Latest MUSIC & VIDEOS
Till the End is the first song to be released under Susan Craig Winsberg’s new songwriting project Suzy Winz, on her Craig Records label. The original title for the song was “Passionate Like Song,” the theme is that like, as in friendship is more important than romantic love, when all is said and done, and concludes with an off-handed but tender, “So why get married? …But then again, why not?!”
Susan is excited to bring her poetry skills to lyrical songwriting, and her lyrics have a poetic feel to them with her signature quirky and evocative themes. The harmonic structure is more complex and interesting than your typical pop song. But the “I like you…You’re my best friend” chorus is extremely catchy, and a truly bright and uplifting paean to the value of
friendship above all else.
The music to this light-hearted yet poignant song was co-written, co-arranged, and co-produced by singer-songwriting team Heather Stewart and Leah Finkelstein, whose rich orchestration and layering create a texture reminiscent of the sixties, complete with velvety vocal harmonies that harken back to the Beach Boys or the Beatles. Heather Stewart’s flawless lead vocals are simultaneously husky and crystalline, creating a mood both sexy and ebullient and telling a story of love and like that speaks directly to our hearts.
The sultry, bendy electric guitar intro, outro, licks, and fills are played to perfection by Chris Nordlinger, and a masterful and utterly delicious guitar solo played by Jean-Pierre Durand halfway through the song is a high point in the music. The Hammond organ licks and
textures throughout, played by Leah Finkelstein, also contribute to the retro vibe of the song, as well as the string section under the bridges, written by Susan Craig Winsberg à la Eleanor Rigby.
This is a song both delightful and touching and tells a story we all could benefit from – “Of course I love you, of course I want you [and all that jazz]…but most of all, I LIKE you!” This girl’s got her priorities straight!
February 2024
Susan Craig Winsberg
STRANGE TIMES
Strange Times was written in the year 2020 – thus the title. Musicians need to “play out,” as
we say; to share the gift of music with the public, live and in person. This is my take on being
“all dressed up with nowhere to go,” ready and eager to perform, but being stuck inside to play
to my four walls, and gradually feeling slightly crazed as a result.
Many musicians composed something at this time to express the varied emotions and struggles
they were experiencing. I tried to achieve my expression of intense restlessness through
various musical constructs.
The intro is a somewhat ominous, almost bluesy ostinato pattern on the piano, doubled with
upright bass, played by Larry Steen, and soon joined by the intricate rhythmic workings –
almost melodic at times – of Chris Wabich. The flute enters with a simple, elegant melody,
harmonized on the second pass, and ending with a turn on an unexpected Picardy third, adding
a strange emotional twist.
What follows is a series of flute improvisations over the ostinato pattern -- the repeated
pattern representing the monotony of life in lock-down, while the flute improvisations tell the
story of rising emotions in reaction to this “imprisonment.” The first set of improvisations is
tame enough – jazzy and sophisticated without being too showy, a musician playing to pass the
time. After the reprise of the harmonized melody, a new series of improvs is embarked upon
by the flute, getting wilder and crazier on each pass, finally ending on a fade of frenzied runs
and licks, indicating that there’s no respite, and no end in sight. The flutist is going mad!
Susan Craig Winsberg
August 2023
Click Cover for All Streaming Links
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The Gathering Dusk
Susan Craig Winsberg & Sean Michael Clegg & Luanne Homzy
July 10, 2020
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Sea-Longing (Ionndrainn-mhara)
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The Month of January
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The Gathering Dusk
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Bonny Portmore
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The Soldier’s Song (Òran an t-Saighdear)
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La Belle Dame sans Merci
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Doun In Yon Banke
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Spell of Creation
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Shadow
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My Fair Darling (Mo Mhúirnín Bán)
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When I Am Dead, My Dearest
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Richmond’s Passage
Featured Musicians:
Susan Craig Winsberg – flutes, pennywhistles, recorders
Susan McKeown, Molly Pasutti, Kathleen Fisher – vocals
Lisa Lynne Franco – celtic harp
Stephanie Bennett – pedal harp, celtic harp
Jay Ansill – guitar
Sean Michael Clegg – guitars, mandolin, bouzouki
Larry Steen – double bass
Stephanie Fife – cello
Novi Novog – viola
Michael Eagan – archlute
Denise Briesé – viola da gamba, violone
Jim McGrath – percussion
Mike Bruno – didgeridoo
John McLean Allan – Deger pipes
Aloke Dutta – tabla, tamboura
I would like my listeners to know that I feel the utmost reverence for the poets whose works I used to create songs, and that any changes I made to the text, be it omissions or additions, were due entirely to musical considerations. I hope you and the poets will forgive me. — Susan Craig Winsberg
For those interested in flutes, Susan played on a couple noteworthy instruments: a 10-key, cocuswood flute, Rudall & Rose (London), c.1835 (from the collection of Rick Wilson of Pasadena, California); and an Edward Almeida modern flute with a boxwood headjoint made by Howel Roberts of Munich, Germany.
