Sweet Hope
Written and Produced by Douglas Clegg
“This collection of tunes has come through that inexplicable thin space; from someplace beyond knowing, something bigger than I am. Each piece has meaning, and virtually all of these are written for, or in honor of, someone dear. Some celebrate a happy occasion, a birth or a wedding; a few mourn a passing; and the piece on Kyiv came to be just days before Ukraine was invaded.
My hope is that this music will feel timeless. As I played the parts for this recording, I realized how much the old masters have influenced my ear: Folk Baroque.”
… Doug
Something personal…
Douglas Clegg: Violin, Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, Piano, Flute, Whistle, Accordion
Bill Wood: Bassoon
“Sweet Hope is a collection of original violin airs, tunes, and laments. My earlier violin recording, Above the Din, a Celtic-influenced fiddle/violin CD, was well-received and highly acclaimed, and was inspired mostly by places I’ve traveled.
1. December 10th
Dedicated to the love of Kelford and Katie, this was composed as the processional at their wedding.
2. Star of the County Down
One of my favorite of the traditional Irish melodies, done here in triple meter.
3. The Hasty Wedding
For Aaron and Cintya, who had a very small window of time to put together their wedding, per the regulations of the U.S. Department of State. This piece was played in their ceremony.
4. Lindens of Kyiv
I was working on this piece, and unsure what it was about, when the news broke that Ukraine had been invaded by the Russians. I asked a Ukrainian friend to tell me something about her homeland, and she said, “Oh, the lindens and the chestnut trees!”
5. Romanda
A dear young friend named Rohun, whom I have know since he was nine, married a lovely woman named Amanda; I tried to represent each of them in this piece, individually and together, and played this at the ceremony.
6. Tant Attendu
Two dear gentlemen who have been together for a quarter-century finally were able to have a wedding. It was lovely, well attended, and just beautiful. The ceremony was held in the village of Rochefort en Terre, in France. The translation in English is “long awaited” or “well-awaited.”
7. Bohemian Jig/The North Fork
The North Fork was written overlooking the north fork of the Kaweah River. Bohemian Jig came into my lap on December 26 a few years ago, and the song about the Bohemian King Wenceslaus, and how he helped fete the poor peasant on that day long ago, seemed worthy of the title in his honor. To my ear, they fit together like hand in glove.
8. For Katrina
I was composing this piece, and feeling the emotion in it, when the sudden news arrived of the imminent passing of my friend Katrina.
9. Sweet Hope
For my friend Veronico, who lost a son.
10. She Moved Through the Fair
One of the deepest emoting pieces from the Irish tradition, sung by many over the years.
11. Air for Elowen
The first lullabye I ever composed, written for my first grandchild, Maeve Elowen Clegg. Here again, I was just playing as it came to me, her being clearly on my mind at the time.
12. Quarantime
During the long months of quarantine, I played a lot, and wrote a good bit. As the first section of Quarantime came across, I was happy with it as a stand-alone waltz; then I modulated to a second section, and played them together. As I kept working with it, I wanted a third part; then I realized the only way out was to modulate through all twelve keys so that I could repeat the first section at the end.
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