This is the first of what we hope will be a series of collections of songs relating to our home state of Virginia.  We hope they inspire your love of Virginia as much as they do us!

Instrumentation

Music from “The Stingray Point Story:”  A collection of original songs composed for the 400th anniversary of the arrival of John Smith’s shallop at the present-day Stingray Point, Virginia, where the Rappahannock River meets the Chesapeake Bay.

1.  *Crossing the Chesapeake: This is the first tune Bob wrote on his new hurdy-gurdy, and people tell us it's reminiscent of a morris dance.  We used this theme to represent the English crew of the shallop that carried Smith and his men in their circumference of the Chesapeake Bay.  Features hurdy-gurdy, recorder, cittern, and bodhran.

2.  *Chesapeake Lament:  A slower, sadder version of the former, used at appropriate places in the narrative.  Features hurdy-gurdy and bodhran.

3.  **John Smith’s Theme: Jeanne wrote this one in the style of dance tunes commissioned by great figures of Shakespeare’s time.  It has a bit of a fanfare feel to it, to suit Smith's personality.  Features recorder duet, cittern and bodhran.

4.  **John Smith’s Lament:: A slower, sadder version of the previous song, played at the moments where Smith thinks he will perish from being stung.  Features recorder, hurdy-gurdy and bodhran.

5.  **Amosens’ Theme: Amosens is the name given in the narrative to the young native girl who, along with her grandfather, observes the European sailors.  The song uses a heartbeat rhythm and is performed on the three kinds of native instruments mentioned in Smith's Generall Historie:  woodwind (aerophone), drum (membranophone), and gourd rattle (idiophone).

6.  **Roll, Rappahannock: This sea chantey mentions actions you would take while sailing a shallop.  Features hurdy-gurdy, recorder, cittern, and bodhran.

Learn more about “The Stingray Point Story” at http://www.deltavilleva.com/museumpark/

Music from “It Happened In The White House:”  The music collection prepared for storyteller Lynn Ruehlmann’s dramatic presentation of true stories of the lives of the eight Virginia presidents and their wives, near the banks of the Potomac River.

7.  Yankee Doodle:  Features concertina, recorder, autoharp, and mountain dulcimer.

8.  The Rose Tree:  A favorite reel in the time of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.  Features concertina, recorder, autoharp, and mountain dulcimer.

9.  The Eighth of January:  This tune commemorates the last major battle during James’ Madison’s presidency.  Features jew’s harp, harmonica, bodhran, and mountain dulcimer.

10.  La Marseilles:  The French national anthem recalls James Monroe’s doctrine, which led to the breaking of ties with our revolutionary ally.  Features recorders and bodhran.

11.  Garryowen:  This tune was a favorite of troops like those who served William Henry Harrison.  Features concertina, recorder, autoharp, and mountain dulcimer.

12.  The Girl I Left Behind Me:  A tune popular during the presidency of Harrison’s successor, John Tyler.  Features concertina, recorder, autoharp, bodhran, spoons, and mountain dulcimer.

13.  Hard Times Come Again No More/Oh, Susannah:  These tunes by Stephen Foster were popular during Zachary Taylor’s brief term.  Features melodeon, jew’s harp, recorder, and mountain dulcimer.

14.  Over There:  George M. Cohan wrote this song to rally American troops during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson.  Features melodeon, spoons, and recorder.

15.  Hail To The Chief: Features melodeon, recorder, bodhran, spoons, and mountain dulcimer.

Learn more about “It Happened In The White House” at http://www.cascadingstories.com/

*Tracks 1-2 ©2008, Bob Zentz   **Tracks 3-6 ©2008, Jeanne McDougall

All arrangements ©2008, Bob Zentz & Jeanne McDougall

Thanks to our musical family and friends for supporting us in this project::  Bryan, Skye, Joe, Meg, Alex and Nora;  and Todd Washburn at Washburn Mastering, Norfolk VA.

Instrumentation:

Bob Zentz: (vocals 5;  hurdy-gurdy 1-2, 4, 6;  cittern 1, 3, 6;  bodhran 1-4, 6, 9-10, 12, 15;  concertina 7-8, 11-12;  autoharp 7-8, 11-12;  harmonica 9;  jew’s harp 9, 13;  melodeon 13-15;  spoons 12, 14-15)

Jeanne McDougall: (vocals 5, recorder 1, 3-4, 6-8, 10-12, 13-15;  doumbek 5;  gourd rattle 5; mountain dulcimer 7-9, 11-12, 13, 15)

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