Songs by Stephen Foster

Leslie Guinn (Performer), Stephen [1] Foster (Composer), Joan Reinthaler (Conductor), Jan DeGaetani (Performer), Gilbert Kalish (Performer), James F. Weaver (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Leslie Guinn, Jan DeGaetani, Gilbert Kalish, James F. Weaver
• Conductor: Joan Reinthaler
• Composer: Stephen [1] Foster
• Audio CD (May 28, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000005IYE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,148 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair, for voice & piano

2. There's a Good Time Coming for voice & piano

3. Was My Brother in the Battle? for voice & piano

4. Sweetly She Sleeps, My Alice Fair for voice & piano

5. If You've Only Got a Moustache, for voice & piano

6. Gentle Annie, song for voice & piano or guitar

7. Wilt Thou Be Gone Love? for 2 voices & piano

8. That's What's the Matter for voice & piano

9. Ah! May the Red Rose Live Alway for voice & piano (or orchestra)

10. I'm Nothing But a Plain Old Soldier

11. Beautiful Dreamer, for voice & piano

12. Mr. and Mrs. Brown for voices & piano

13. Slumber My Darling for voice & piano

14. Some Folks for voice & piano

15. We Are Coming, Father Abraham for voice & piano

16. Linger in Blissful Repose for voice & piano

17. There Are Plenty of Fish in the Sea for voice & piano

18. Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming for vocal quartet

19. Soirée Polka for piano

20. Better Times Are Coming for voice & piano

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly rendered Americana, October 12, 2001

By 

klavierspiel "klavierspiel" (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Songs by Stephen Foster (Audio CD)

This is, in a word, a wonderful album. The performers have sterling credentials, there is attention to authenticity and historical accuracy--original editions and period instruments are used--and above all, the project of recording the music of Foster was obviously approached with care and love on the part of all involved. The result is that music that can seem quaint and even campy glows with all its original richness of emotion and humor. There are surprises among the familiar classics, as well--the moving "Ah! May the Red Rose Live Alway," with its surprising harmonies (in the original), and the duet "Wilt Thou Be Gone, Love?" based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, are particular gems. This is an album I still return to after decades.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The sessions of sweet silent thought stirred, November 21, 2003

By 

Eileen (MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs by Stephen Foster (Audio CD)

I have never heard such unadulterated extraworldy sound emanate from two human voices and what would otherwise be firewood (the period instruments played by Gilbert Kalish). It stirs profound patriotism and a deep sentimentality for our early days when a civilized people pined to find virtue by examining its own body-- the north and the south, the small town, the simple flag, and the beauty of gentile manly and womanly love expressed through equisite song. There is no other music I would rather hear 'when summoning up the remembrance of things past.' The ghost of the early American parlor will prick your skin through these simple hymns and you may escape for a moment our troubled and busy times.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An album to treasure, September 23, 2004

By 

H. L. Clark (Broad Run, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Songs by Stephen Foster (Audio CD)

The landmark Library of Congress album, now on enhanced CD. Years
ago, I went on a six-months field assignment to a remote area of
Africa, where I could take only what music I could carry in a vest
pocket. I chose a tape player and two albums: a recital by Perlman
and this album on tape, and was content. If you love American
music, sung poetry, beautiful singing and deeply moving musicality,
this is an album you will treasure for a lifetime.