Name: Oliver James - a capella by maggie luthin
Duration: 2 min 33 s
Description: A cappella cover of the song "Oliver James" by Fleet Foxes

Gods and Monsters

Our dear friends Lee & Genny have a beautiful place along Spring Creek outside of Choteau, Montana, and when I learned that they called it "Magpie Flats" on account of the Hitchcock-level abundance of magpies about the place, I said, damn, that's gotta be a tune. Cut to now, and my daughter and I are messing around with an old melody I wrote back when she was a kid. All of a sudden we looked at each other and said, "Magpie Flats." And that's how this came to be, and why it's dedicated to Lee & Genny...
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Black & White Engraving by Eric Fitch Daglish ca. 1920

Magpie Flats

A cappella cover of the song "Oliver James" by Fleet Foxes

Oliver James - a capella

live take today 25.04.2012 
with Jordan Hunt 

You Rambling Boys

Performed by University of Montana Clarinet Choir.

I have often found myself watching the movement of a flock of birds. Their ability to move together without a hitch is stunning, and something still not entirely understood. There is no leader guiding the flock, but decisions are made as a group through extreme sensitivity to the motions of those around them. 

Despite their amazing ability to maneuver as a whole, still at times one can find smaller groups that break away from the flock, or a single bird that decides to head off by itself temporarily, before eventually returning to the group.

I found this idea to be quite relatable. While each bird finds safety in the flock and contributes equally to its power and movement, they also find time apart from it, allowing for the freedom of solo flight. Similarly, each of us seeks to find a balance in making our own way as an individual, while also being a part of something larger than ourselves.

Birds Of The Flock

This ballad first appeared in John Lomax's "Cowboy Songs, and Other Frontier Ballads" in 1918. My version is based most closely on Jim Kweskin's terrific performance on his Relax Your Mind album. Woody Guthrie also did a version, as did Ramblin' Jack.

Herb Luthin, octave mandolin
Nick Auge, congas
Live at Michelle's Cafe, 2017

Live at Michelle's

Buffalo Skinners

Jolene - Dolly Parton - Cover

Performed by New Music New Mexico: Grace Weaver, mezzo-soprano; Mark Alvarez, flute; Luiz Paulo Freire, violin; Toby Vigneau, bass; Rodney Rote Jr., percussion; Levi Raleigh Brown, piano; David Felberg, conductor

Setting of "Fall of the Evening Star" by Kenneth Patchen.

Speak softly; sun going down
Out of sight. Come near me now.

Dear dying fall of wings as birds
Complain against the gathering dark . . .

Exaggerate the green blood in grass;
The music of leaves scraping space;

Multiply the stillness by one sound;
By one syllable of your name . . .

And all that is little is soon giant,
And all that is rare grows in common beauty

To rest with my mouth on your mouth
As somewhere a star falls

And the earth takes it softly, in natural love . . .
Exactly as we take each other . . . and go to sleep.

Oliver James - a capella

maggie luthin

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