The Blackest Crow, an oldie song, trad

[Jean Pierre]

Part two Christmas Musical Work shop with family  Cécile et Guillaume        



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXKdyvxycJg

Historical note (wiki)
 
The origin of The Blackest Crow is hard to pin down. It is also known as My Dearest Dear and The Time Draws Near . The tune was heard in both Appalachia and the Ozarks after the Civil War, although no recordings of it have been found in the early years of commercial music. Most of the lyrics still in use today appear in Carl Sandburg's The American Songbag (1927) under the title The Lover's Lament.
This song is attributed to Scottish immigrants

Current knowledge of the song has developed primarily through the teachings of fiddler Tommy Jarrell (1901-1985) who included it in his early repertoire as My Dearest Dear . Contemporary artists who have recorded The Blackest Crow include Jean Ritchie, Tim O'Brien, Laurie Lewis, Bruce Molsky and Uncle Earl .

Bruce Molsky's version with Julie Fowlis was used as the inspiration for this song.

Recorded live in my attic home studio in Savoie, France

Guillaume vocal, guitar,whistle, dobro, mandoline
Cécile, vocal, Uke Bass
JP Low whistle in D, Bodhran

Je vous souhaite à tous une bonne fin d'année, avec beaucoup de musique et moins de Covid

   

[Hook]

Wow! this is something special, a wonderful family jam. So beautifully done, the lap steel, flute,the mandolin, the harmonies...I can't single one thing out. It's all spectacular, well done brother.
Rock on!

[The Gobi Desert Canoe Club]

Yeah loving this, great harmonies. So good to hear old folk songs like this.
The Gobi Desert Canoe Club

[Mike_S]

Beautiful JP, what a family get together, you are a lucky man. this turned out beautiful and pretty powerful tune at this time of year.

Mike

[guitarron]

This is really great. Loved it.

[Jean Pierre]

Thank you guys, in fact although I play blues, rock and french songs my heart music is the one of irish, scottish, english emigrated to the United States from the XVIth century to the XXth century

...I must have some Celtic blood in my genes

https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Societe/ADN-ethnique-la-passion-des-origines-1644882

[StephenM]

I think the Beatles met up with a celtic band and did a recording... not only is the music great and wonderful...but the vocals are very special...
nicely done all!!!!

[Jean Pierre]

Merci Stephen

As I just read Doug's (Desofree) very interesting technical notes on his cover "Every thing I own", I added here a technical note about "The Black Crow".

it's the only song (unfortunately we had the time, too short, to do during the visit of our children and grandchildren for the end of the year

Cecile and Guillaume are fond of this kind of music...we recorded it in one session starting with the strumming guitar track (on the metronome), then Guillaume added the main voice, then we stacked the voice 2 tracks
bass (after a try with the fender precision bass, Cecile opted for the Uke bass, the mandolin is played by Guillaume with a Harley Benton mandolin, then the dobro, then the high wisthle
I then recorded the low whistle in D, and the Bodhram

the recording was dry without effect, I know that C and G prefer the raw mixes without effect
I personally find it a bit flat, so secretly, once they were gone I made a mix using, on Reaper, the plug ins Wave (that a colleague graciously "lent" me)


recorded on Reaper, on 13 audio tracks separated by rerecording

Effect voice 1 and 2
CLA vocal
H reverb long of wave
API 2500 from Wave (dynamic compressor)
L1 Ultramaximiser from Wave (limiter and level maximizer)
the instruments go on an effect track with Reaver
on the bodhram I used the L1 maximizer to be able to raise the volume without hitting the red

for the guitar reaverb and JS Exciter (JS are the generic plug ins of Reaper

for the Melodica H reverb and H Equ from wave

for the bass Uke, I just realized that I didn't use any effect)

on the mastering track I put a composite chain containing
PuigTec EQ P1A Stereo from Wav (Designed and created for full range equalization, the EQP-1A includes four low boost/cut frequencies, three high cut frequencies and seven
(Designed for wideband equalization, the EQP-1A includes four low boost/cut frequencies, three high cut frequencies, and seven high-frequency boost points, as well as a bandwidth control for shaping the high boost curve).
SSL Stereo Wave Compressor

[Farrell Jackson]

You have a very talented family, including you JP! I've not heard this song before so thanks for the background info. on it. I do like hearing folk music done well and you did just that...well done JP and family! The vocals are a real standout here.

[BerryPatch]

Magnifique chanson JP! You and your family have many great talents in music and you guys created magic here. I love the strong Celtic flair and the layered production. Your notes on the production are great to read through. Excellente!