We have a summer ritual of recording our work in a small church in an 18th century country village near where we live. The church has hardwood walls that give a warm full acoustic, an American echo of our years performing in romanesque churches in France and Spain. We're happy to report we got our recording done before the first frost--an unheated church is no place for a guitarist in November! Here we share our journey through fall colors, old New England, and the magic of sound and song...

The Great Deep: songs of transition
new works by Frank Wallace
gyremusic.com

Duo LiveOak
Nancy Knowles, mezzosoprano
Frank Wallace, 10-string classical guitar

For the last fifteen years as Duo LiveOak we have been collaborating as composer and poet to produce our own new body of art song with classical guitar. This period has also witnessed the decline and death of both of our mothers, and the slowing of our fathers, now in their mid nineties. Our new CD, The Great Deep, honors this, their last journey. It turns to the wisdom of their favorite poets for inspired song texts such as Merlin's words below, Shakespeare's Our Revels Now are Ended, and John Donne's sermon For Whom the Bell Tolls, all accompanied by Frank's rich 10-string classical guitar. You'll hear echoes of myriad styles in Frank's original compositions, from classical to medieval to the blues to avant garde.

'Rain, rain, and sun! a rainbow in the sky!
A young man will be wiser by and by;

An old man's wit may wander ere he die.

Rain, rain, and sun! a rainbow on the lea!

And truth is this to me, and that to thee;

And truth or clothed or naked let it be.

Rain, sun, and rain! and the free blossom blows:

Sun, rain, and sun! and where is he who knows?

From the great deep to the great deep he goes.'

From The Coming of Arthur by Alfred, Lord Tennyson