Album Notes

PETER OSTROUSHKO FINDS HIS "HEARTLAND"
IN A NEW CD RELEASE


"Heartland Holiday-Live at the Fitzgerald," a beautiful and unique collection


(Minneapolis, Minn.) ? Peter Ostroushko has found the heartland. Not by using map coordinates, not with a compass. In an exquisite new CD, Heartland Holiday-Live at the Fitzgerald (Borderland Productions), he splendidly shows the way and proves the point: the heartland is within each of us.

"It's the place where we keep our memories," Peter explains. "The scrapbook of our days. Where we look at the old snapshots, like the old neighborhood where we ran with our friends. The park where we hit that first home run. The unwrapping of presents on Christmas morning. The first crush. That first kiss. ... It's the place where our dreams are born and where we know there is hope for the future."

No other holiday collection is quite like this one. There are traditional Ukrainian songs: "Dobryj Vechir Tobi," "Oj, Syvaja Zozulen'ka," "Shchedryk" (Carol of the Bells), and a medley of "Oj, v Petrivochku" and "A Hazdo, Hazdo," combined with the 18th-century English folk carol "The Holly and the Ivy."

There are Ostroushko compositions-the ethereal "La Luna" and the elegant "The Christmas Bells of Belfast," inspired by a trip to Ireland. There is a Finnish song, "Oi Tunjuska," and a medley of Brazilian choro tunes.

There's "Wandering Boy," learned from the singing Kentucky legend Roscoe Holcomb, and a stirring, a cappella version of the Appalachian hymn "Bright Morning Stars."

There's even a Bob Dylan tune, "Girl from the North Country."

And there are favorites like "I Wonder as I Wander," "Stille Nacht "(Silent Night), and " Carol of the Drum" (Little Drummer Boy).

Ostroushko, who won and Emmy for the score of Minnesota: A History of the Land (Twin Cities Public Television), is one of the most accomplished instrumentalists and gifted composers of his generation. His vocals, fiddling, and incomparable mandolin playing on this live concert recording are complemented by a top-flight team of singers and musicians: Ruth MacKenzie (vocals); Tatiana Riabokin (vocals); The Nowytski Sisters, Natalie and Olenka (vocals); Dan Chouinard (piano, accordion); Arkadiy "Arkan" Yushin (guitar, dobro); Joel Sayles (vocals/bass); Marc Anderson (percussion).

Wherever your particular "heartland," you'll find Peter Ostroushko's Heartland Holiday-Live at the Fitzgerald perfect fare for the holidays -or anytime.

WHAT: Peter Ostroushko's new CD, Heartland Holiday - Live at the Fitzgerald


STREET DATE: November 6, 2005

FOR INTERVIEWS OR MORE INFORMATION: 612.529.2884

TO CONTACT BY MAIL: Peter Ostroushko, P.O. Box 11952, Minneapolis, MN 55411

WEB SITE: www.peterostroushko.com


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