Search - Donnelly Atwater :: Where the Wild Birds Do Whistle

Sweet, poignant folk songs, beautifully rendered

C. K. Smith | New England, USA | 02/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Atwater-Donnelly is a nationally-acclaimed folk duo who perform throughout the U.S. year-round. Aubrey plays mountain dulcimer, mandolin, guitar, pipe whistles, and banjo (among other things), and Elwood plays guitar, dulcimer, harmonica, and a wide variety of percussion instruments. As they travel and perform, they collect traditional Appalachian, celtic, and spiritual folk songs, and then render them anew in exquisite collections which resonate with the times in which we live now. Both Aubrey and Elwood are also accomplished songwriters, and they frequently include an original song or two, and sometimes Aubrey's poems, on their CDs.On this 1997 CD, their beautiful blend of acoustic instruments (mountain dulcimer, guitar, and banjo), vocal harmonies, and an eclectic but fascinating collection of accenting instrumentation (bones, jaw-harp, accordian, etc.) converge to take us on a journey which makes us smile ("Johnny Be Fair"), muse ("Forgiveness"), and pine ("Pretty Saro," certain to touch anyone who has experienced star-crossed love). There is something here for anyone who enjoys beautifully played acoustic music.If you like this CD, you may wish to purchase their live CD ("And Then I'm Going Home"), which contains a very wonderful collection of fun and spiritual songs, and their newest release, "The Blackest Crow" (2004; Rabbit Island Music), which proves that the best musicians continuously evolve. All Atwater-Donnelly recordings prove that the best music improves with age-- both in recordability and listenability. I never tire of listening to anything they've done."

Wonderful listening for fans of traditional folk

Garrett Fitzgerald | Brewer, ME USA | 02/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Each of Aubrey and Elwood's albums has gotten better. This latest one is wonderful to listen to: my daughters have been sung to sleep by this tape almost all their lives."