West Ho! & Songs of the West
Lotta Crabtree Menu
"WEST HO! & SONGS 0F THE WEST" -
CD/SONGBOOK/CASSETTE/HISTORY PLAY -
Featured musician of the month - "Rhythm Ryders Band"
SEE BAND
SEE PLAY -"SAM DASHES OFF INTO HISTORY?"
Also with a songbook with drawings by students that can be used as a coloring
book and including Word search activity page for each song.
The CD will have one poem and 16 songs that range from a musical timeline
from 1803, with Thomas Jefferson and the Lewis and Clark Expedition to 1870
and the Transcontinental Railroad.
The songs will have a comtemporary feel along with traditional and will
get the Musical Brain going!
MUSIC THAT INSPIRES IMAGES OF THE WEST
Here are the names of the songs
"THERE ONCE WAS A WEST" (INTRODUCTORY POEM)
Side One Side Two
1. Princess of The West 1. The Great Horn Spoon
2. Jedediah, Where Ya Goin'? 2. Empire Mine
3. Ballad of James Beckwourth 3. Lotta Crabtree
4. Fremont's Flag 4. Nellie Cashman
5. Ballad of the Bowie Knife 5. Sam Hamilton
6. James Marshall's Gold 6. Black Bart the Po8
7. Wagon Rollin' West 7. Big 4
8. Oregon Trail Hornpipe 8. Railroad Builders
All songs written by Bernie Griff except "The Empire Mine" by
Don Armstrong and Instrumental "The Oregon Trail Hornpipe by Mark Masarek
& Bernie Griff.
CD INFORMATION: "WEST HO! AND SONGS OF THE WEST"
The CD has 16 songs plus the poem "Where Did The West Begin" with
a zesty instrumental background of guitar, fiddle and banjo which will set
an enchanting Western mood for the CD. It is narrated by Dale Pryor who
is a direct descendant of Sargeant Nathaniel Pryor, a member of the Lewis
and Clark Expedition. Dale is an Oklahoman with a town in Oklahoma named
after his family - Pryor, Oklahoma.
As you can see from the titles there are some novel touches to this historical
coverage of the CD: "Lotta Crabtree, the Elfin Entertainer", "The
Oregon Trail Hornpipe", an orginal hornpipe by Mark Masarek and I,
"Nellie Cashman, the Saint of the Sourdoughs", and "Black
Bart, thePo8", to name a few.
Also, in addition to the CD, there is a History play called: "Sam Dashes
Off Into History", that brings out whimsically but accurately the great
technology race between the Pony Express and the Telegraph. Songs from "West
Ho! And Songs of the West can be used effectively with the play and give
it a fine musical touch. (See History Play below .)
"West Ho! and Songs 0f The West" is a musical treat that I think
you will agree will be a feast for the senses and bring the West into a
new perspective for students, teachers and other folk interested in enjoying
songs of the West.
Be Seeing you,
Bernie Griff
Go to Top
INFORMATION ON THE PLAY: "SAM DASHES OFF INTO
HISTORY?" (GRADES 4-5)
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
ANNOUNCER
1. COLONEL ALEXANDER MAJORS - of the Russell, Majors and Waddell Pony Express
enterprise.
2. SAM HAMILTON - Pony Express rider who is honored with a statue in Old
Sacramento.
3. SAMUEL F. B. MORSE - Inventor of the telegraph.
4. NEWSPAPER MAN OR WOMAN
5. MR. KELLY - Owner of newspaper
6. PONY BOB - Famous Pony Express rider
7. SUPERINTENDENT MARLEY - Manager of Pony Express Station
8. COLONEL RUSSELL - Pony Express Station Agent
9. BUFFALO BILL - Famous Pony Express rider and buffalo hunter
10. MAN AT DINNER TABLE - Scientist who gave Morse an idea!
11. LEONARD GALE - Man who worked with Morse and helped develop the telegraph
12. CONGRESS MAN OR WOMAN - On committee to see the telegraph system
13. EZRA CORNELL - Worked with Morse on the Wash. D.C. link to Baltimore.
14. SENATOR -Announces award to Ezra Cornell.
15. TELEGRAPH RECEIVER IN BALTIMORE
16. TELEGRAPH POLE WORKER
17 PONY EXPRESS RIDER
18. EDWARD CREIGHTON - His Telegraph company won race from St. Jo to Salt
Lake on October 17, 1861. (James Gamble's California Company arrived on
October 23, 1861.).
19. CROWD SOUNDS - ALL students
20. SENATOR GWIN - Got idea passed in Congress to start Pony Express
21. MAN: (Watching demo of Morse's telegraph)
22. J.H. KEETLEY - A Pony Express Rider coming West from the St. Jo direction
23.BOSTON - A Pony Express rider going East
The play begins as Colonel Alexander Majors recalls the great moments of
the Pony Express. This led up to the invention of the telegraph by Samuel
Morse which caused the defeat of the Pony Express era of a little over 18
months. The play ends announcing the changes in America's communication
capability. bmg
YOUR ENTIRE CLASS CAN TAKE PART IN THESE HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE PLAY!
Go to Top 
Featured musicians of the Month! July, 1998
GARY & MARILYNN VENDEN
Gary and Marilynn Venden came to Fiddlewest Studios in August of 1997
and recorded "Lotta Crabtree", "By The Great Horn Spoon",
and "Sam Hamilton's Ridin' " (For The Pony Express). Their voices
and musicianship take the "West Ho & Songs of the West" CD
to a special place and help to continue the spirit of the west in this panorama
of time from 1804 to 1875. Gary's ideas for arranging and vocal effect gave
the songs a wonderful western flavor. His guitar work also accents throughout
ByThe Great Horn Spoon and Lotta Crabtree. We had a great time in San Geronimo
and I can't thank them enough for all the effort and expertise as well as
their obvious talent. Marilynn's rendition of Lotta Crabtree brings back
the times and you can just picture little Lotta singing her heart out for
the 49'ers as Marilynn sings: "...Fairy star of the Mother Lode...Dancin'
for the Miners...Singing a tune to clappin' hands...of the 49'ers..."
Gary made it over to Kate's Cafe in San Geronimo to perform every stime
he got a chance and we gave a debut to West Ho there, singing "By the
Great Horn Spoon" just before he and Marilynn left for their new home
in Glendale, Arizona where he is now Pastoring a new Church there. Gary
and Marilynn have created and produced several recordings and CD's. Pictured
above is one of my favorites - QUIET TIME.
Gary did the final Mixdown on the project at Fiddlewest Studios right
in San Geronimo. Thanks to his fine recording equipment and sound engineering
the project became a reality. Gary - I can't thank you enough but you are
a good friend and I consider myself very fortunate to have all your help.
Best of luck on your next CD which you and Marilynn are in the midst of
working on and I sure hope you get the time to do it!
Abrazos, Bernie
Featured for month of July - Bobby
Lee - Pedal Steel Guitarist from Somoma County.
Bobby Lee, luckily had a gig in Novato, which is nearby the Fiddlewest
Studios (San Geronimo, California). When Dean Forshee couldn't make the
recording schedule, Bobby hopped in. We did "Ballad of the Bowie Knife"
in about an hour and got it done. Thanks to the fates we kept on schedule
as I had a final mixdown to get ready for in three days! I first met Bobby
at a jam in Sonoma out there in the sticks a bit at an annual gathering
of musicians dubbed "Weedstock". Lots of fine jamming - country/bluegrass/swing
and what have you. It was fun and meeting a lot of great folks up there
in Somona County. Thanks again Bobby. Bernie
