Winter Charm of Lasting Life, a traditional Scottish folk song performed by Zambra Zambra 2024-11-28 | Purchase our music at zambrasingers.bandcamp.comWinter Charm of Lasting Life is a traditional Scottish waulking song. This song would have been sung while newly woven wool cloth was “waulked” by women around a table. As they worked, the wet cloth would be pounded and passed from hand to hand. This process would make the wool fibers knit together to produce a tight, weather resistant fabric. Women would take turns to sing improvised verses as they worked a piece of cloth. The transcription of this song and its original verses can be found in Sam Henry’s book, "Songs of the People," titled simply, “Waulking Song.” Mr. Henry traveled around the countryside in Ireland for many years collecting Irish and Scottish folk songs which he transcribed and published. The song we now know as Winter Charm of Lasting Life is dated 1935 in his collection. It is remarkable that 90 years later, this song continues to touch hearts. We are grateful for Mr. Henry’s work, which preserved so many of these old songs for generations to come. Three of our Zambra singers learned this song decades ago at a live performance by Johnny Cunningham and Susan McKeown. The verses of this song, like many traditional songs, have evolved over time. Susan McKeown adapted some of the verses in Sam Henry's version with blessings from the Carmina Gadelica, a collection of old Scottish charms and prayers. The “children’s verse” in our recording was co-written by our singers, Laura Reeve and Kathleen Loveless. The three part arrangement in this video was created for Zambra by Kathleen Loveless."Winter Charm of Lasting Life" is featured on our most recent album, Gathering In, which is available on our website. Visit us at: zambra.orgLyrics:White the sheep that gave the woolGreen the pastures where they fedBlue and scarlet side by sideBless the warp and bless the threadMay the charm of lasting lifeBe upon your flocks in fullFrom the hill where they restMay they rise both whole and wellBless the man who wears this clothMay he wounded never beFrom the bitter cold and frostMay this cloth protection beBless the children warmed withinThree times three our love enfoldPeace and plenty may they findMay they grow both wise and boldNow is waulked the web we've spunWinter storms may rage in vainBless the work by which we wonComfort from the wind and rainWhite the sheep that gave the woolGreen the pastures where they fedBlue and scarlet side by sideBless the warp and bless the thread Conducted by Kathleen LovelessCinematography by Andy Zenczak and Shannon CecilVideo directed and edited by Kathryn VeditzAudio mixed by Andy ZenczakRecorded and filmed in Santa Cruz, California.
Love is Little, a traditional Shaker song performed by Zambra Zambra 2025-02-16 | Purchase our music at zambrasingers.bandcamp.com“Love is Little” is a traditional Shaker song. The Shakers created many lovely hymns, and this song dates to the 1850s. Cellist and composer (and dear friend) Barry Phillips first wrote this arrangement of Love is Little for the Santa Cruz-based ensemble Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chant Choir, who were kind enough to share it with us many years ago. It has been a staple of our live concerts ever since. We love its gentle reminder of the importance of those small acts of love. The world needs them, now more than ever. Thank you, everyone, for bringing your light, your love, your kind acts of mercy.Love is little, love is low,Love will make my spirit grow,Grow in peace, grow in light.Love will do the thing that’s right.Guitar: John HopkinsArranged by Barry PhillipsAudio mixed by Andy Zenczak Video produced and directed by Kathryn Veditz Cinematography by Andy Zenczak and Teo MorrellRecorded by Zambra in Santa Cruz, California. For more information, contact: zambra.org
Now is the Cool of the Day, performed by Zambra, composed by Jean Ritchie Zambra 2024-10-27 | Purchase our music at zambrasingers.bandcamp.com"Now is the Cool of the Day" was composed by Kentucky-born singer and mountain dulcimer player Jean Ritchie (1922-2015). The title phrase comes from the book of Genesis, where Adam and Eve hear God walking in the "cool of the day" in the garden of Eden. We first heard Now is the Cool from the singing of a group of women led by Bay Area musician Kay Eskenazi. When we contacted Jean back in 2001 about this beautiful song she was very supportive and graciously agreed to let us record it. Thank you, Jean!Lyrics:My Lord he said unto me,“Do you like my garden so fair? You may live in this garden if you keep the grasses greenAnd I'll return in the cool of the day.”Now is the cool of the dayNow is the cool of the dayOh, this earth is a garden,the garden of my LordAnd he walks in his gardenin the cool of the dayMy Lord he said unto me,“Do you like my garden so pure? You may live in this garden if you keep the waters cleanAnd I'll return in the cool of the day.”Now is the cool of the dayNow is the cool of the dayOh, this earth is a garden,the garden of my LordAnd he walks in his gardenin the cool of the dayMy Lord he said unto meDo you like my garden so free? You may live in this garden if you keep the people freeAnd I'll return in the cool of the dayNow is the cool of the dayNow is the cool of the dayOh, this earth is a garden,the garden of my LordAnd he walks in his gardenin the cool of the dayTrio voices: Janet Herman, Kathleen Loveless, and Laura ReeveArranged for Zambra by Kathleen LovelessConducted by Janet HermanAudio mixed by Andy Zenczak Video produced and directed by Kathryn Veditz Cinematography by Andy Zenczak, Teo Morrell, Kathryn Veditz and Hank Niles Recorded by Zambra September 21, 2024 in Santa Cruz, California. Special thanks to Christine and Ron Barrington, and Hank and Nancy Niles.For more information, contact: zambra.org
