Have you ever been told that you can't sing, or to just sing a little bit...softer? Do you think there is a place for you in the choir? Of CHORUS there is!! Yurtfolk's first CD, entitled “Anyone Can Sing” celebrates everyone’s right to be able to sing.
The CD is a mix of styles aimed at children and their families. It contains traditional and contemporary American folk tunes, caribbean-style dance tunes, lullabies, and songs with a Spanish flavor. We hope there is something there to enjoy for people of all ages.
This CD is self produced, right down to designing and making our own paper covers! We designed the front cover to be able to be colored and encourage folks to send us pictures of your colored version.
Brian plays every instrument in this CD (acoustic nylon-string and steel string guitars, baritone ukulele, piano accordion, banjo, harmonica, washtub bass and spoons) with the exception of his son Harley (age 6) who plays the violin and Special Guest Michael Overman who plays steel drum.
Brian recorded this CD in his neighbors' bedroom. Had the CD been recorded in their yurt, the listener would have heard (depending on the season): crickets, cicadas, owls, spring peepers, tree frogs, morning doves, coyotes, snorting deer, the occasional pheasant or helicopter, cars peeling out at our rural intersection, Amish families on their horse and buggies,...hmmm....not a bad idea—be on the look-out for their next CD “Yurtside”.
If you want to hear another CD that Brian recorded on CD Baby go to Kentucky T. Dutchersmith's CD “You're not Going Far,” where you can hear Brian and LuAnne on vocals, as well as Electic Guitar and Percussion by Brian.
About Yurtfolk:
LuAnne Harley and Brian Kruschwitz are “Yurtfolk” and make their home in Indiana where they live in a yurt. A yurt is a dwelling that originally was designed to be somewhat portable for the nomadic herders in the high, windy plains of Mongolia. They hold great affection for travel, living simply and experiencing other cultures. They spend a lot of time singing, creating, and reading books to their children.
Here are the song descriptions for “Anyone Can Sing”:
Anyone Can Sing
The title song was inspired by themes presented in “Horace and Morris Join the Chorus (but what about Dolores?)”, a children's book written by James Howe. You will hear a number of voices representing animals who would be sad to be told not to sing their unique songs.
Three Tone Deaf Mice
Studies show that one in twenty people have amusia (tone deafness). That didn't stop these mice from singing. Watch out Alvin and the Chipmunks! Listen to these three mice sing a remake of the original “Three Blind Mice”.
I Had a Little Overcoat
Based on Simms Taback's book, “Joseph and the Little Overcoat”, which is about many things: creativity, resourcefulness, and thinking outside the button! As Joseph's clothing becomes worn out, see if you can guess at what point he finally stops creating something “that was almost new...”
Hola, Doña Pepita
A popular Spanish greeting in rhyme. Even if you don't know a lick of Spanish, you're likely to start singing along with this one.
I've Been Working on the Railroad
This traditional song is introduced by a clip taken from Yurtfolk sound archives of then-three-year-old Zachariah Benevento.
La Playa/The Beach
A quirky little love song in Spanish and English.
With a Little of You
A song about our human interdependence.
Lagongon Maria Gongon
You will hear the names of three children of a dear friend who grew up with this song in the Basque region of Spain. Her teachers sang this to students during class on their birthdays.
The Dreamer, the Tree & Me
A story in song about a dreamer, written by Kathy Sherman, who planted a date tree knowing she wouldn't live long enough to see the tree come into fruition. “For I've always known that we must live by the love of what we may never see.”
Go to Sleep My Darlin'
This song is a lullaby, but is perhaps better described as a rockaby, as it thinks through how animals go to sleep, and then closes with wishes to dream of a world of peace.
Early (Greg Brown)
Our children request this “firefly song” for bedtime; it speaks of the beauty of small towns (as in Early, Iowa). Joyfield Farm songbirds accompany this song.
Twinkleby
Papa and son Harley (on violin) recorded this lullaby together.
Good Night, Sleep Tight
Our family sings this song to each other before going to sleep. During cool spring nights, these frogs accompany us.
Read more...