The Days Gone By: Songs of the American Poets, Vol. 1

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It couldn't have been an easy assignment, to marry a smattering of much-loved poems by classic American authors to music. That Ted Jacobs tackled the task so handily on The Days Gone By, a country- and bluegrass-leaning collection that expertly evokes the image-rich landscapes and fanciful musings of five great American poets, is one more reason to appreciate this project. Six solo vocalists of widely varied inclinations interpret the child-friendly works by Emily Dickinson, Eugene Field, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Edgar Allan Poe, and James Whitcomb Riley. Michael Sherwood performs the sentiment-stirring opening and closing tracks (Riley's "The Days Gone By" and Field's "Some Time"); he could pass for Peter Gabriel with a paternal bent. Tahkus Ekedal, singer of both Dickinson selections ("Will There Really Be a Morning?" and "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers"), besets her songs with an appropriate sense of wonderment in an unadorned child's voice. And David Vidal takes listeners deep into the American heartland of days gone by on Riley's "When the Frost Is on the Punkin" and Poe's "Eldorado," his Dobro-accented, harp-heavy numbers. Besides the poetry, whose every last syllable could easily be committed to memory by careful repeat listeners, what's really worth celebrating here is the music. Jacobs didn't skimp on instruments, throwing in everything from congas to clay shakers to djembe to bodhran, all the while keeping each track uncluttered. It's a shame to say so, but American poetry enthusiasts with a sure distaste for even the occasional twang ought to pass on The Days Gone By. On the other hand, those whose love of Americana extends beyond poetry to bluegrass, with its plucky, apple-pure, down-homey punch, are apt to be doubly delighted. --Tammy La Gorce

From Parents' Choice®
Turning 19th century poetry into music for kids? What a concept. And how beautifully, even breathtakingly executed.

Producer, composer, musician Ted Jacobs has followed up his lovely album, "A Child's Garden of Song," the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson, with absolutely inspired musical renditions of poetic visions by James Whitcomb Riley, Poe, Longfellow, Emily Dickinson, and Eugene Field. Jacobs' matches singers' voices and folk, country and classical ballad styles to poems carefully selected... read more

The Days Gone By: Songs of the American Poets, Vol. 1

The Days Gone By: Songs of the American Poets, Vol. 1, Music, Ted Jacobs, Children's, Children's Folk, Childrens, Pop

Average customer rating:

Poetry is music--music is poetry

A surprising gem of an album; you will fall in love with it

A Comforting Way to Bring Closure to the Day

So lovely it hurts!

Gorgeous Music for Children and Aduts alike

The Days Gone By: Songs of the American Poets, Vol. 1
Ted Jacobs
Manufacturer: Music Little People
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music
Folk Music | Children's Music | Styles | Music
General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00004UDDH
Release Date: 2000-08-01

Tracks:

The Days Gone By
Eldorado
The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls
Will There Really Be A Morning?
The Arrow And The Song
When The Frost Is On The Punkin
Alone
The Sugar-plum Tree
Hope Is The Thing With Feathers
Wynken, Blynken, And Nod
Some Time

Amazon.com

It couldn't have been an easy assignment, to marry a smattering of much-loved poems by classic American authors to music. That Ted Jacobs tackled the task so handily on The Days Gone By, a country- and bluegrass-leaning collection that expertly evokes the image-rich landscapes and fanciful musings of five great American poets, is one more reason to appreciate this project. Six solo vocalists of widely varied inclinations interpret the child-friendly works by Emily Dickinson, Eugene Field, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Edgar Allan Poe, and James Whitcomb Riley. Michael Sherwood performs the sentiment-stirring opening and closing tracks (Riley's "The Days Gone By" and Field's "Some Time"); he could pass for Peter Gabriel with a paternal bent. Tahkus Ekedal, singer of both Dickinson selections ("Will There Really Be a Morning?" and "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers"), besets her songs with an appropriate sense of wonderment in an unadorned child's voice. And David Vidal takes listeners deep into the American heartland of days gone by on Riley's "When the Frost Is on the Punkin" and Poe's "Eldorado," his Dobro-accented, harp-heavy numbers. Besides the poetry, whose every last syllable could easily be committed to memory by careful repeat listeners, what's really worth celebrating here is the music. Jacobs didn't skimp on instruments, throwing in everything from congas to clay shakers to djembe to bodhran, all the while keeping each track uncluttered. It's a shame to say so, but American poetry enthusiasts with a sure distaste for even the occasional twang ought to pass on The Days Gone By. On the other hand, those whose love of Americana extends beyond poetry to bluegrass, with its plucky, apple-pure, down-homey punch, are apt to be doubly delighted. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Poetry is music--music is poetry.......2006-07-19

This CD is amazing---I don't know if I can express the range of emotions that I experienced listening to it. Poetry has a rhythm, and these poems are wonderfully intrepreted through the music and melodies on this album.
I hope I can find Vol.2 soon. My children and I listened to each piece, and then tried to guess which poet wrote it. They were inspired to memorize some of the poems, and they will have no trouble doing just that because we'll be listening to this album often.
The cd is for children, but the music is definitely inspiring for moms and dads too.

