Journey to the Heartland
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Ken Kolodner (2004) MM231 (Maggie’s Music, Inc.)
Ken Kolodner, Hammered Dulcimer and Fiddle
With guests Robin Bullock, Paddy League, Laura Risk and Elke Baker
“…joyous…reminiscent of Joe Venuti's work… [Journey to the Heartland] makes for a CD that you can live with all day.”
Celtic Beat
“He’s a master at finding what Alasdair Fraser appropriately calls the “rhythmic underbelly” of a tune.”
Potomac Valley Fiddle Club Newsletter 2005
“When Ken Kolodner plays the hammered dulcimer, something special happens; he makes it sing…inspiring...a tremendous musician…a tremendous album [Journey to the Heartland]...”
Irish Edition, March, 2005.
“…stirring…evocative…” The Washington Post, April, 2005.
"{Journey to the Heartland}...sparkling versions ...The love and respect for the music chosen comes through clearly."
Dirty Linen, June/July 2005
“This is just about all anybody could ask for in an instrumental recording. The tunes are all great…Ken’s playing positively sizzles …delightful…wonderful...Typically, Ken makes great use of syncopation…The up-tempo rhythms are really infectious…”
Dulcimer Player News, 2005
For many years, I have had a strong interest in traditional folk music from around the world, but especially Appalachian music (also known as “oldtime”) and traditional Celtic music. These two music traditions are strongly linked since the origins of old-time music can be traced back to Celtic music. In more recent years, I have been drawn to another musical cousin–the traditional music of Quebec (called Quebecois or French Canadian).
This recording brings together my love of these wonderful traditions. While there are characteristics that distinguish each of these, there is an especially great rhythmic energy and swing that unites the Quebecois and old-time repertoires. The Quebecois repertoire is rich with beautifully syncopated tunes and waltzes that offer great possibilities for exploring alternate chord progressions not often found in traditional American folk music. Old-time music brings me home to the music that I first started playing on the fiddle, affording great improvisational opportunities inherent in its simplicity. I learned most of the music on this recording in the true folk tradition – by ear, from musicians all around the world. The world of traditional music represents a community that covers a large geographic area yet remains very closely knit by a common love of the music. Enjoy the tunes! -- Ken Kolodner
Track List
1. Caspian’s Return (Ken Kolodner, US)/Cuckoo’s Nest Hornpipe (Ireland) 5:41
2. Lady of the Lake/Farewell Trion/Shenandoah Falls (US) 5:51
3. Coleman’s March (US)/North Carolina Breakdown (Arthur Smith, US) 4:49
4. Journey to the Heartland (Ken Kolodner, US)/YZ Hamilton’s Breakdown (US) 4:43
5. Waltz of My Dreams/Marche du Mont. Saint Louis (Quebec) 5:06
6. Polka of the Setting Sun/Reel Antoinette (Quebec) 3:28
7. The Blacktail Canyon Waltz (Ken Kolodner, US)/Down Home Waltz (Buck White, US) 5:44
8. Mike in the Wilderness/Red Bird (US) 3:48
9. Eddie’s Reel (Eddie Plante, US)/The Cicada Reel (Ken Kolodner, US) 3:31
10. My Cape Breton Home (Jerry Holland, Cape Breton Island) 2:58
11. The Banks Hornpipe (Scotland) 2:03Valse du Peril/L’hirondelle légère (Quebec) 5:17