LIVING WITH THE
LAND: Songs of Ranch Life
Written
and performed by Sarah Barchas (January 2005)
Cover
Photo by Mark Barchas
Graphics
design and layout by Elizabeth Gething
Production
Manager: Roger King
HHM113D
- Compact Disc with lyrics booklet - (ISBN:1-889686-19-0)
- $14.98
Released in January 2005,
"LIVING WITH THE LAND: Songs of Ranch Life" - Moving with her parents
and siblings as a teenager from an urban life in Los Angeles to a rural life on
a small family ranch, Sarah Barchas has developed deep feeling for the land and
the ranching way of life during her 48 years of cattle ranching in southeast
Arizona. This exceptional CD of 14 original ranch songs evokes the
essence and soul of family ranching. The songs echo themes of love of
open spaces, bonding with the animals as individuals, renewal of spirit in
riding a horse, the need to live in harmony with nature, the gift of water to
semi-arid desert lands, and throughout the sense of responsibility, commitment
and connection to the land.
Each song
is memorable in its own way. The round-up song, "Move 'em Along" is full of
vitality and vibrant rhythm. "Caballito"
is a haunting bilingual song written while on horseback. "Siempre Viva" is the true story of an unforgettable
rescue. The personality and history of the venerable "Granny
Cow" in her unique ballad is a stand-out. The ballad of
"This Old House" portrays the 100-year old ranch house on the Brown
Canyon Ranch now owned by the Forest Service in a land exchange
preserved in an award-winning partnership between the Forest Service and
charter high school with community help. "Horses of My
Dreams" with whimsical images evokes true individual and
composite horses owned through the years. "Cows Make a Living" adds
zest in humorous but true comparisons between bovines and humans.
"I'll Go Riding" speaks to caring for animals and
habitat. The two rain songs evoke the southwest desert rangeland's greatest
need. "Windmill Song " etches
vivid and memorable images yet also provides playfulness and fun in changing
tempo. "If I Don't Take Care of the Land" is an eloquent call to the
responsible use and stewardship of the land for the future.
"Living With the Land" in Prologue and
Finale evokes with depth of feeling the carrying of heritage in values and
traditions within a way of life from individuals across generations.
This new
distinctive collection of authentic ranch songs can connect directly
with all who love animals and the outdoors, all who have had any experience
living with the land, all who might dream of living with the land, all who care
about the land for the present and future. It is for all ages, from adult to
child, ages 8 to 108, for families, schools, libraries, camps and conservation
groups to share. It is a sound recording that speaks from the heart.
REVIEWS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
True West Magazine Review by Sandy
Whiting - (July/August, 2006, issue) - Toss another log on the campfire
and relax a spell with 14 cowboy originals from Sarah Barchas. On "Living With the Land" she rounds up calves, birds and horses,
along with a host of other range dwelling critters, to reveal the Earth's
secrets. Listen while rain converges with streams to offer a special "Rain
Prayer" to ease the pain of parched land. Barchas easily bridges minor and
major keys while inserting fun lyrics exemplified by "Cows Make a
Living". This CD will transport city dwellers to a life under the big
sky and remind country folk why they stay close to the land.
Lon Austin - Singer / Songwriter
and Organizer of the
Her new CD features songs of ranch
life in southern
Unlike the blazing cowboy heroes
of the 1950's western movie matinees, these are the real thing and are true
stories of ranch life and living with the land.
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Sandra Austin - Talent coordinator
for the Phoenix Folk Traditions Music Festival. - "What a joy to have your new CD. I was honored to
receive it. Great selections. It is top quality all
the way around. Your voice is beautiful and clear, and the backup singers are
terrific (animals included). The cover photo is precious. I will be sharing
this work of love with my Grandchildren very soon."
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Dennis Freeman - Storyteller - New
River, AZ - “Living With The Land” by singer/songwriter Sarah
Barchas brings to mind the troubadour style of narrative storytelling riding on
the chords of a traditionally strummed guitar, while some songs are enhanced by
the harmonies of the De Colores Chorus. Sarah is a
departure from the usual cowboy/ranching kind of music and yet her impassioned
vocal delivery has a way of settling nicely into your ear and musical memory,
like a saddle that sits just right.
