A few weeks ago, we got an intriguing email from our friend Jennifer Cutting. We know Jennifer through our work with the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, where she works, but she’s also the bandleader for a fabulous Celtic folk-rock group called OCEAN (OceanOrchestra.com). Jennifer was writing to ask us to create an arrangement of an original song called The Turning Year, which will appear on OCEAN’s next CD, due out in December!
We are always excited to work on commissioned pieces, and we’re sharing two tracks with you today: headlining this post is our first draft recording, made in the kitchen over many cups of tea. 🙂 We’re headed to the studio to make an official recording this weekend, and we’ll certainly share that with you when it’s ready, but we wanted to give you an early look at the piece so you can hear how it develops over time. One change you’ll probably notice when we have the final track is that there will be more than just our four voices–this arrangement will eventually feature the voices of OCEAN as well as Windborne, but for now we’ll let you guess where and how the other singers will weave into the mix.
The other cool thing about this piece is it will actually appear on OCEAN’s CD twice! The second track (attached at the bottom of this post) is the original version of The Turning Year, which Jennifer sent us to use as a jumping-off point. That track, with instrumental accompaniment and a lyrical solo voice, will close out the CD, but Jennifer asked us to write a Windborne version that takes the song in a different direction to be the first track on the album. We were getting a pub sing vibe from the lyrics and structure of the song, so we leaned into that for our all-vocal arrangement.
It’s a little early to wish you a happy new year, but if you start practicing now, maybe this will be the piece we can all sing to welcome in 2022! 🙂
THE TURNING YEAR
Words by Jennifer Cutting, Melody by Mick Ryan, adapted by Jennifer Cutting
Oh, kind companions gathered here, all at the turning of the year,
The hour grows late, our hearts grow fond, in melody shall be our bond.
We live in hope, we pray for peace, we meet with joy the year’s new lease,
The falling snow, the icy moonlight shining clear,
So let us sing to welcome in the turning year.
Now Yule is past, the old year fades; time heals all wounds, or so they say.
Though battle-scarred, we will prevail; we hold the pen that writes the tale.
Do not regret the flow of years; for there is naught that disappears;
Our every kindness written large, among the stars;
So let us sing to welcome in the turning year.
The tallest trees, the barest boughs, the callow choir of earnest vows.
Whatever boon we ask of life, we ask it here, we ask it now.
So let us toast to absent friends; to those we’ve hurt, let’s make amends;
And those we love, let’s set them free, yet hold them near,
And let us sing to welcome in the turning year.
The minutes pass, the hour strikes, the mighty flares light up the night
Now let us raise a festive glass, that all we hope may come to pass.
I wish you joy, I wish you peace, I wish you health, but more than these
The power to know, just what to keep and what let go.
So let us sing to welcome in the turning year.
Let us sing to welcome in the turning year.
