An Early Spring

Mike & Linda Coates and friends

An Early Spring features a wide variety of singers, instrumentalists, and small choruses. The music ranges from early madrigals to a magical King Crimson ballad, all connected by the unifying thread of a clear acoustic sound with classical guitar at the center of the arrangements.

Mike and Linda Coates both have masters degrees in music (classical guitar and vocal performance, respectively) but they also have roots in popular music and more than thirty years' combined performance experience. In their case, this has resulted in recordings which present classical music alongside popular music, with classical guitar-centered arrangements. It makes for a unique and satisfying mix -- for example, An Early Spring includes the lively round "Sumer Is Icumen In" (the earliest known secular vocal work from around 1250 A.D.) layered with Gaspar Sanz' famous guitar solo "Canarios;" the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" arranged for classical guitar, cello, and female vocals; and an arrangement of the first movement of Vivaldi's "Spring" violin concerto for eight classical guitars, cello and harpsichord.

The eclectic musical mix, superb musicianship, vocal variety, rich acoustic arrangements and flawless production combine to appeal to a listening audience looking beyond pop and new age, yet perhaps unfamiliar with or intimidated by traditional classical music. Music by Mike and Linda Coates truly combines the best of both musical worlds.

song list

1. HERE COMES THE SUN
Words and Music: George Harrison
Vocals: Lisa Briggs, Linda Coates, Bec Smith
Recorder: Linda Coates
Cello: Nathan Davis
Classical guitar, keyboards: Mike Coates


2.. THE SALLEY GARDENS
Words: W.B. Yeats
Music: Irish Folk Song
Vocals: Mark Schowalter
Violin: Jane Linde Capistran
Cello: Nathan Davis
Classical guitar: Mike Coates

3. SUMMER IS A-COMING IN
(Sumer ls lcumen ln)
Words: Anonymous
Music: About 1250 A.D
Vocals: Bonnie Ruebke, Maria Clarys, Linda Coates,
Howard Clarys, Roger Grimm
Classical guitar: Mike Coates

4. THE SEEDS OF LOVE
Somerset Folk Song
Vocals: Linda Coates
Classical guitar: Mike Coates

5. "SPRING" from THE FOUR SEASONS
Music: Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Allegro from Violin Concerto in E major, Op. 8, No. 1, "Spring"
Arrangement: Mike Coates
Guitars, keyboards: Mike Coates
Cello: Nathan Davis

6. HANSA
Words and Music: Mike Coates
COPYRIGHT 1974, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Dedicated to WhiteWing and the memory of Dan Holmes

Silently, through the mist of the morn
Alone in the haze
Quiet waves trace the path that you've borne
The wisdom of your ways

Freedom voices her cry
You spread your wings to the sky

And in the morning light
I see your lonely flight
Soft sunlight beckons beyond
The winter's darkest night
Will never still your flight
Oh Hansa, fly for me

A gentle wind whispers soft in my ear
As you fade from view
Though sorrow plays very near
No pain follows you

Freedom aloft in the sky
Will call your children to fly

And in the morning light
I see your lonely flight
Soft sunlight beckons beyond
The winter's darkest night
Will never still your flight
Oh Hansa, fly for me

Hansa: A swan or mythical bird of beauty which
symbolizes the soul.

Vocals: Bec Smith
Backing vocals: Linda Coates
Classical & Acoustic Guitars, keyboards: Mike Coates

7. HAVE YOU SEEN BUT A WHITE LILY GROW
Music: Anonymous, from the time of James I
Poem by Ben Jonson
Vocals: Howard Clarys
Guitar: Mike Coates

8. NOW IS THE MONTH OF MAYING
Words and Music: Thomas Morley (1557-1603)
Vocals: Bonnie Ruebke, Linda Coates, Maria Clarys, Howard Clarys, Roger Grimm
Classical guitar: Mike Coates

9. THE LOWEST TREES HAVE TOPS
Words: Anonymous, 16th century English
Music: Linda Coates
Vocals: Linda Coates
Oboe: Christine Carere-Harding
Classical guitar: Mike Coates

10. MOONCHILD
Words: Pete Sinfield
Music: King Crimson-Robert Fripp, Ian McDonald, Greg Lake, Michael Giles
Dedicated to Michael Piper
Vocals: Chris Ochsner
Flute: Debora Harris
Clarinet, Chimes, Rainstick: Linda Coates
Classical guitar, keyboards: Mike Coates

11. IT WAS A LOVER AND HIS LASS
(In Springtime)
Words: William Shakespeare (As You Like It)
Music: Thomas Morley (The First Booke of Ayres - 1600)
Vocals: Robert Jones
Backing vocals: Linda Coates
Guitar: Mike Coates

12. APRIL IS IN MY MISTRESS' FACE
Words and Music: Thomas Morley (1557-1603)
Members of the Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale:
Soprano: Beth Larsen, Bonnie Ruebke
Alto: Mary Ann Berg, Linda Coates
Tenor: John Laskey, Jeff Mueller
Bass: Robert McGahey, Carl Wichman
Classical guitar: Mike Coates

13. BRANLE GAY
"Que je chatoulle ta fossette"
Music: Unknown, Ed. Pierre Attaingnant (d. 1552)
Recorder: Linda Coates
Violin: Jane Linde Capistran
English horn: Christine Carere-Harding
Trombone: Stener Anderson
Percussion: Mike Coates

14. THE WATER IS WIDE
(Waly, Waly)
Somerset Folk Song
Vocals: Linda Coates
Guitar: Mike Coates

15. SUMMER IS A-COMING IN, Reprise
(Sumer ls lcumen ln)
Words: Anonymous
Music: About 1250 A.D
Additional music on reprise: "Canarios" by Gaspar Sanz, 1674
Guitar arrangement from facsimile of original tablature for
5-course Baroque guitar: Mike Coates


Special thanks to "The Not Ready for the Renaissance" Singers:
Soprano: Bonnie Ruebke
Soprano/Alto: Linda Coates
Alto/Tenor: Maria Clarys
Tenor: Howard Clarys
Baritone: Roger Grimm
Chorusmaster: Sam Adams

 

Mike and Linda Coates Discography:

The Summer Air

Fall in Love

An Early Spring

Winter's Night