"Farewell to Sicily" orh & alfstone cover Hamish Henderson

[alfstone]

Well...there would be much to say about this...anyway...

Some time ago I suggested to James that there was a song linking someway our lands, Scotland and Sicily, and it had to do with WW II. The song is "Farewell to Sicily", with lyrics composed by Hamish Henderson on the traditional Scottish tune "Farewell to the Creeks".

Due to the actual War Songs fest, I thought it was the right moment to cover this song, that I discovered many years ago in the version by Bert Jansch.

When James sent me his version, I was speechless, and it sent chills down my spine. So, the difficult task to me was at that point to add "something" to the song, without making damage to James's wonderful interpretation. I hope I've succeeded to...

So, thanks James for your magic version. Probably it's better if you post the lyrics...

Thinking about it, it's a wonderful thing that James and me could make this one together. The DREADFUL thing is that, ideally, James's father and mine fought themselves on the different sides of the barricades.

Alfredo

[Oldrottenhead]

  not what i expected at all.

[64Guitars]

Fantastic! That's the most realistic virtual bagpipes I've ever heard. Usually they sound more like an organ or accordion than bagpipes. But this sounds so real. What did you use?

[alfstone]

Hi 64,

absolutely NO Band in a Box, this time. 

Bagpipes and drums are virtual instruments:

- EastWest Quantum Leap Rare Instruments for the bagpipes-highland pipes and uillean pipes...yes,there are all three of them together, AND I recorded them twice to obtain a full sound

- EastWest Quantum Leap RA for the military drums.

These VST run inside Kontakt, and I drive them all with  my Godin Freeway SA equipped with the Fishman TriplePlay.

I have to add that unfortunatley my copy too of Audition falled (as most of European versions of this software) in the sudden and crazy *Audition +15 db bug*, and unless at Adobe they will find soon a solution, I'll have to go some other way for mixing/mastering       

https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1589142

Alfredo

[kenny mac]

Now this is very ,very classy indeed.
I was drawn in from the word go.
Great collab guys.

[Geir]

Fabulous, just fabulous!!!j

[Hook]

The hairs on my arm were standing up and waving lighters in the air. This is a really amazing recording guys, well done.
Rock On!

[Groundy]

Just beautiful, well done ,,,,Alex

[Pine]

Posts like this are what make these indie sites so magical.

That vocal intro so solemn and heartfelt with that subtle background instrumentation.

Then the 'pipes and the drums come in...goosebumps! Wonderful song, tribute, and collab gentlemen. Well mixed and fine production. Thoroughly enjoyed this!

Pine

[bruno]

Can't add to what has already been said. Super.
B