To purchase this CD, contact us directly at:
Keith & Lauren Plaskonos
4608 Calmont Ave.
Ft. Worth TX 76107
(817) 731-2051
E-mail: keith.g.plaskonos@sbcglobal.net
or
Purchase this CD from CD Baby
Heirloom is comprised of Keith and Lauren Plaskonos. Their music is an eclectic collection of traditional English, Irish, and American folk tunes as well as flowing aires and waltzes, ballads, classical music and a contemporary piece or two thrown in for good measure. Heirloom performs on the hammer dulcimer, an instrument which has its roots in ancient Persia. The instrument made its way to Europe during the crusades, where it picked up its English name. Dulcimer comes from the Italian Dulci Melos meaning "beautiful music". The dulcimer sounds like a magical blend of harp and piano. In fact, it is the forerunner of the piano.
Keith is the 1991 Texas State Hammer Dulcimer Champion. Lauren has been a finalist several times and both have competed nationally. Keith built the dulcimer we perform on. It is based on a MasterWorks design, used by permission.
Martheine Birkle, our talented violinst. The contribution of her sweet
instrument and arrangements so beautifully enhances our music.
Russell Cook of Wood-N-Strings, our good friend, for moral and technical
support and the use of his studio.
David Walker, for the many hours of recording, patience and laughter, some
well into the night. (We kept him awake with with Dove chocolate).
Our children, Aaron and Elise, for whom we did this. For months they endured
our wild schedule and sacrificed family time to see this completed.
The Lone Star State Dulcimer Society, without whom this would never have
come about. Thanks for the music, y'all.
Our families, who's pictures grace this CD.
Our Loving Father, who knew, while Keith grew up in Pennsylvania and I traveled
throughout Europe, that one day He'd bring together Keith's guitar, my singing,
and our love of traditional music.
David Walker: Recording Engineer
Lauren Plaskonos: cover, and all artwork and logos
Steve Naya: photography
CRT: reproduction and printing
Proverbs 16:3 Roll your works upon the Lord. Commit and trust wholly to Him. He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will and so shall your plans be established and succeed.
Keith: dulcimer, guitar and penny whistle
Lauren: vocals
Martheine Birkle: violin
This is a classic Irish song which we have anglicized somewhat. It can also
be found as a hymn known as "How Gracious are Thy Mercies, Lord"
and a Christmas song "Oh, Sing a Song of Bethlehem".
Keith: dulcimer solo
Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, from his "Chansons pour la Jeuness".
In some Slavic countries, this is a traditional Easter song. It is inspired
by Pleetcheev's words and tells a story of Jesus as a young boy. A group
of bullies come into His garden and, in jest, force Him to wear a crown
of roses they fashion from the bushes. It is a foreshadowing of the future
and the price He is to pay for man's rebellion.
Lauren: dulcimer
Keith: guitar
Martheine Birkle: fiddle
An English country dance, although some claim it is Scottish. On its way
to America, country dancing took a detour through France where it became
Contra dancing. Lauren had taken some liberties with her arrangement of
it, making it no longer danceable. It is her favorite song.
Lauren, Aaron & Elise Plaskonos: vocals
Keith: guitar and dulcimer
We know very little of "The Fox" except that it is old and a lot
of fun to sing.
Lauren: dulcimer
Keith: guitar
A delightful contemporary piece written by Frank Mills in 1983.
Lauren: vocals
Keith: guitar
This song is based on a bit of prose written by a woman named Harriet Farley,
who must have known firsthand what it was like to work in the mills of Lowell,
Massachusettes. It was published in the Lowell Offering, the mill newspaper,
in 1841. Bob Coltman discovered the poem and put it to music in 1989. The
first verse is nearlyverbatim.
Lauren: dulcimer
Keith: guitar
Martheine: violin
Anonymous, although there are rumors that it was composed by none other
than HenryVIII. It first appeared in "an anonymous set of diversions
for bass violin, dated 1659". (Carrie Crompton, "Hammer Dulcimer
Solos").
Keith: dulcimer and guitar
Lauren: tambourine
We regret that in the actual CD liner notes we
failed to credit Martheine for her fiidle work on this piece. Thanks Martheine.
Keith learned "Green Mountain Petronella" from Eric Lincke in
1992. It is a traditional dance always danced to this melody. "Swingin"
on a Gate" is one of those traditional American fiddle tunes that can
be found in just about everyone's collections of traditional music.
Lauren: vocals
Keith: guitar
This song is NOT a waltz. It is NOT even about waltzing. And it is NOT the
national anthem of Australia. It requires a little translation.
A swagman is an itinerant worker. This one is waiting by a billibong, a small body of water, for his billy, or dinner, to boil. He is waltzing matilda, or touring around the country looking for work. Down to the billibong comes a sheep, or jumpbuck, just in time to complete his meal. As he is stuffing it in his tuckerbag, the squatter, or actual owner of the land (and probably the sheep) shows up with the troopers. Cherishing his liberty, the swagman jumps to his death in the billibong, where his ghost is still heard.
Lauren & Keith: dulcimer
Traditional Ukranian Christmas song. Words by Peter J. Wilhousky, music
by M. Leontovich. We play this as a duet on the same dulcimer, which takes
a little choreography. This looks impressive and seems to touch many peoples'
hearts. In truth, we do it on the one dulcimer so we don't have to tune
two...
Lauren: vocals
Keith: dulcimer
Haunting Scottish love song. It tells the story of a woman lamenting her
lover's departure to America during one of the great migrations.
Keith: dulcimer and guitar
Martheine: violin
Swedish Waltz often played in fiddle contests. Keith's favorite waltz.
Lauren: vocals and tambourine
Keith: dulcimer and guitar
Martheine: fiddle
A classic member of the family of both cuckoo and gambling songs from our
traditional heritage. We owe much of this arrangement to the storyteller,
David Holt.
Lauren & Keith: dulcimer.
Written by J.S. Bach from his famous chorale "Cantata no. 147".
Like "Carole of the Bells", we play this on the same dulcimer
and try to stay out of each other's way.
Lauren: vocals
Keith: guitar, dulcimer and penny whistle
By Henry C. Wouk. You may well recognize this song from your youth, particularly
if you were a scout. It is standard campfire fare.
Keith: dulcimer and guitar
Lauren: tambourine
Two traditional American fiddle tunes.
Keith: solo dulcimer
By Will L. Thompson (1847-1909). This beautiful American Hymn entreats the
listener to come home, to Jesus.
Lauren: vocals
Keith: guitar
This is a traditional Swedish song of friendship. The words mean:
Who can sail without the wind? Who can row without oars?
Who can bid goodbye to a friend without shedding any tears?
I can sail without the wind. I can row without oars.
But I can't bid goodbye to a friend without shedding any tears...
Please feel free to contact us at the following address:
Keith & Lauren Plaskonos
4608 Calmont Ave.
Ft. Worth TX 76107
(817) 731-2051
E-mail: keith.g.plaskonos@sbcglobal.net
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