Hymns of the Morning: Shenandoah -- "The provenance of the song is unclear"

Arlo Guthrie sounds like every parody ever made of his singing. Try this song on for size:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZsO348BOW0

I think you probably had this here on American Digest, some time back, perhaps?

Posted by Jewel at August 12, 2013 11:50 AM

Howard Terpning is America's greatest living artist.

Posted by Mizz E at August 12, 2013 12:03 PM

Some truly wonderful art.

That song always reminds me of the opening of the West and Lewis and Clark. A time when men lived free and survived on their wits and toughness. (Even without a Leatherman tool.) :-)

Posted by Jimmy J. at August 12, 2013 4:56 PM

Any voice above that of a baritone singing this song is practically sacrilegious.

Posted by Joan of Argghh! at August 12, 2013 5:12 PM

I like your idea of teaching American heritage/history through music and art. I learn a lot. Your commenters suggest even more.

The use of astronomy to reinforce Latin and Greek would be fun also. I had to look up "Perseid week end" and looked for the meteor shower Sunday.
"It's all good." as the kids say.

Thanks for sharing.

Posted by Grace at August 12, 2013 5:25 PM

What... no "Alice's Restaurant"?

Posted by Cletus Socrates at November 28, 2013 6:07 PM

Traditional?

Try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWu_kQUdef4

Posted by Rob De Witt at November 28, 2013 8:11 PM

I'm surprised at you all. The strings are beautiful, and Guthrie's raw, wistful rendering of the tune has the honesty of something played around a frontier camp fire.
Alice's restaurant was over a decade ago, now wasn't it? Give the guy a break. ;)

JWM

Posted by jwm at November 29, 2013 3:51 PM

Exactly so, JWM. Exactly so.

Posted by vanderleun at November 29, 2013 6:51 PM

Very nice. Check out Van Morrison's rendition, too, from Long Journey Home.
Traditional Thanksgiving Hymns:
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
We Gather Together
For the Beauty of the Earth
Now Thank We All Our God
All Things Bright and Beautiful
My Country, Tis of Thee (not really a hymn, but it's often sung at services)
There may be some more :)

Posted by Bunny at November 23, 2016 10:08 AM

Two more suggestions for Bunny's "traditional Thanksgiving hymns" pile: "All Creatures of Our God and King" and "Seek Ye First." Also, while I applaud the sentiment behind reserving Shenandoah for baritones (because I am one), Peter Hollens (tenor) acquits himself well here: https://youtu.be/0NmKp5A8i3M

Bonus: Suzy Bogguss (much-missed chanteuse who was big in the Nineties) with this version: https://youtu.be/D38WOzizk98

Posted by Patrick O'Hannigan at November 23, 2016 11:51 AM

I do truly appreciate the male voice singing this song, but come fall in love with Sissel Kyrkjebø, as she sings Shenandoah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5grgB-dV2o

I think Missouri is one of the prettiest words in our language.

Posted by Electra at November 23, 2016 12:15 PM

I finally listened to the Arlo Guthrie version all the way through and it grew on me past the first verse. And as JWM states, the strings are lovely, the voice is honest.

Then, I clicked over to the best voice since Linda Rondstadt and heard Suzy Bogguss at the link above. So lovely!

Posted by Joan of Argghh! at November 23, 2016 7:05 PM

My favorite hymn for Thanksgiving isn't a hymn, but "All Good Gifts" from Godspell. It's amazingly apt.

Posted by Joan of Argghh! at November 23, 2016 7:16 PM

Here is a male voice that speaks to the sea-chanty theme best of all. Not accompanied by strings or sopranos...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khxx3sCVhtE

Posted by foodog at November 26, 2016 5:47 AM