MATTHEW SABATELLA: Ballad of America Volume 1: Over a Wide and Fruitful Land

Matthew Sabatella

Ballad of America Volume 1: Over a Wide and Fruitful Land

© 2005 Matthew Sabatella (644611000327)

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This is the story of the United States of America vividly told through a wealth of traditional folk songs.

notes

This is the story of the United States of America vividly told through a wealth of traditional folk songs. The early settlers in the New World played and sang a variety of songs from their native homelands as they worked, prayed, and enjoyed leisure activities. By the time of the American Revolution, they were adapting these songs and creating new ones that reflected their ever-changing circumstances and environment.

The journey on this CD begins in the latter part of the eighteenth century when the United States of America became an independent nation. It follows the paths of the pioneers, sailors, lumberjacks, immigrants, '49ers, farmers, slaves, soldiers, cowboys, and railroaders who moved the country across the continent and into the twentieth century.

The all-acoustic "Ballad of America Volume 1" features Sabatella on guitar with a host of musical guests who make contributions on banjo, fiddle, concertina, resonator guitar, bodhran, harmonica, mandolin, and upright bass. But the focal point of the album is the nineteenth century songs, many virtually forgotten, which Sabatella's mesmerizing baritone voice infuses with an immediacy and intimacy that belies their age.

"Ballad of America Volume 1" is Sabatella's third independent CD release. The first two, "Where the Hell Am I?" and "A Walk in the Park", are available here at CDBaby.com and feature his compositions exclusively. A Walk in the Park received Album of the Year honors at the 2001 Florida Music Awards, and Sabatella was nominated in the category of Best Songwriter. His musical credits also include instrumental and vocal contributions to CDs by such artists as Mary Karlzen, Amanda Green, Diane Ward, Jolynn Daniel, Brian Franklin, Muse, and Sixo, to name a few.

Sabatella was becoming known for his knowledge and insightful interpretations of traditional folk songs when, in 2003, Miami Art Museum commissioned him to record music that would accompany an exhibit called American Tableaux: Many Voices, Many Stories. The exhibition featured more than 80 paintings, sculptures, installations, prints, and photographs from the collection of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Though never formally released, Miami New Times magazine included those recordings in a listing of the best music of 2003. In September 2004 Winnipeg Art Gallery in Manitoba, Canada purchased advance copies of the new CD, "Ballad of America Volume 1", to accompany their presentation of the same exhibit.

reviews

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  • Stunning!
    author: Robert Kiefer

    Matthew Sabatella's Ballad of America Volume 1: Over a Wide and Fruitful Land ranks among the most important folk albums in a generation. Robert Kiefer Cove Struck Music

  • Authentic songs sung with respect in an authentic voice
    author: Gerard Rohlf (NewLanders)

    I thoroughly enjoyed this CD. The style, the craft and the voicing of songs that I thought I had heard before made for a refreshing experience. Matthew's voice could have been the first one to sing some of these pieces - they are just that intimate. I leant it to my friend, and now I can't get it back!

  • Fantastic. Unforgetable!
    author: Don Gruneisen

    I really enjoyed the CD and listened to it several times. Now there are a couple of the tunes that are haunting me and I can't get them out of my head.

  • Excellent
    author: Maripat Rapach

    This is a wonderful assortment of songs sung by a very talented voice. Will there be a Volume 2?

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