DAYBREAK: Lost Cave

DayBreak

Lost Cave

© 2005 DayBreak (634479134593)

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Folk music from the earth, literally. Ambient sounds of Lost River Caverns trickle through our Celtic Jigs, Airs & songs, Ragtime & Blues. Come share the cave. Spelunk with dulcimers, violin, guitar, voice, whistle, cello, concertina, harp, mandolin.

notes

"In a hole in the ground..."

When DayBreak was asked to record inside Lost River Caverns in Hellertown PA, it became an opportunity to capture some music we've been playing for a long time but hadn't yet recorded. We also created new music just for the cave. Join us on a spelunking rant and rave through time-- a winsome collection of musical idioms from Celtic to Blues to Ragtime & Old-Time, all connected by a trickle of water. Ambient sounds drip and chuckle through the pieces and spaces, a welcome respite from a typical day's noise. A subtle and natural reverb from the rock walls and floor give the CD a nice warmth. This is truly music from the earth!

"...the disc has a full, echoing quality that enhances the music and gives the recording a magical sound."
-The Morning Call, Allentown, PA

Our musical vibrations come from hammered dulcimer, harp, fiddles, cello, mandolin, voices, guitar, bouzouki, bass recorder, tin whistle, resonator guitar, concertina, mountain dulcimer, djembe, and Irish bodhran. Not limited to one genre, we look for beauty and whatever engages us, both within and without various traditions. DayBreak's musical offerings are wholesome for family as well as solo listening. We've been a family band for quite a few years now, with 4 older kids and 3 parents. We are: Cliff and Emily Cole, Rob and Anna Lisa Yoder, Trudy, Lydia and Seth Yoder. Cliff's approach to the dulcimer as a melodic percussive instrument, and Trudy's cello fiddling shape our sound, along with the fiddles and mando. Rob's hearty bass voice and Emily's soprano are also well-loved highlights. For references, we could put you in touch with our three and four-year-old nephews and some 90+ year-olds!

A lush tapestry of sound happens when we all pick up our instruments, and we love creating arrangements through the interplay of unique voicings. At times a more transparent duet or trio works well for us, as in "Woody's Rag" and Joplin's "The Chrysanthemum", "The Water is Wide", or "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning". On other tunes, we warm up the 52 degree cave with a lively group jam such as "Cold Frosty Morning" and "Timour the Tartar". Some pieces such as "Give Me Your Hand" and the Belgian "La Valse pour les Petites Jeunes Filles" (Waltz for the Little Girls), "Carolan's Welcome" or "Oh, Shenandoah" reflect a gentle and sweet huddle. Two friends, Alf Bashore and Rob Fedorczyk, joined us in some "Lost Cave" sessions.

DayBreak has been honored to play for a wide array of festivals, coffeehouses, concerts, churches, fairs and weddings. We're excited to have captured here some of the pieces we've played for the marriage ceremonies of friends and family. This was a way to give tribute to the cave's musical past, which includes dances, weddings, baptisms, and other tuneful gatherings. Many folks seek unique and memorable music for their ceremonies, so we've often provided a processional, recessional, or prelude crafted through jigs, reels, and airs. "Give Me Your Hand", "Haste to the Wedding" and "Joys of Wedlock", as well as "Fine Spring Day" have all been favorites.

...And a river runs through it.... We're thankful for the safe recording space provided by Lost River Caverns (called "Lost Cave" in simpler times) and the technical expertise of Morningstar Studios engineers. It was quite the adventure... few can say they've harmonized so near crystal formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, helectites, and cave flowers, 300 feet inside a cave! "Dark River" was recorded into the cave's freatic tube, like a narrow chimney chamber. It begins our CD with a compelling air. So come wend your way.... we don't know from whence the river comes and to whence it goes, but we hear its laughter.

reviews

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  • Reminded me of the coffeehouses of the 60s
    author: Richard Coleman

    Bought it at one of Alf's presentations. The acoustics are amazing! I haven't heard anything like this for many years. Number 2 is my favorite.

  • I play this CD over and over
    author: Kathy Histand

    I bought this CD for a group home where I work. One lady is very musically inclined and when I put this in the CD player, she wants me to play it over and over again. This 70 year old lady dances as it is playing! And the other staff are happy to listen to it too.

  • must have
    author: beatrix tafoya

    the more you listen, the more you get hooked. this CD will leave you humming, celebrating, and reflecting

  • excellent, could listen to it all day
    author: Tim Oswald

    Such a great variety of Ameican folk music! I especially like the version of Woody's rag. It must have been awesome for this husband and wife to play it together. And the cello adds a sweet tone to many of these pieces. Highly recommended CD.

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