From the Land of the Kalevala

From the Land of the Kalevala

Track Listings

1. Vainamoinen Ta Lohi-Neito (Vainamoinen and Salmon Maiden)

2. Ripatska (Ripachka)

3. Etala0Karjalan Valssi (Waltz from Southern Karelia)

4. Polonen Poika (Poor Boy)

5. Kantele Polkka

6. Maanitus (Persuasion)

7. Miihkalin Varausloitsu (Miihkali's Protection Spell)

8. Jossakin Kuultu Polska (Somewhere Heard Polska)

9. Kaksi Kuninkaan Lasta (Two Children of the King)

10. Karjalan Poikia (Karelian Boys)

11. Lannen Lokari (Lumberjack of the West)

12. Konstan Valssi (Konsta's Waltz)

13. Ohotnichek (The Hunter)

14. Riivattu (Bewitched)

15. Lebed (The Swan)

16. Kaksirivispolkka (2-Row Polka)

17. Mlada (Young Girl)

Tracks:

Macedonian Ceausescu
Death Of The Incas Dance Of The Coyas
Polska Lastringe Storpolska
Kalevala Melody/Morsiamen Hyvastijatto
The Dawn/McGovern's/Piper On Horseback/Bay Of Fundy/Stoney Point
Mr. Pantaleish/The Lemon Tree
Lost Child/Hunting For The Buffalo
Alborado/Desdenosa
Cascata De Lagrimas/The Straight Shot/Pepper Mountain

Customer Reviews:

A Wonderful Preview.......2000-11-14

For those of you not familiar w/ Helicon, they are a Baltimore based trio that specializes in spreading the joy and beauty of international music. The group consists of Chris Norman, a world renown wooden flute player (he does classical music as well), Ken Kolodner, an incredible hammer dulcimerist and fiddler who also happens to have a P.h.d, and Robin Bullock, a magnificent guitarist, citernist, and fiddler, who actually started out in rock music. Anyway, the group has since begun to explore other interests so they no longer tour together, but that doesnt mean that their music is dead. In fact, it is alive and well on this recording. Track 1 is played by Norman on a type of double barreled flute that makes it sound like 2 flutes are playing, creating a truly unique sound. The second half of track 1 has a much simpler beat, but is still just as pleasing to the ear. Track 2 is a pair of beautiful Peruvian pieces that begin w/ a simple hammer dulcimer rhythm, but eventually adds in complexity, until the texture is truly South American. Next, they move to Sweden, a country rich in its fiddling, and perform two polskas. Although this CD does these pieces justice, the way they perform them is even better (they move their bodies to accent the dynamic changes in a sort of call and respond manner). Track 5 finally gets to some of the traditional Irish and American reels that have begun to find its place in mainstream America nowadays. They certainly do celtic music justice. Next, "Mr. Pantaleish" is perhaps the most mysterious piece on this recording, and it is truly haunting. Track 7 returns to America, where they play an old American fiddle tune, and a tune that they learned from Freyda Epstein, a brilliant musician from Virginia. All in all, this is a great recording, and is only a preview of what this incredible trio would accomplish in the coming years that they toured together. You will notice that this recording almost sounds like there is a concert in your room, because the music is pure. There is only limited audio enhancing machines used which makes the music all that much better. I highly encourage anyone to buy this CD, and to also check out Helicon's recordings, as well as the member's solo efforts. You will never tire of this stuff.