Album Notes

Folk Songs and Fiddle Tunes volume two

I was about twelve years old when I first picked up my sister Kit's sunburst "Stella" guitar and began playing the tunes in her collection of songbooks. Sitting in the family room with my young sisters and brothers, singing songs that made us laugh and wonder...songs that link us to our humanity...past, present, and future.

Contrasting the strength and independence of "Sweet Betsy from Pike" with the weary homesickness of Civil War soldiers in "Tenting Tonight", these songs are as relevant to us today as they were to folks a hundred years ago.

From the opening "Oklahoma Waltz" to the closing "Westphalia Waltz", and every ballad and fiddle tune in between, this recording is a small sampling of the timeless quality of American Folk Music. We are a nation of immigrants - part of the "melting pot" - we share the culture and traditions of every nation and race on our planet. Folk Music can bring us together to celebrate our diversity!

Let's get back to the family room. We
could listen to this recording, or better
yet, get out the instruments and
songbooks. Let's sing!

Fiddlin' Pete