Harvest Time

Part of the work of autumn is gathering and sorting. Part of that is reflection, as well. These photographs, which were taken in Tallahassee, Florida, and Austin, Texas, remind me of these ideas and this work.




Music to go along includes Hanneke Cassel’s album Some Melodious Sonnet, and Jay Ungar and Molly Mason’s The Lovers' Waltz.


Neither of them is meant to be descriptive of autumn, but each holds within ideas which go well with this turn in the year's time. Ungar, who plays fiddle, and Mason, who is a guitarist, draw on landscapes and reflections and history to create a tapestry interwoven with searching, consideration, discovery, and continuation. Especially take a listen to Mountain House and The Contradance.

Hanneke Cassel’s music is grounded in Scottish style fiddle with flavors of American folk tradition and Irish music added to the mix. That is all well apparent on Some Melodious Sonnet from the lifting pace of the set that opens with Pauline Connelly's and continues through Dog Bites Chapman, and the set that links the Scottish trad of Pigeons on the Gate to Cassel’s original Mrs. Joyscream. There are quieter pieces as well leading to the closing hymn from which the title phrase arises, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. You need not know tune names or style, though, to find this recording, and Lovers’ Waltz as well, good companions for autumn’s work.

It is the turn of the year in Celtic legend, too. If you would care for some Irish music to go along, here are ideas for that.

you may also wish to see
Music Road: Hanneke Cassel: For Reasons Unseen
Music Road: reflections with Adrienne Young
Music Road: season of change: music for autumn


and Delicious Baby's Photo Friday, where travelers offer new insights to the world each Friday

-->Your support for Music Road is welcome and needed. If you are able to chip in, here is a way to do that, through PayPal. Note that you do not have to have a PayPal account to do this. Thank you.