November 20, 2013
CD GIVEAWAY! The Sounding Joy by Elizabeth Mitchell and Friends
I fell in love with Elizabeth Mitchell’s music when Harriet was a baby, and suddenly the whole world was a richer, sunnier place. Her music is the soundtrack to our family life, and I love that with her folk songs she gives us roots, but also keeps us rocking out to covers by Lou Reed, David Bowie, and Van Morrison. I love how she brought us Remy Charlip. “Alphabet Dub” on her You Are My Sunshine album is hands-down the best version of the ABCs ever.
Her latest is an album of Christmas songs, The Sounding Joy. And you can listen to a preview here, the song “Children, Go Where I Send Thee (Little Bitty Baby: A Cumulative Song)”.
More about the album for Smithsonian Folkways:
Grammy-nominated recording artist Elizabeth Mitchell releases The Sounding Joy, ann exploration of Christmas and solstice songs from the American folk tradition. Drawn almost exclusively from the often overlooked but deeply influential songbook of revered composer and anthologist Ruth Crawford Seeger, these songs evoke an era before mass media and the commercialization of Christmas, when sacred song, dance, contemplation, and gathering were prized above all else during the holiday season. Mitchell’s fifth album for Smithsonian Folkways, The Sounding Joy features husband Daniel Littleton, daughter Storey, and special guests Peggy Seeger, Natalie Merchant, Amy Helm, Aoife O’Donovan, Gail Ann Dorsey, Larry Campbell, Dan Zanes, and John Sebastian, among many other family, friends, and neighbors. This gorgeously reverent 24-song collection attempts to save these traditional American holiday songs from an “unmarked grave,” as Merchant puts it in her essay included in the liner notes.
Although the songs presented are specific to the Christian tradition, Mitchell’s husband Daniel Littleton cites the inclusive nature of the project, describing the assembly of musicians as an “ecumenical summit” of sorts, with participants of many religious and non-religious backgrounds coming together happily to bring the songs to life. Mitchell sums up the spirit of the album best in her notes: “However you and your loved ones celebrate the last month of the year, I hope it is filled with the sounds of joy.”
And even better than news of a brand new Elizabeth Mitchell album? Why, that Smithsonian Folkways has provided me with a CD copy to give away to one of you. If you leave a comment on this post by midnight November 30, I’ll include your name in a random draw to win the CD.
**Congrats to Suss. Thanks to all who entered. Hope you’ll get your own copies. It’s a really lovely album.
We love Elizabeth Mitchell! Please include us!
Elizabeth Mitchell is so much fun! I first was introduced to her by watching her hulla hoop making video on SouleMama’s blog. Can only imagine what fun her Christmas CD would be.
Please, please! Elizabeth Mitchell’s voice and song has been a soundtrack to our family, too. Certain songs of hers bring back specific times of my children’s babyhood so strongly. I’ve always hoped she’d do a Christmas album. How exciting for all of us!
As you kindly introduced us to Elizabeth Mitchell, we too, would love to hear her new CD. Thanks!
We love the Smithsonian Folkways records. So much goodness captured for us. Thanks for including my name in the draw.
We have not heard of her or any of her stuff but sounds right up our alley! We have enjoyed fellow Torntonian, Kathy Reid -Naiman’s folk songs for kids!
Always interested in your finds Kerry. I am going to check out her music and would love to be entered in your draw 🙂
Yes, please! Love this.
yay for Elizabeth Mitchell!
Would be fantastic to win this prize for the holidays!
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeeeeaaat the sounding joy. And send me the CD hehehe….
We love her! Thanks for including my name. Fun!
As a new mum looking for music our whole family will enjoy, I’d love to be included in this draw. Plus, Christmas is my favourite time of year. 🙂
Wonderful blog, by the way! I’m so impressed by your ability to keep writing so well during the early exhausting months of motherhood. It’s inspiring.
Us too please! Have been meaning to check her out, on your recommendation, and haven’t done so yet. Now I am reminded. x
I’ve enjoyed Elizabeth Mitchell since you introduced me to her four years ago; her songs are lovely and enjoyable for those of all ages 🙂 I recently gave one of her CDs to a friend who just had her 2nd baby and she let me know that her 2 year old CANNOT go to sleep without hearing some of Elizabeth Mitchell’s music!
Oooh! Count us in, thanks!
Oh! Count me in too. I’ve been looking for a new Christmas CD and this sounds perfect. Now I need to go pick up some of her other music. I love learning about musicians I haven’t discovered yet.
We are big EM fans too, and I am finally remembering to leave a comment with less than two hours to go!