Burchland

Symphonic bluegrass from Burchland is a classy combination

A dozen musicians in black and white formal attire take the stage, the concertmaster sounds an "A" note, and the strings tune. Some additional players in plaid shirts saunter out to some mics aligned in front. Conductor Jeffrey Reed raises his baton, and the orchestra launches into a fiddle tune like Tommy Jackson's "Cherokee Shuffle." Symphonic bluegrass is nothing new. In 1974, guitarist Mason Williams first introduced his Concert for Bluegrass and Orchestra with the Wolf Trap Symphony and Denver Symphony. Thirty years ago, the introduction of a bluegrass section into an orchestra was considered a cultural revolution of sorts. Now, the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra has collaborated with resophonic guitarist Curtis Burch and seven bluegrass friends to produce "Burchland."

Dr. Charles W. Smith, professor emeritus at Western Kentucky University, was commissioned to compose a work. He knew little about bluegrass and virtually nothing of fiddling as compared to playing the violin. Spending more time learning about the instruments and style than writing the work, Dr. Smith then set to work composing the two movements of "Burchland." The first movement, "Friends" spans eight minutes and is based around a love tune written for his granddaughter. The second movement, "Pickin' Party," is about the same time length and was inspired by bluegrass musicians' love for jamming. The orchestral introduction, borrowed from a piece called "Cumberland Gap" which was written in 1996 for saxophone ensemble, evokes a pioneer spirit and feelings of happiness and optimism. The remainder of "Pickin' Party" allows the pickers to do some things, and the orchestra others, in a kind of amusing and competitive "bluegrassical" dialogue. The result is a synergy, something better than either could do alone.

Curtis Burch, born in 1945 in Montgomery, Alabama, is well known in bluegrass circles. He's played with Sam Bush, Courtney Johnson and John Cowan in the New Grass Revival in the 1970s. He's toured with artists like Leon Russell and John Hartford. Burch has recorded on many projects and is featured on Sugar Hill Record's Grammy award-winning "Great Dobro Sessions." More recently, Curtis and Norman Blake recorded "You Are My Sunshine" on the soundtrack of "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," and Curtis appears on an innovative band project called "Soulgrass." On "Burchland," he is joined by Ruth Burch (guitar, vocals), Ricky Burch (banjo, vocals), Chris Brandstatt (guitar), Paul McCoy (bass), David Roemer (mandolin), Joel Whittinghill (fiddle), and Sharon Whittinghill (guitar, hammered dulcimer).

The Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra's mission is to "change lives...one note at a time" through music education and exciting concerts featuring a wide variety of music from the classical repertoire to Ragtime, Beatles, Bluegrass and Broadway. They attempt to "wow" their audiences. I was particularly impressed with Julianna Waller's violin, Mark Berry's and Webb Hendrix's percussion, Charles Smith's flute, John Cipolla's clarinet, Janet Bass Smith's piano, and Michael Thurman's horn in the orchestral bluegrass arrangements.

Following the debut of the commissioned and studio-recorded title piece, the remainder of the album includes live cuts of covers from Ruth Franks, Johnny Mullins, Karla Bonoff, Rodney Dillard, Townes Van Zandt and others. Some, primarily the slower numbers, work better than others for the motley mix of musicians and orchestral arrangement. Kudos go to Pam Thurman for most of the orchestration. Although hard to categorize, "Burchland" demonstrates creativity, and a willingness to experiment and take risks. It doesn't fit the standard sideboards of bluegrass, but it instead presents the music in a different light. The album puts a different context to the genre. Because "Burchland" is a hybrid, akin to a cultural exchange project, both bluegrass and orchestral snobs might have a difficult time understanding or appreciating it. That would be unfortunate. In reality, bluegrassers should like hearing their favorite and familiar music in an unusual setting. Classical music fans should like the frolicking, fun-filled, and festive atmosphere of this disc. Symphonic bluegrass from Burchland is a classy combination. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now) February 24, 2004

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