to be happy,
Life is a merry-go-round.
If you miss out this time,
Don't let it fret your mind,
Love will come round in the end.

This song is for when I've been going through a good time, so I'm feeling strong and confident, but I'm about to embark on something that will be more trying.

The song sounds like it is meant for someone who is currently down, to cheer them up, but it doesn't work that way for me. Once I'm already down, I want a song that goes to where I am. There is the possibility of finding hope when I'm down, but I need a song that lets me live in the down before I can find that hope for moving up.