A surprising gem of an album; you will fall in love with it.......2002-04-05

Have you ever stumbled on an album where you just want to check it out and end up being blown away when you discover you have a real gem on your hands? I noticed "The Days Gone By" set poems by American Poets to music. Ever since "Hair" set Shakespeare's "What a Piece of Work Is Man" to music I have been entrigued by turning poems into songs, especially since I have a serious problem with my poetic soul. Chances are you will recognize a few of the poems that serve as lyrics on this album, with "The Arrow and the Song" by Longfellow the prime choice for the poem some teacher made you read once upon a time; I remember Poe's "Eldorado" from the John Wayne western where the James Caan character would periodically favor us with a relevant verse at various times during the action.

Most of the music on this album is written by Ted Jacobs, who has has co-writers on a few songs, with "Wynken, Blynken and Nod" by Eugene Field featuring music by Lucy Simon. What impresses me the most are all the varied styles Jacobs employs on this album (think Lloyd Webber doing Eliot's poems for "Cats"--only better). "Eldorado" is done in western style while Riley's "When the Frost is on the Punkin" is pure country; both of these songs feature some guitar playing with serious attitude, which is important because it shows these are legitimate songs, not just incidental music to accompany poetic recitations. Some of the best songs on this album feature beautiful harmonies, such as Laura Dallvo on Field's "The Sugar-Plum Tree" as well as Tahkus Ekedal and Amy Deegan on Dickinson's "Hope is the Thing with Feathers."

Teachers of poetry should absolutely love this album, unless they are absolute purists who turned off their radios at the start of the British invasion. If these songs do not help students make the connection between lyrical poetry and song lyrics, nothing ever will. Of course, you do not have to have students to enjoy this album, because it stands up just fine on its own. Actually, I would dearly love to hear "Eldorado" played on some C&W radio stations so the DJ can tell everybody, "Time for a little Edgar Allen Poe." You have to admit, Ted Jacobs has a most impressive array of lyricists.

I actually had listened to this album a couple of times before I noticed it was a Music for Little People production. Of course, this does not surprise me because I have found the CDs they put out for children to be absolutely wonderful. The only thing is that this clearly says "Volume One," which implies more of the same should be coming down the road one day...

A Comforting Way to Bring Closure to the Day.......2001-04-01

It was with great anticipation our family awaited this CD. Ted Jacobs first CD was such a delight--uplifting, refreshing, and infectious. We wondered aloud if he could meet the high standard he had set for himself. We were not to be disappointed.

The rich warm music is filled with just the right instruments and vocals. The voices and rhythms so beautifully suited to the original poetry. The warm, rich, gravelly voice that sings of "the days gone by" compels me to reach out and hold my child's hand and feel the pleasure that has passed between us--indeed, "my happy heart brimmed over" as I considered the days gone by.

What a treasure this work is, what a lovely way to bring the images of these poets into our families. I can only imagine that emily, eugene, henry, edgar and james are smiling happily as they tap their toes to the musical interpretation of their timeless prose. May Ted Jacobs live long and continue to share his gift of translating poetry into music for children of all ages.

So lovely it hurts!.......2000-09-24

These songs have a haunting, gentle beauty that makes my heart ache. The title song has a voice that reveres its own words. And all the songs sweep over me like the soothing sound of rain on the roof. All the artists who contributed can know that what they have created is a gift to the world that is truly appreciated.

Gorgeous Music for Children and Aduts alike.......2000-09-08

The Days Gone By: SOngs of The.....by Ted Jacobs is in a class all by itself, ( excepting Ted's first album A Childs Garden of Song). The poetry and music are equally beautiful. Mr. Jacobs and his group of muscians have captured the innocence and magic of childhood. I particularly admired the instrumentation: harmonica, violin, recorder and percussion. There is nothing simplistic here, nothing innane. Just pure beauty. Adults and children will find themselves listening over and over again to Mr. Jacobs haunting and charming melodies.

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