Zeleneye zhyto, zelene (Зеленеє жито, зелене), a traditional Ukrainian folk song performed by Zambra Zambra 2024-10-05 | This song is a celebration of the harvest and the coming together of friends and family. Winter rye, which is the fastest-growing plant in the spring, is harvested green to feed to the cattle after the winter. If the winter rye is green and juicy, it means that the cattle will be strong.We sing this song with the earnest hope for peace in Ukraine and all those impacted by war. Translation:Зеленеє жито, зелене, Green is the rye, it is green, Хорошії гості у мене. Good guests are here with me.Зеленеє жито женці жнуть, The rye is green, the reapers reap,Хорошії гості мене ждуть. My good guests are waiting for me.Зеленеє жито, зелене, Green is the rye, it is green, Хорошії гості у мене. Good guests are here with me.А вже ж тая хата всім мала, And already this house is too small,Бо уся родинонька прийшла. Because my whole family has come together.Зеленеє жито, зелене, Green is the rye, it is green, Хорошії гості у мене. Good guests are here with me.Зеленеє жито за селом, The rye is green beyond the village,Хорошії гості за столом. My good guests sit at my table.This song was performed and recorded live by Zambra on September 9, 2024 in Santa Cruz, California. Conducted by Katie LovelessVideo produced and directed by Kathryn Veditz Cinematography by Andy Zenczak and Teo Morrell Audio engineered and mastered by Andy Zenczak Special thanks to Christine and Ron Barrington, Hank and Nancy Niles, and Andy Zenczak.For more information, contact: zambra.org
Don Oíche Úd i mBeithil, a traditional Irish carol performed by Zambra Zambra 2023-12-21 | Purchase our music at zambrasingers.bandcamp.comDon Oíche Úd i mBeithil is a traditional Irish song performed and recorded live by Zambra on December 4, 2023 in Santa Cruz, California.Conducted by Janet HermanAccompanied by Kim Lambert (harp) and John Hopkins (guitar)Musical direction by Katie LovelessTranslation:To that night in Bethlehem will songs be ever sung.To that night in Bethlehem when God’s saving Word was born,A warm glow blushes in the sky, the earth is cloaked in white,See Jesus in the cradle, and his mother in love’s delight.Upon the barren hillside the shepherds kneel in fear.At the bright opening of the skies, God’s messenger appears.“Great glory now to the Father, up in the heavens so high,Goodwill and peace to all below,” Oh hear the angels cry! Produced by Kathryn Veditz Cinematography by Andy Zenczak and Shannon CecilVideo directed and edited by Kathryn VeditzAudio engineered and mastered by Andy ZenczakThe choral arrangement of this traditional Irish song is based on the variant taught to us by Ulster Irish singer Mary McLaughlin, which appears on her album A Gaelic Christmas. (www.marymclaughlin.com)For more information, contact: zambra.org
Zambra: Cuando El Rey Nimrod Zambra 2022-12-15 | Zambra performs Cuando El Rey Nimrod at Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz, California on December 18, 2009. Soloist: Laura Reeve For more information visit:zambrasingers.bandcamp.comzambra.org
Dona Nobis Pacem by Zambra Zambra 2022-12-12 | The audience joined us in our final song at St. John's Episcopal Church in Aptos on December 11, 2016. Hearing all the voices of our guests singing with us lifted our hearts. We hope you will sing along too! Accompanists are Shelley Phillips, Deby Benton-Grosjean, John Hopkins, and the members of Community Music School of Santa Cruz Teen Band. Please visit us to find out more:zambrasingers.bandcamp.comzambra.org
Ukrainian Lullaby by Zambra: Oy Khodyt Son Kolo Vikon/Ой ходить сон коло вікон #standwithukraine Zambra 2022-07-18 | Please help the children of Ukraine: unicefusa.org/what-unicef-does/where-unicef-works/europe/ukraine?form=FUNGNXBYXDHOy Khodyt Son Kolo Vikon is a traditional Ukrainian lullaby performed by Zambra on June 1, 2022 in Santa Cruz, California. Kim Lambert: harp Edwin Huizinga: violin Christine Barrington: solo voice Music arranged by Kathryn Veditz Cinematography by Andy Zenczak and Chip Yamada Produced by Kathryn Veditz Directed, edited and engineered by Andy Zenczak The singers of Zambra gratefully acknowledge Andy Zenczak’s generous donation of his time to record, film, and direct this project. For more information, contact:http://www.gadgetbox.nethttp://zambrasingers.bandcamp.comzambra.orgОй ходить сон коло вікон Oh, sleep walks by the windowsА дрімота — коло плота And the dream by the fenceПитається сон дрімоти: Sleep asks the dream:Де ми будем ночувати? Where will we spend the night?Де хатонька теплесенька Where the cottage is warmДе дитинка малесенька Where the baby is tinyТам ми будем ночувати There we will spend the nightІ дитинку колиcати And rock the babyОй на кота та воркота Oh, the kitten will purrНа дитину та й дрімота The baby will dreamКотик буде воркотати The kitten will purrДитинонька буде спати The baby will sleep
