These reviews by Fred Koch appeared in the February, 1999 issue of “Chicago Parent Magazine.” Reviewed in this column:
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It's really not true that the children's music industry is dominated solely by guitar-toting, folk-singin', middle-aged white guys. It just sort of appears that way. But only at first. The truth is that there are some wonderful female artists creating high quality, family-friendly music. There are Joanie Bartels, Linda Arnold, Sally Rogers, Rachel Buchman, and quite a few others who just go by their first names: Dana, Lyle, Sooz and Cathy & Marcy, to name just a few. For this column, I've picked some of my favorite children's recordings by female performers. Just this month, I received two new children's recordings from singer/songwriter Teresa Doyle. She lives on a small farm in Bellevue, Prince Edward Island, in eastern Canada, and tours extensively, taking her traditionally influenced music throughout North America, the UK and Japan. Of the two recordings, my favorite is If Fish Could Sing...Celtic Songs for All Ages (Bedlam Records, 1998). Though it was created for children, this recording will please the entire family. Drawing extensively on Irish/Scots tradition, these songs feature Teresa's warm and lovely voice along with a charming children's chorus and plenty of traditional pipes, whistles and percussion. She blends traditional songs with some very "hip" musical arrangements, without sacrificing the integrity of the original music. The CD begins with the sounds of a traditional bodhran drum, leading into "The Shearing," a song about the annual harvest and the fun it brings: "Summer days and heather bells/ Are ringing in the silent hills/ There's yellow corn in yonder fields/ And autumn brings the shearing." Other songs include "Ca' the Ewes," "Lots of Fish in Bonavist Harbour," and "Johnny's Gone A-Sailing." With all of its local flavor and unique language, her music allows us to peek into the daily life of another culture. (I'll have to bring out a dictionary before I understand all of the maritime terms in "The Sailor's Alphabet.") Already an established performer in the adult arena, Doyle has very successfully crossed the bridge into children's music with If Fish Could Sing and her other childrens' recording Dance To Your Daddy (Bedlam Records). I hope she continues to offer her Celtic gems for children. Go Back to Top Two established folk music performers, Anne Hills and Cindy Mangsen, also have recently released an album of children's music. Never Grow Up (Flying Fish/Rounder, 1998) is a collection of lesser-known songs from the folk tradition. The beauty of this recording is the unusual nature of the songs. Some real work and research went into finding them. "Now He's Sorry That He Spoke" is a funny little story-song from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. "Where Did You Get That Hat?" was found on an album released in the 1920s. I especially enjoyed "The Thinnest Man" with all its wonderful imagery: "He was thin as a postage stamp/ Or the skin of a new potater/ For exercise he'd take a ride through the holes of a nutmeg grater." Hills and Mangsen are joined by some of folk music's finest performers. Dave Van Ronk lends his perfectly matched raspy voice to "Froggy Went A-Courtin';" Priscilla Herdman, Rosalie Sorrels and Jamie O'Reilly add their lovely voices throughout; and John Kirk (viola), Pete Sunderland (piano) and Peter "Mudcat" Ruth (harmonica) contribute just the right amount of instrumentation. This recording provides many fine examples of the folk repertoire that is available to those who take the time to find it. Go Back to Top Rachel Sumner's I've Got Imagination (Rachel's Records, 1997) is very popular with my 8-year-old students. This Nashville-based singer/songwriter/storyteller presents a nice mix of musical styles and themes, including a couple of get-up-and-dance tunes and two stories. Sumner starts off with the title track, a rockin' little creative movement song, followed by "Bath Time Tango" and a jazzy remake of "Little Ms. Muffet." Next is the story "Chester, The Cheerful Chipmunk," a charming tale of Chester's journey into the corn field, a place where his mother told him never to go. Sumner's skills as a storyteller (and writer) and the tastefully arranged musical score help make this gentle story enjoyable without being preachy. My two favorite cuts are "Can You Dance Like That?," a follow-the-caller type country-and-western dance number, and the humorous and fun to sing "C-H-I-C-K-E-N," which is filled with some pretty cute chicken jokes. (My favorite is, "Why did the chicken say "bawk?"/ Because a chicken cannot say Beethoven!") You can also e-mail your chicken jokes to Rachel at rachel@jackatak.theporch.com). Very few of today's children's performers seem to understand and appreciate exactly where children are in the "developmental" scheme of things. Sumner does--and she shows it, with lots of fun-filled, diverse music and an attitude that doesn't talk down to kids. If you're not up to venturing out to the retail outlets for If Fish Could Sing and Never Grow Up, order them from Rounder Kids at 800/443-4727. Call Sumner's record company at 888/FUN-SONG to inquire about retail availability or to order her recordings. Or visit her website: www.songs.com/rachel. Go Back to Top |
