One Clear Voice Singing/Early Fields-Jean Ritchie

Subject: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: GUEST,greenbeer
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 12:07 PM

My friend AnnaLee Scully sings a song by Jean Ritchie which she cannot remember all the lyrics for. She remembers the title as One Clear Voice Singing. Can anyone help us out with either the lyrics or the official title of the song?

TIA

greenbeer

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: MMario
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 12:16 PM

*grin* I suspect there is at least one member of Mudcat that could help you with that.

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: GUEST,greenbeer
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 12:20 PM

...keeping my fingers crossed! :)

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: CapriUni
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 12:25 PM

Okay, any bets on how soon that one member will be find this thread? [big grin]

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: IanC
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 12:35 PM

I don't bet ... I PM ... Fee fi fo fum... ;-)

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: GUEST,greenbeer
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 05:48 PM

i think i catch your drift! !! slowhead here

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Greenbeer
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 05:52 PM

updated my profile so i now do not show up as Guest....

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 06:24 PM

Greenbeer, just in case Jean isn't watching, could you give us what you recall of the lyrics? It may help us find the song.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: ADD: One Clear Voice Singing - Jean Ritchie
From: Greenbeer
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 11:00 PM

.... well it turns out AnnaLee has remembered them...! lol
but she could use some confirmation if any one can supply it!
thanks to all,
greenbeer.

Here they are:

as i walked over the early fields
i heard a song a bornin'
it fell around me like the rain
that washes off the morning

oh i love the pipe and i love the drum
i love the wild harp ringing
but there's none on earth can e'er match the sound
of one clear voice
singing

it filled the wood it filled the sky
it filled the fields around me
so far away no one er could i see
and yet the song it found me

so far away the words were dim
but e'er i knew their gladness
i knew their peace i knew their pain
i knew their joy and sadness

oh i love the pipe and i love the drum
i love the wild harp ringing
but there's none on earth can e'er match the sound
of one clear voice
singing

and so i walk the fields alone
while evening shadows linger
but a better journey have i had
in searching for the singer

oh i love the pipe and i love the drum
i love the wild harp ringing
but there's none on earth can e'er match the sound
of one clear voice
singing

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: CapriUni
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 11:05 AM

Lovely song!

Jean, if you're out there, I notice this discussion hasn't spawned links to versions of this in the Mudcat Shop...

Where may we find it?

Subject: ADD: Early Fields (Jean Ritchie)
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 04:11 PM

Well I never...Ian alerted me on my personal page, otherwise I might not have noticed that someone was requesting one of MY songs!

The lyrics given are very near to being right. The song is entitled, Early Fields, and may be found in my book, CELEBRATION OF LIFE (now under revision, but we have a few of the originals left). I'll just write it out here, though, for those that might want it:
^^

EARLY FIELDS
(Jean Ritchie)

As I walked over the early fields
I heard a song a-bornin;
It fell around me like the rain
That washes off the mornin.

O I love the pipes, and I love the drum,
I love the wild harp ringin,
But there's naught on earth can e'er match the sound
Of one clear voice, singin!

It filled the wood, it filled the sky,
It filled the fields around me.
So far away, no-one could I see-
And yet the song, it found me...

So far away, the words were dim,
And still I knew their sadness,
I knew their peace; I knew their pain,
I knew their joy and gladness.

O I love the pipes and I love the drum,
I love the wild harp ringin;
But there's naught on earth can e'er match the sound
Of one clear voice, singin!

And still I walk my fields in vain
As evening shadows linger,
But a better journey have I had
In searching for the singer...

O I love the pipes, and I love the drum,
I love the wild harp ringin;
But there's naught on earth can e'er match the sound
Of one clear voice, singin!

(Jean Ritchie Geordie Music Pub. Co.)

Greenbeer, please give my love to AnnaLee- now THERE'S a voice! It has been many years since we met at a festival at the top O' the country somewhere! Just ought to explain that somehow it didn't seem right to sing the words, "ringing" and "singing," so I took the "g's" off as we usually do in Kentucky."

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 04:35 PM

And best regards to Annalee fro me too.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Alice
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 04:48 PM

Jean, thanks for posting the song here. Beautiful.
Alice

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 05:16 PM

Jean, is a recording of the song available on a CD? I checked your website, but didn't find it listed.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: harpgirl
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 06:34 PM

would it be sung...one clear voice "a" singing????? like lover is "lovyer"?

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Big Mick
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 06:46 PM

We are blessed in these parts, are we not, folks?

