During the early weeks of November, when it still feels too early for Christmas music, I listen to the CD, "Simple Gifts: Instrumental Arrangements Of Shaker Melodies," by William Coulter and Barry Phillips. The CD features appealing, old-school instrumentation of guitar, cello, mandolin, and dulcimer, while conjuring up images of a harvest. The two strongest tracks, to my ears, are "Square Check Tune/When Cheer Fills The Hearts Of My Friends" and "My Robe Is New/Mother Ann's Song."
Another track suitable for the weeks close to Thanksgiving is The Band's "Book Faded Brown." The song's theme of family unity and respect for what has gone before fits Thanksgiving well. If "The Waltons" had been set in a later era, "Book Faded Brown" would have been an appropriate theme song.
Stay tuned for actual Thanksgiving music--Yes, it does exist--recommendations tomorrow.
