Mark O'Connor: American Classics

The first collection comprised solely of traditional American songs that Mark O'Connor has released since Soppin' the Gravy, from his teenage years. It includes beloved folk songs, fiddle tunes, and classic themes from 400 years of traditional American violin playing, and pulls from all regions of North America and from diverse musical styles including classical, folk, Latin, jazz, rock, and ragtime. The music ties into the repertoire for the O'Connor Method, an approach to music education that The New Yorker calls "an American grown rival to the Suzuki method."

Notes & Reviews:

Recording information: Sean Swinney Studios, New York, NY (06/09/2011-06/10/2011).

The country and bluegrass fiddler Mark O'Connor has been a pioneer in the institutionalization of American vernacular styles, participating in various symphonic and chamber music projects, and establishing an impressive range of educational activities. He has headlined or participated in various recordings involving country-classical or folk-classical fusions (including Yo-Yo Ma's Appalachian Journey). This release lies between his marquee career and his educational empire. It was released in conjuction with a new volume of his O'Connor method violin instruction books, and the arrangements heard are taken directly from that volume. They're straightforward versions of familiar tunes from a large variety of traditions: old-time fiddle music, ragtime, jazz minstrelsy, labor song ("We Shall Overcome" is the representative here), religious music, patriotic songs, spirituals, and more. The piano accompaniments, played by Rieko Aizawa, are in the simple parlor mode of the 19th century. The emphasis is on the diversity of the American tradition rather than on virtuoso performance, and O'Connor's project becomes more and more interesting in this respect as he develops it further. Undeniably, no one has attempted anything of this scope since Dvorák's day, and those intrigued by that, as well as actual students of O'Connor's method, will enjoy this album. For those more interested in the end result, check out one of O'Connor's more extensive classical pieces, such as "Fanfare for the Volunteer." ~ James Manheim

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Works Details

Lampe, J. Bodewalt : Rubber Dolly Rag

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 1 min. 59 sec.
Period Time: Modern

Rosas, Juventino : The loveliest night of the year

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 2 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Waltz
Written: 1891

Traditional, Canadian : Rippling Water Jig, traditional dance melody

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 1 min. 17 sec.

Traditional, Jewish : Hava Nagila

Performers: Rieko Aizawa (Piano); Mark O'Connor (Violin)
Running Time: 1 min. 54 sec.

Traditional, American : Herman's Hornpipe

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 1 min. 32 sec.
Period Time: Romantic

Carmichael, Hoagy : Lazy River

Performers: Rieko Aizawa (Piano); Mark O'Connor (Violin)
Running Time: 1 min. 56 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Vocal

O'Connor, Mark [Violin] : Rain Clouds, for violin & piano

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 2 min. 44 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

O'Connor, Mark [Violin] : Congress Hoedown, for violin & piano

Performers: Rieko Aizawa (Piano); Mark O'Connor (Violin)
Running Time: 1 min. 31 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

Traditional Spiritual : Deep River

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 2 min. 42 sec.
Written: by 1875

Traditional, American : Liberty

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 1 min. 19 sec.
Period Time: Classical

O'Connor, Mark [Violin] : In the Cluster Blues, for violin & piano

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 1 min. 34 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

Cortez, Quirino Mendoza y : Jessie Polka

Performers: Rieko Aizawa (Piano); Mark O'Connor (Violin)
Running Time: 2 min. 7 sec.
Period Time: Modern

Joplin, Scott : The Entertainer

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 2 min. 40 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1902

Traditional, American : Grey Eagle

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 1 min. 23 sec.
Period Time: Romantic

O'Connor, Mark [Violin] : March of the Pharaohs, for violin & piano

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 3 min. 17 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Form: March

Reinhardt, Django : Daphne

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Notes: This work was written in collaboration with Stéphane Grappelli (1908 - 1997).
Running Time: 1 min. 58 sec.
Period Time: Modern

Foster, Stephen : Swanee River

Performers: Rieko Aizawa (Piano); Mark O'Connor (Violin)
Running Time: 3 min. 11 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Vocal
Written: 1851

Traditional, American : Boil 'Em Cabbage Down

Performers: Rieko Aizawa (Piano); Mark O'Connor (Violin)
Running Time: 1 min. 17 sec.

Traditional, American : We Shall Overcome, hymn

Performers: Rieko Aizawa (Piano); Mark O'Connor (Violin)
Running Time: 3 min. 7 sec.

Traditional, Shaker : Simple Gifts

Performers: Rieko Aizawa (Piano); Mark O'Connor (Violin)
Running Time: 3 min. 27 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance
Written: 18th Century

Ward, Samuel Augustus : America the Beautiful

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Rieko Aizawa (Piano)
Running Time: 3 min. 2 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Form: Choral
Written: 1895

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