Dedicated to the memory of Kathy Richmond-Baxter and Jeffrey Richmond, my great aunt and uncle from Scotland who both recently passed away.
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How Sweet I Roam’d
Susan Craig Winsberg, words by William Blake -
Love Lilt (trad. Scottish)
(An Ghille Dubh Cìardubh) -
Black Is the Colour of My True Love’s Hair
(trad. Scottish/Appalachian) -
Adieu Dundee/Hame, Hame, Hame
(trad. Scottish) -
1000 Curses on Love – Set (trad. Scottish)
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Mìle Marbhaisg air a’ Ghaol
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Buain na Rainich/Fosgail an Dorus
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Siuthadaibh Bhalachaibh/Hi Ho Somhairle
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Hebridean Medley (trad. Scottish)
Aodann Strathbhàin/Bràigh Loch Iall/Aignis air a’ Machair -
My Bonnie Wee Lamb (trad. Scottish)
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‘Tis the Lark
Susan Craig Winsberg -
Child of the Seals
Susan Craig Winsberg -
Died For Love (trad. English)
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Loch Broom Love Song (trad. Scottish)
Musicians:
Susan Craig Winsberg ~ flutes, whistles
Christa Burch ~ vocals
Kathleen Fisher ~ vocals
Megan Buchanan ~ vocals
Laura Browne-Sorenson ~ vocals, bodhrán
John McLean Allan ~ guitar
Sean Harkness ~ guitar
Stephanie Bennett ~ pedal harp, celtic harp
Stefanie Fife ~ cello
Peggy Baldwin ~ cello
Tom Tally ~ viola
Eric Gorfain ~ violin, baritone violin, mandolin
Larry Steen ~ double bass
Steve Foreman ~ percussion
Richard Cook ~ uilleann pipes
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Johnnie Cope / John Anderson, My Jo
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Ned Of The Hill
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Great Is My Sorrow As I Steer The Boat
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MacCrimmon’s Lament
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Loch Lomond / Will Yo No’ Come Back Again
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The Haughs Of Cromdale
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The Tree Song
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The Tiree Love Song
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Oh, My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose
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The Skye Boat Song
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Maurie’s Wedding / John Highlandman
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My Lagan Love
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She Moved Through The Faire
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Women Of Ireland
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Blackwaterside
Musicians:
Susan Winsberg – flute, piccolo, alto flute, bass flute
Kathleen Fisher – vocals
Maureen Brennan – celtic harp
James Robinson – steel-string guitar
Daniel Roest – nylon-string guitar
Charles Jewett – cello
Chris Caswell – percussion
Millicent Craig Winsberg – accordion
Recorded, mixed & mastered at: Vista Sound, Monte Sereno, CA Additional mastering at: Digiprep, Los Angeles, CA.
Engineer: Timm Burleigh
Producer: Susan Winsberg
Co-producer: James Robinson
Production Consultant: Dan Wyman
Graphic Artist: Laurie Dietter
Cover photo by: Joakim Häggström
Back photo by: David Sturgis.
All arrangements by Susan Winsberg. “My Lagan Love” based partly on an arrangement by Hamilton Harty.
This recording is dedicated to my mother, Millicent Craig Winsberg, whose rich cultural heritage has provided me with endless inspiration.
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Scottish Wedding / Blythe and Merry / Ailie Bain o’ the Glen
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Ned of the Hill
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Haughs of Cromdale / Donald MacGillavry / Came Ye O’er Frae France
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The Month of January
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The Gathering Dusk
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Jigs: Tom Billy’s / The Langstern Pony
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Harvesting the Bracken (Buain na Rainich) / Open the Door (Fosgail an Dorus)
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MacCrimmon’s Lament
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Mairi’s Wedding / John Highlandman
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Blind Mary / Polkas: Dennis Murphy’s / Sean Ryan’s
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Skye Boat Song
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Bonnie Charlie’s Now Awa’
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John Anderson, My Jo / Johnnie Cope
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A Thousand Curses on Love (Mille Marbhaisg air a’ Ghaol)
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Bonny Portmore
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Flow Gently, Sweet Afton / The Ewie wi’ the Crooked Horn / Bonnie Laddie, Highland Laddie
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Hunting the Hare / Jigs: Maid On the Green / Legacy Jig
Audiences are inevitably impressed and greatly entertained by the uniqueness and originality of a Blackwaterside Celtic music performance. The Blackwaterside band features Susan Craig Winsberg on flutes and whistles and outstanding vocalist and bodhrán player Christa Burch, accompanied by the talented Sean Michael Clegg on guitar and multi-instrumentalist Tim Blair on percussion, recorders and whistles.
Blackwaterside recently released their first band CD entitled “Blythe and Merry — Blackwaterside Live in Concert,” on the Craig Records label. This CD features selections from the San Diego Folk Heritage concert performed in Encinitas, California, on October 22, 2011. It takes the listener on a musical journey through Celtic lands, embracing the contrasting lightness and depth of this rich musical tradition. “Blythe and Merry” truly exemplifies the spirit of the band Blackwaterside.