over here the water is sweet (1997)

On Amasong's first CD over here the water is sweet, 50 women's voices sing music from 14 countries in 11 languages. The title is taken from the Japanese folk song, "Hotaru Koi," which entreats the firefly to eschew the bitter water because, "over here, the water is sweet." Selections include a chant by Hildegard von Bingen, devotional music from the Spanish Renaissance, protest music from South Africa, spirituals from the United States and the Bahamas, dance music from Norway and Russia, and laments from Ireland and Yiddish Lithuania.

These 60 minutes include "Vesi Väsyy Lumen Alle" by Harri Wessman, and Lewis Allen's "Strange Fruit," made famous by Billie Holiday and heard here in a stirring arrangement for a capella choir.

Click here to listen to music samples.

Complete List of Tracks

1. Caritas Abundat (1:54)
2. Diós Te Salve, María (2:19)
3. Ave: Meditation on Two Marian Chants (7:10)
4. Unter Dayne Vayse Shtern (4:11)
5. Strange Fruit The 1998 GLAMA winning track! (2:33)
6. Poor Man Laz'rus (1:30)
7. All My Trials (3:12)
8. Soon I will Be Done (4:39)
9. Coventry Carol (2:36)
10. Greensleeves (3:58)
11. Grey Funnel Line (4:11)
12. Doffin' Mistress (1:23)
13. Hotaru Koi (0:57)
14. Dig My Grave Both Long and Narrow (2:24)
15. Todor Todorka (3:10)
16. Pajdu Vydu (0:59)
17. Burial Society Song (3:05)
18. Asikatali (2:30)
19. Vesle Kari Rud (1:13)
20. Vesi Väsyy Lumen Alle (4:17)

Total Time 58:55