Mick

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Greenbeer
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 07:48 PM

Thank you so much Jean! Annalee will be thrilled that you responded here! I will certainly pass on your love to her. You too Art!

greenbeer

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 08:24 PM

No, Harpgirl- I don't think 'a-singin' would be right here; it doesn't seem to me to go with the rest of the poem somehow. There's more power and meaning in the line as it is:...one clear voice- SINGIN! Makes the music the important thing that 'the voice' is doing...? I put a tiny bit of hesitation before that last word, 'singin.' Well, I don't claim to be a poet and I don't write nor read music- it's all feelings with me. If you want to say 'a-singing,' I guess that's up to YOU! I won't object- not so you can hear it, anyway. Jean

P.S. Joe, the only recording I have made of this one is on an audiocassette we put together ourselves of songs taken from live performances around the country, called, "Jean Ritchie Concert." This was for folks who did not want a produced record but wanted something that sounded like what I actually do in concert (no band, etc.). We do not offer this on the website, and it is strictly just a tape- not a CD. We haven't had any made up in a long time- have a few around.

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 10:55 PM

wow. from the Horses' Mouth, as it were. I am so impressed........thank you Jean.

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Big Mick
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 11:18 PM

I repeat, ................ we are blessed. Could I please get an Amen?

Mick

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: CapriUni
Date: 30 Jul 02 - 11:37 PM

Amen and hallelujah!!

To live in such a world is joy!

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: IvanB
Date: 31 Jul 02 - 01:53 PM

Guess I've got to get a new copy of Celebration of Life. I checked my copy (1971) when this thread started and the song wasn't in it. This has been one of our family's favorite and most used songbooks. It's in tatters with most of the pages loose, but I'm pretty sure it's still all there. Thanks for the words, Jean, and, Mick, amen!

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Banjer
Date: 31 Jul 02 - 08:27 PM

AMEN, Blessed indeed. Not many places can one go and be in direct touch with a such a wonderful person as Jean. Her sharing of her works and the encouragement she gives to beginners is outstanding!!! God Bless you, Jean!! Ray

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 03:02 PM

IvanB- You have a first edition- Celebration of Life was first published by Big3, and it was such a work of art- great blacked-out spaces throughout- and heavy paper which immediately separated at the seams and each of those first books just fell apart...pretty, tho! As I recall it won a prize for design that year.

The second edition was done through Oak Publications and holds up very well...we took out some of the big black spaces and took out one or two songs, added a few others- that's when, "Early Fields" got in. We're now working on a revision ourselves (Geordie Music Publishing Co.) making it yet a bit more tailored. We thought we were down to 15 copies, but just found a box of 50; I guess they'll last until the new edition comes out, so we've left it on the website. Best to all, Jean

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 03:05 PM

P.S. Thanks to all for your good words and Amens- but enough already! Jean

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: open mike
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 12:26 AM

how wondergful to know what good company we are in here- http://www.jeanritchie.com/ and congrats, jean for nat'l endowment heritage fellowship! will you come out to calif for the strawberry music fest? twice a year--each memorial and labor day weekends...we'd love to have ya!! www.strawberrymusic.com-

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: DonMeixner
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 12:51 AM

I've heard a bunch of Jean Ritchie songs over the years and they are pretty OK. She writes good but she don't hold a candle to that 'Than Hall.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Alice
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 11:02 AM

Click here for the songbooks, including Celebration of Life. http://folklife.net/books.htm

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 06:08 PM

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: GUEST,kkmpetersburg
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 05:03 PM

DEAR PEOPLE, I LOVE EARLY FIELDS. i want to sing it so bad. but.... i need the sheet music. i am looking for the edition of celebration of life that has this song in it. i ordered an edition from my library in order to find the right edition and that one did not have the song in it. where can i get a copy that has the song i love in it. i also want to let jean ritchie know how much of a fan i am of hers. what an inspiration you are to all of us who took our dulcimers out of the closet, off the wall, and out from under the bed to begin again playing in our later years. i am loving it. so glad you are still here with us. you are amazing. and now that i have read your celeberation of life i see you are even more than i thought; a poet, justice activist, songwriter, besides, an amazing dulcimer player. thanks for being, there and for being such an inspiration to me. blessings, kate

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: GUEST,Heather
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 05:29 PM

I have the score Jean sent it to me a few years ago. How can I get it to you? Heather

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: GUEST,GUEST,kkmpetersburg
Date: 14 Apr 12 - 10:59 PM

