Wendy Schwartz, soprano
Don Books, piano
CHARLES IVES (1874 -- 1954)
Track 1 The Greatest Man
My teacher said us boys should write about some great man, so I thought last night about heroes and men that had done great things; and then I got to thinkin' about my Pa. He aint a hero or anything; but, pshaw, say he can ride the wildest hoss and find minners near the moss down by the creek and he can swim and fish. We ketched five newlights me and him. Dad's some hunter, too. O my, Miss Molly Cottontail sure does fly when he tromps through the fields and brush. Dad won't kill a lark or thrush.
Once when I was sick and though his hands were rough, he rubbed the pain right out. "That's the stuff," he said, when I winked back the tears. He never cried but once and that was when my mother died. There's lots of great men, George Washington and Lee, but Dad's got 'em all beat holler. Seems to me.
Memories
Track 2 a) Very Pleasant
We're sitting in the opera house awaiting for the curtain to arise with wonders for our eyes. We're feeling pretty gay and well we may. "Oh Jimmy, look" I say. "The band is tuning up and soon will start to play." We whistle and we hum, beat time with the drum. A feeling of expectancy, a certain kind of cstasy. Expectancy and ecstasy. Shhhhh.
Track 3 b) Rather Sad
From the street a strain on my ear doth fall, a tune as threadbare as that old red shawl. It is tattered. It is torn. It shows signs of being worn. It's the tune my uncle hummed from early morn. 'Twas a common little thing and kinda sweet but 'twas sad and seemed to slow up both his feet. I can see him shuffling down to the barn or to the town, a humming.
Track 4 West London
Crouched on the pavement close by Belgrave Square, a tramp I saw, ill, moody and tongue-tied. A babe was in her arms and at her side a girl. Their clothes were rags. Their feet were bare. Some labouring men whose work lay somewhere there passed opposite. She touched her girl who hied across and begged and came back satisfied. The rich she had let pass with a frozen stare. Thought I: above her state this spirit towers. She will not ask of aliens but of friends, of sharers in a common human fate. She turns from the cold succour which attends the unknown little from the unknowing great, and points us to a better time than ours.
Track 5 Charlie Rutledge
Another good cow puncher has gone to meet his fate. I hope he'll find a resting place within the golden gate. Another place is vacant on the ranch of the XIT. 'Twill be hard to find another that's liked as well as he. The first that died was Kid White, a man both tough and brave, while Charlie Rutledge makes the third to be sent to his grave, caused by a cow horse falling while running after stock. 'Twas on the spring round up, a place where death men mock.
He went forward one morning on a circle through the hills. He was gay and full of glee and free from earthly ills, but when it came to finish up the work on which he went, nothing came back from him. His time on earth was spent. 'Twas as he road the round up, a XIT turned back to the herd. Poor Charlie shoved him in again. His cutting horse he spured. Another turned. At that moment his horse the creature spied and turned and fell with him. Beneath poor Charlie died.
His relations in Texas his face never more will see but I hope he'll meet his loved ones beyond in eternity. I hope he'll meet his parents, will meet them face to face, and that they'll grasp him by the right hand at the shining throne of grace.
Recorded in
Vanguard's 23rd Street Studio
New York City
Jeff Zaraya, engineer
1977
p and c 2011 Wendy Schwartz
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Charles Ives: Psalm 90 (1894/1901, rev. 1923/1924)by TheWelleszCompany2,035 views
Beautiful job. Your voice is beautiful. You sing with much feeling. These songs can't be easy to sing. but you did a wonderful job. Piano was great too. Hope you keep on singing......
biketowork1 5 months ago