For inquiries CONTACT:
Kate MacLeod, info@katemacleod.com (USA)
I discovered this song in an early edition of Jean Ritchie’s songbook, Celebration of Life.
It’s become a favorite of mine and the accompanying musicians who perform with me regularly.
This track is part of my longterm exploration of Jean’s music, The Jean Ritchie Experience. I invited vocal ensemble, Windborne, to arrange and record this song with me. The Windborne singers are Lauren Breunig, Jeremy Carter-Gordon, Lynn Rowan, and Will Rowan. The vocal tracks were recorded on
January 18, 2024, in Springfield, MA. Electric guitar and mountain dulcimer were added at a later date in Salt Lake City, UT. I painted the artwork for the cover art. This one-of-a-kind collaboration has been created to bring to life an obscure piece in Jean Ritchie’s work, lovingly presented in a unique setting.
BIO
Kate MacLeod's songwriting style and live performances display an unbreakable link between traditional music and cutting-edge contemporary music. Whether in a song or on her violin, she captures our history, landscapes, and our lives in the varied music that she creates. Kate performs on vocals, violin, acoustic guitar, and Appalachian mountain dulcimer. Her original songs have been recorded by many other artists in the Bluegrass, Folk, Old-Time, Celtic, and other Roots Music genres. Kate shares her residency with Salt Lake City, UT, and Harpers Ferry, WV.
Windborne, from out of Massachusetts, is one of the most vibrant vocal groups in the music scene today. Windborne is known for outstanding vocal arrangements, and the ability to bring old songs into a fresh perspective. The group delights audiences with their repertoire and stage presence, everywhere they go.
LYRICS
As I walked over the early fields
I heard a song a bornin’
It fell around me like the rain
That washes off the morning
CHORUS
Oh I love the pipes
And I love the drum
I love the wild harp ringing
But there’s naught on earth
Can e’er match the sound
Of one clear voice, singing
So far away, the words are dim
And yet I know their sadness
I knew their peace, and I knew their pain
I knew their joy and gladness
And still I walk my fields in vain
As evening shadows linger
But a better journey have I had
In searching for the singer
Jeremy Carter-Gordon, Lynn Rowan, Lauren Breunig, Will Rowan
CREDITS
Produced by Kate MacLeod
Vocal Arrangement: Windborne - Lauren Breunig, Jeremy Carter-Gordon, Lynn Rowan, and Will Rowan
Vocal arrangement all rights reserved: Windborne singers
Lead Vocal: Kate MacLeod
Harmony Vocals: Members of Windborne, Lauren Breunig, Jeremy Carter-Gordon, Lynn Rowan, Will Rowan
Electric Guitar: Dylan Schorer
Mountain Dulcimer: Kate MacLeod
Recording Engineer for Vocal Tracks: Andrew Oedel
Recording Engineer for Instrument Tracks: Michael Greene
Recorded at Ghost Hit Recording, West Springfield, MA
Mixing Engineer: Michael Greene
Mastering Engineer: David Baker
Cover Art: Kate MacLeod
Song by Jean Ritchie: Geordie Music Publishing
Sound recording copyright: Kate MacLeod, Courier Music, ASCAP