DEAR HEATHER, i am so sorry i haven't looked this thread up for so long. little did i know someone would answer me, and so quickly. i hope you will check again. what would be the best way to get the music to me. i am so excited that you have a copy. would email work for you. how about calling me and then we can work out the details. i'm a little worried to put my email out on the internet. i have been in the hospital and also a daughter of mine has had some health problems. i believe that is why i have been distracted from my music. i hope to hear from you soon. kate at 217 622 7781 blessings, kate

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: GUEST
Date: 31 May 12 - 11:36 PM

DEAR HEATHER, how can we get back in touch. i would love to have the music to 'one clear voice singing'. blessings, kate i posted my phone number way back when on the mudcat blog. hope to hear from you again. thanks

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: GUEST,Heather
Date: 01 Jun 12 - 09:02 AM

Hi Kate I have only just seen your reply I will be in touch soon Best wishes Heather

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 01 Jun 12 - 10:02 AM

The music to this is in Jean's songbook, but I'd love to hear any recording folks have of it actually being sung. Do you sing it, Heather?

Dan

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 04:11 PM

Hello Yes Dan, I sing it - I love it. What a fabulous song. Don't know whether I do it justice but I give it some welly.
Heather

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: maeve
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 04:34 PM

Dan, I bought Jean's songbook "Celebration of Life" in a Mudcat auction as a replacement for one that burned. Early Fields is not in this edition (1971). What edition do I need to look for, do you know?

Maeve

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: IvanB
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 08:51 PM

maeve, I just checked my copies of Celebration. As I said earlier in this thread I have the original which is completely fallen apart, but still there. I picked up a newer copy from Abebooks last year and it has "Early Fields" on page 45. It still has only the 1971 copyright reference, but it was distributed by Music Sales Corporation and the copyright at the bottom of page 45 says 1980, so this edition must have been sometime about then or thereafter.

The ISBN is 0-8256-9676-3.

Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: maeve
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 09:29 PM

Thank you, IvanB. I'll watch for a copy of the 1980 edition.

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: IvanB
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 10:00 PM

I probably didn't express myself well, maeve. The copyright date of 1980 given at the bottom of page 45 is for the song "Early Fields" only. The book itself has no indication of its printing date, just the 1971 copyright date on the title page. I'll see if I can find the ISBN on my original copy to compare against the one I gave above.

Just one Abebooks seller has a copy in stock right now and the listing really doesn't provide enough info to know if it's the original or a newer edition. I've messaged the seller to ask for the ISBN and distributor's name and I'll let you know what I hear back.

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: maeve
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 03:28 AM

Very kind of you, IvanB. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: maeve
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 07:21 AM

Having reread the thread while awake I see that Jean already given us some information:
*********************
"Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: kytrad - PM
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 03:02 PM

IvanB- You have a first edition- Celebration of Life was first published by Big3...

The second edition was done through Oak Publications and holds up very well...we took out some of the big black spaces and took out one or two songs, added a few others- that's when, "Early Fields" got in. We're now working on a revision ourselves (Geordie Music Publishing Co.) making it yet a bit more tailored... Best to all, Jean "
****************
My copy is published by Geordie Music Publishing. I need to look for one published by Oak Publications.

Subject: RE: Help: 'One Clear Voice Singing' - Jean Ritchie
From: IvanB
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 05:40 PM

I heard back from the bookseller and he said the book had been sold some time ago and he didn't know why it was still listed on Abebooks, so no help there.

My second copy, which has the song, has no mention of Oak Publications, just the distributed by Music Sales Corporation I mentioned above.

My original copy has no ISBN at all, which is fairly logical since ISBN's were by no means universally used in 1971.

Subject: RE: One Clear Voice Singing/Early Fields-Jean Ritchie
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 07 Aug 14 - 07:01 PM

I know this is an old,old thread, but does anyone know how this song goes?

Subject: RE: One Clear Voice Singing/Early Fields-Jean Ritchie
From: maeve
Date: 07 Aug 14 - 08:01 PM

Ian, it's a lovely song, especially when sung by Jean herself. I'd suggest you get hold of this album
http://folktrax-archive.org/menus/cassprogs/920.htm


Best wishes,

Maeve

Subject: RE: One Clear Voice Singing/Early Fields-Jean Ritchie
From: maeve
Date: 07 Aug 14 - 08:03 PM

Sorry- I'm tired.

Ian, try contacting Dick at Camso Music. He may have a copy available.
http://www.camscomusic.com/

Subject: RE: One Clear Voice Singing/Early Fields-Jean Ritchie
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Oct 20 - 11:05 PM

refresh for cleanup