The music grows on you with each
listening, the melodies easy to enjoy. Sarah sings in a philosophical bent, a
point of view that mirrors a life of long experience living on the land, caring
for cattle, and knowing the vitality of the ranching lifestyle. Some songs are
a prayer and praise for rain. Another remembers the courage and dignity of one
of those special bovines that don’t come along every day, Granny Cow, an animal
who bestows a fine line of descendants. Sarah is a keen observer of the spirit
of the horse and the spiritual centering that comes from a good ride. She tells
the heroic story of a lone calf who falls into a deep mine glory hole and the neighbors
and friends who give their time to risk a deep descent into the darkness to
retrieve the little heifer. And that’s just the beginning. Sarah Barchas’
lyrics reflect the Arizona-Mexico border area. Several songs are sung in a
bilingual style, an honoring of the vaquero traditions. Her rhythms have
the spirited gait of the horse, the steady heartbeat of the windmill and the
sentiment of true love and respect that she feels for the land, the land that
nourishes her and provides the fountain for her music."
---------------
Sandy Hathaway - Singer / Songwriter / Performing Guitarist
- http://www.sandyhathaway.com/ -
"Living with the Land" is a truly original album of songs
that teach about life on the American ranch. The album cover shows a
picture of Sarah when she was 19 and displaying affection for ‘Little Granny’,
daughter of Granny cow. The song, ‘Granny Cow’ describes her love and
affection for the animals that are a part of her everyday life. "Living
with the Land" expresses Sarah’s appreciation for nature. Her
own musical style is that of a storyteller and cowgirl singing in a traditional
folk style.
Of course there are lots of folk singers and lots of
cowboys around who make recordings, but this one is special. Sarah has
captured a part of history that can only be shared by a female ranch hand who
loves the land.
The production is well crafted and I especially
enjoyed The De Colores Chorus contribution and the
farm animal sound effects.
If you are a teacher, parent, aunt or uncle, this is
an excellent way to teach children about a way of life that they probably will
never experience. If you have never lived on a farm you can be
transported through these heart felt songs about Living with the Land.
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Ted Ramirez of the Ronstadt-Ramirez Santa Cruz River Band - Singer /Songwriter / Musician / Performer - To Sarah Barchas: " I’ve enjoyed your mixture of the Spanish and English languages in your songs, and the way you imparted life lessons in this personal and charming CD."
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Dee Strickland Johnson (Buckshot
Dot) - Poet, Author, Singer/Songwriter and Historian - I have
thoroughly enjoyed Sarah Barchas's recording "Living With the Land". Its fourteen songs attest to the author's
authenticity as a ranch woman. Each song tells a fascinating story of
"living with the land" -- it¹s joys and its vicissitudes. Sarah sings
in a sincere narrative style, telling her tales directly from the heart.
Several numbers show the Mexican
influence of the proximity of a ranch so near the border. Caballito
(Little Horse) and Siempre Viva the
remarkable story of the mishap which befalls a little calf and her ultimate rescue, are two of these.
This Old House must
wrench the heart of all who have lived and loved in such a place as Sarah
describes therein. "Was there birth in his house? Was there death at this
old house? . . . Was there drought? Was there rain? Was there joy? Was there pain?"
O, how I can identify with those words! Nor is the album without humor:
"Cows make a living in a bovine kind of way" and the delightful story
of one special gancho named "Granny Cow"
traces the lineage of the original "Granny" in a delightful recounting
of the names of her many descendants.
The entire album speaks to the
heart of the rancher and cowboy: The respect for the land and animals. The dependence on water-- the rain and the windmill. The closeness of family. "Living With the Land"
is an excellent recording by one who tells it like it is -- because she¹s lived
it!
There is nothing better than
hearing Sarah except seeing Sarah perform in person.
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SONGS
01. Living With the Land - Prologue
02. Move 'em Along
1:57
03. Caballito
04. Rain
Prayer
05. Siempre Viva
4.16
06. Cows Make
a Living
07. Horses of
My Dreams
08. Rain is
Falling
1:16
09. Granny Cow
10. Windmill
Song
11. I'll Go Riding
12. If I Don't
Take Care of the Land
13. This Old
House
14. Living With the Land - Finale
Total run
time approximately 41minutes
Sound Recording (p) © 2005 Sarah Barchas DBA High Haven
Music, ASCAP
Song Collection ©2005 High Haven Music, ASCAP
Cover Photo Illustration © 2005 High Haven Music
Orders can be placed and samples of the songs can be heard at CD BABY or BATHTUB MUSIC
Rev 6.5 - Last Modified