 |
 |
|
 THOUGHTS OF HOME: "Not surprisingly, Kentucky native Anne Milligan’s "Thoughts of Home: Traditional American Folk Music" is an excellent traditional Appalachian folk album with tracks that span the history of the United States. Milligan’s vocal performance makes this album, as she sings beautifully, heartfelt, and with such purity, reminiscent of folk predecessors such as Joan Baez and Emmylou Harris. Roughly, this is a collection of songs about home, both literally, as she sings about Kentucky and America, and figuratively, about the feeling that home brings. The arrangements are diverse, keeping with the traditional folk sound in some, relying solely on her strong acapella performance for others, and modernizing the sound with piano renditions on still others, such as "My Old Kentucky Home," the state song of Kentucky, and "Amazing Grace." "Thoughts of Home" is well-produced though not over-produced, so it maintains that great raw folk sound. "Keep On the Sunny Side" is traditionally done, with a clean and beautiful vocal performance and nice vocal harmonies on the chorus. "Angel Band (3-part Acapella)" is a hauntingly beautiful acapella performance from Milligan of this song modernly popularized by the Sirens in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" where which Milligan sings all three acapella parts. The album closes with "I’d Come Home Today," a Milligan original that sounds just as timeless as the other songs. Fans of traditional Appalachian folk music and stunning female folk vocalists should definitely look into Anne Milligan"
-Chris & the Reviewer Team, RadioIndy.com
I, Anne Milligan, have been a professional musician for a few years now. I sing and play at some of the following:   I've been a bit surprised at the number of people who've been touched by the cover of my CD. I chose that old cabin because it evokes the memory of old Appalachia, the first home for so many of our ancestors in this country. "Keep on the Sunny Side", to me, is the epitome of Traditional american (Appalachia) folk music . It was written by A. P. Carter, who hailed from an Appalachian musical family headed up by their matriarch Maybelle Carter (or "Mother Maybelle). Their work is considered to be the beginning of bluegrass country music in this country. Kelsie Westfall of Cecilia, Kentucky, played all of the bluegrass instruments on this song. "I have put in front of you life and death, 'Keep on the Sunny Side' lyrics My Old Kentucky Home Stephen Foster wrote this song in 1853. "Stephen Foster occupies a unique position in the history of music, not only of America, but of the world. No other single individual produced so many of those songs which are called "folk-songs," by which is meant songs that so perfectly express the mood and spirit of the people that they become a part of the life of all the "folk" and speak as the voice, not of an individual, but of all. So completely do the "folk" absorb these songs and adapt them to their own uses, that the individuality and frequently even the name of the originator is completely lost, thus giving rise to the erroneous idea that a "folk-song" is a song created not by an individual but by a community." Harold Vincent Milligan 1919
"My Old Kentucky Home"eventually became the official state song of Kentucky. With a few vocal embellishments, this was played directly from Stephen Foster's original melodic composition. Therese Holmes played the piano for "My Old Kentucky Home"which was recorded in Louisville, Kentucky. The origin of this one also belongs to the Carter family, and is one of many songs about home which originated in Appalachia. Its orginal title was "Homestead on the Farm". Kelsey Westfall also recorded the bluegrass instruments on this song. A very old traditional American folk music piece, written most certainly for the "passing over" time, to "my immortal home". I sang all three harmonies acapella, to keep with the haunting tone of the song. Written by Stephen Foster, who seems to have been acutely sensitive to the economic troubles of his time, since he struggled so much, in so many ways, in his own life. Again I recorded this completely accapella to keep with the reflective emotional tone. The "Star Spangled Banner" is America's theme song, so to speak. Some people find a great sense of being "home" in their patriotic love of country and the "Star Spangled Banner" often evokes that emotional connection. That is why I included it in this collection of Traditional American Folk Songs. "God Bless America" was written by Irving Berlin. Many thanks to Mr. Berlin, as we need all the help we can garner, to live up to these most extraordinary values we vow to uphold as a nation, with liberty and justice for all. A song of repentance written by a reformed slave trader, "Amazing Grace" is another well-loved composition in Christian music that helps us remember our true spiritual home with God. I (Anne Milligan) wrote this a few years ago and included it on "Thoughts of Home" because of the nuances of "home" as defined by those who never quite find a permanent sense of being home on this earth. Some of the guitar rifts and all of the harmonica (or "French Harp") are by Stan Hirsh. You can order the CD online by using PayPal below, or via regular mail by sending $15.95 plus $2.95 postage to: Anne Milligan PO Box 22824 Louisville, KY 40252 502-797-4411 270-358-5079 COMING SOON TO AMAZON.COM AND CDBABY.COM AS WELL AS MANY OTHER RETAIL MUSIC STORES. | Return Home | What's New | Event Calendar | Our Services | On-line Catalog | Contact Us | LINKS | MUSIC FOR WEDDINGS | |
||
 |
 |
