Stephen Foster Songs: Parlor & Minstrel Songs, Dance Tunes & Instrumentals

Stephen Foster (Composer), Julianne Baird (Performer), Linda Russell (Performer), Frederick Urrey (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Julianne Baird, Linda Russell, Frederick Urrey
• Composer: Stephen Foster
• Audio CD (July 28, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Albany Records
• ASIN: B0000049NP
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #257,122 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-rounded and convincing, October 26, 2000

By 

"gaios33" (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stephen Foster Songs: Parlor & Minstrel Songs, Dance Tunes & Instrumentals (Audio CD)

This is an excellent rendition of Stephen Foster's songs, capitalizing on the duality inherent in the repertoire: the beautiful parlor ballads and the rowdy folk-inspired tunes. Especially remarkable is the fact that the performers bring to the music the "early music" sensibility (Julianne Baird is renowned as a performer of Elizabethan lutesongs)--this sensibility urges the performers to be as historically accurate as possible, performing on original/reproduction instruments. Also of note is the fact that it is a collaboration between classical and folk musicians: soprano, alto, tenor, fortepiano, fiddle, mountain and hammered dulcimers, harmonica, recorder, and accordian. Linda Russell (alto, mountain dulcimer) is lyrical and moving with her "folkie" voice, perfectly complementing the other "cultivated" voices and grounding them on the occasions they come together in poignant harmony.

I only wish that they had incorporated a 19th c. parlor guitar to round out the ballads. Overall, however, one can well imagine that this is indeed the way the music sounded. As one of America's first "popular song" writers, the present performers succeed in doing him justice by incorporating many styles of 19th c. popular musics, avoiding the anachronistic "bluegrass" sound often used in performances of this repertoire, and never succumbing to waves of overly self-indulgent nostalgia.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amid fine work, a new star!, September 27, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Stephen Foster Songs: Parlor & Minstrel Songs, Dance Tunes & Instrumentals (Audio CD)

Baird, Russell and Van Buskirk give fine performances in a splendid
program, but tenor Frederick Urrey [his Foster recording debut?] is a sensation! A glorious voice, with a perfect command of style in
operatic, ballad, ensemble and even comic scenes, his Melinda May is breathtaking, his Beautiful Dreamer is the best on records, his
duets charm and his drunken husband is a gas! He has it all!! In my 25 years of total immersion in Foster and his era, I have never
even dreamt of hearing an artist of such stature. Foster was said to have a fine voice and to sing his music better than any other.
I pray we now hear more of SF's songs as he must have sung them!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Foster at his simple best, January 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Stephen Foster Songs: Parlor & Minstrel Songs, Dance Tunes & Instrumentals (Audio CD)

What a delicious surprise this little album is, and from the ..... date, it appears to have been around for a few seasons, but is utterly new to me. I am a Julianne Baird fan from the get-go, but was pleasantly taken aback at her appearance on an album of American songs with folk balladeer Linda Russell (who plays dulcimers, mountain fiddles and all manner of country instruments and sings with the earthy texture of Judy Collins). But as usual Baird finds a way to integrate her own exquisite sensibilities and artistry into the assignment and makes a touching case for the simple and heart-rending Foster tunes--this is, after all, "early music" in which she excels--American "Early Music." Tenor Fred Urrey is another find and he likewise blends wonderfully into the surroundings. In fact, the three diverse artists hit their stride in a haunting trio rendition of Old Black Joe. Keyboard and string instruments have a ghostly and authentic ring to them as well. indeed, after the pompous and overblown Foster CDs of better-known opera singers in the bins today, this is so welcome. A treasure!
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