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Waawaate/Ghost Dancers (Picor): This tune was completed in three takes and recorded at SDA Studios (Steve Adams), New Baltimore, MI. First, the flute melody was recorded. Second, Steve Adams laid down additional percussion. Steve is a fine percussionist and La C’s live performance audio engineer. The constant “drone note” was recorded to support the melody on the third take.
Genot Picor: Native American flute
Steve Adams: Additional percussion and special effects

C’est L’Aviron (aka C'est l'aviron): These words, taken from the refrain of the voyageur song 'M'en revenant de la joli' Rochelle,' have come to be recognized as the song's surrogate title. Specific phrases in the song have been traced back to 15th-century France, where it originated. It is found in several textual and melodic variants. In Chansons folkloriques francaises au Canada (Quebec City 1956) Marguerite and Raoul d'Harcourt give three versions based on incomplete minor scales. One of these uses a refrain different from 'C'est l'aviron'. Another version, in other words, is given by Ernest Gagnon in Chansons Populaires du Canada (Quebec City 1865) and in a Montreal newspaper, Le Canard, of 13 Nov 1897. François Brassard compares 'C'est l'aviron' to a refrain known in Canada, 'Mon joli champ d'avoine,' and to the French refrain of 'Allons voir nos vignes.'
Visit: C'est l'aviron | The Canadian Encyclopedia
Gerry Castle: Opening finger-style guitar introduction
Mark Szabo: Bass
Genot Picor: Cittern (five course/10 string)
Sean O’Connell: Violin

Branles des Chevaux (FKA Chevaulx/Horses Branle): Although classified as a branle in Arbeau's Orchésographie (1589) and very often reconstructed as a traditional circular branle, the Branle des Chevaulx appears to be more of a choreographed couple dance. Branles were some of the first French court dances to come to Nouvelle, France, most likely with Samuel de Champlain. The working class later adapted court dances to suit their interpretation and available instrumentation. La Compagnie’s arrangement was a complete group effort.
Mark Szabo: Upright bass
Jean Marie Learman: Flute
Sean O’Connell: Violin
Nellie Schrantz Osantowski: Violin
Katherine Morris: Bodhran
Genot Picor: 12 String guitar

Maison de Glace/St. Lawrence Jig: Maison de Glace (Ice House) was composed by Réjean Brunet of the Quebecois ensemble Le Vent du Nord. This light, breezy tune was brought to La Compagnie by Jean Marie Learman and has been a staple at every live La Compagnie show. Paring Maison de Glace with The St. Lawrence Jig seemed a natural fit. They are elegant and whimsical as if one tune answers the other. When percussive step-dancer Sheila Graziano joins us for this medley, she demonstrates a waltz clog on The St. Lawrence Jig.
Jean Marie Learman: Flute
Katherine Morris: Whistle
Sean O’Connell: Violin
Genot Picor: Guitar
Nellie Schrantz Osantowski: Violin
Mark Szabo: Bass

Harbour Lights: Two songs by award-winning writer, composer, and folklorist Charlie Maguire are featured on A Health to La Compagnie. Harbour Lights is one of them. Jean Marie Learman went back into the studio to record her vocal part. Audio engineer Ryan Arini suggested she hum during certain parts of the song, which gave Harbour Lights a soft, reminiscent tone.
Gerry Castle: Mandolin
Jean Marie Learman: Lead vocal
Katherine Morris: Guitar and vocal harmony
Sean O’Connell: Violin
Genot Picor: Cittern
Nellie Schrantz Osantowski: Violin
Mark Szabo: Bass

On the Shores of Thunder Bay: This traditional Irish folksong was initially titled “On the Shores of Botany Bay.” I changed the words to make them more Great Lakes-friendly. Ristorante Arini is a fictional restaurant. We used our sound engineer’s last name plus some of his recording studio tricks to make it sound as if it was recorded live. Ken Collins adds harmony to the verses.
Gerry Castle: Mandolin
Jean Marie Learman: Concertina
Katherine Morris: Banjo
Sean O’Connell: Violin
Genot Picor: Lead Vocal and 12-string guitar.
Nellie Schrantz Osantowski: Violin
Mark Szabo: Bass
Carrie Grignano: Mezzo soprano
Chuck Furchak: First tenor
Ken Collins: Second tenor, harmony on the verses.

Niagara Falls: The original title is “The Buffalo Whore,” and was mentioned in The Journals of Great Lakes Folklorist by Ivan H. Walton, pages 183-184. We changed the name to make it sound more family friendly. Sung “Almost a Cappella” in the key of A major (Kathy plays the bodhran on the song), La Compagnie was thrilled to add additional voices to produce a fuller sound. The reverb gives the song a “cavernous” sound.
Katherine Morris: Lead vocal and bodhran.
Jean Marie Learman: Background vocal
Genot Picor: Background vocal
Mark Szabo: Background vocal
Carrie Grignano: Background vocal
Chuck Furchak: Background vocal
Ken Collins: Background vocal

Fine Old Lady: Fine Old Lady is our second installment of a work by Charlie Maguire. We wanted this song to have a nostalgic feel, and we tried to achieve this effect through the background vocals working with the gentle bounce of the rhythm. The blend was intended to be tight so that no individual voice stood out, except for Mark singing “Down below,” perhaps harkening back to the recordings of the 30’s or 40’s. Two octaves separate Chuck Furchak’s high tenor from Mark Szabo’s bass on “Down below-o-o.”
Gerry Castle: Mandolin
Jean Marie Learman: Flute
Katherine Morris: Banjo
Sean O’Connell: Violin
Genot Picor: 6-string guitar
Nellie Schrantz Osantowski: Violin
Mark Szabo: Upright Bass
Carrie Grignano: Chorus
Chuck Furchak: Chorus
Ken Collins: Chorus

A Health to the Company: This was the first song La C recorded during our first rehearsal with Jean Marie Learman and Kathy Morris in 2008. We recorded it in Kathy’s high ceiling living room in Bay City. We had never performed it after all those years until recently. The song on the CD was recorded at Rockhill Studios with Ryan Arini as the audio engineer. Of all the songs/tunes recorded by La C, A Health to the Company includes the most instrumentation listed below. The song also includes a full chorus. Ken sings harmony with Genot in the second verse.
Gerry Castle: Mandolin
Jean Marie Learman: Flute
Katherine Morris: Guitar
Sean O’Connell: Violin
Genot Picor: Cittern, mandocello
Nellie Schrantz Osantowski: Violin
Mark Szabo: Upright Bass
Carrie Grignano: Chorus
Chuck Furchak: Chorus
Ken Collins: Chorus