Besides collecting and performing numerous American folk songs,
John Jacob Niles also wrote songs in the same folk-like idioms. Many of his songs were based on fragments or snatches of melody that he collected, which he reworked into complete compositions, and he often used familiar texts. When he performed, he accompanied himself on various string instruments, but he also made arrangements for piano. The songs
Niles collected and composed have long been the staple of classical vocal recitalists, but the listener may experience a slight cultural/aesthetic disconnect when hearing music that was conceived for untrained voices performed by singers steeped in the European bel canto tradition. For the listener with an interest in the American folk tradition for whom this is not an issue, this collection of
Niles' songs should hold strong interest. Soprano Hope Koehler and pianist James Douglass have gathered an eclectic selection of 18 of
Niles' works, including some of his best known ("I Wonder As I Wander," "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair," and Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head") as well as some that are more obscure. Koehler sings simply and expressively, and has a sweet voice, but with a little more vibrato than is ideal for this repertoire. The sound is nicely present, but the volume level is very high and requires some adjustment to keep it from being overwhelming.