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An American lutenist in Munich is asked by a German festival to put together a program of early American music
TOO OFTEN, programs of American early music are presented almost as anthropological efforts in preserving a native folk music tradition. But Joel Frederiksen is no Alan Lomax, and Rose of Sharon (Harmonia Mundi HMC 902085) is no Smithsonian Folkways recording. It's a collection of 100 years of American song, from the Revolution to William Billings to note singing to Shaker songs to the Civil War revivals, all performed by Ensemble Phoenix Munich directed by Frederiksen.
The American lutenist recalls one of the first reviews of the CD, which ran in a German magazine, "It looked at the music in a very arrogant kind of way, dismissed it, and said, 'It took America a really long time, until at least Charles Ives, to really develop its own voice.' I didn't know if I should throw the magazine that I was holding in my hand against the wall or if I should burn it or stomp on it. I thought, 'What an idiot!' First of all, Charles Ives loved American music - he loved the early stuff."
And while Frederiksen says some of the early pieces might be a bit...