This traditional American folk song, arranged by Aaron Copland and Irving Fine, has a rich history spanning the Atlantic Ocean, given a new sort of life by some of the 20th century’s most accomplished, classically trained musicians—Benjamin Britten and Aaron Copland.

Britten (1913-1976) was a renowned English composer whose choral works are beloved by choirs worldwide (although they’re not easy, which I can report from experience). Britten asked American composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990) to write a song cycle for Britten to perform with his longtime collaborator and life partner, the tenor Peter Pears. The resulting cycle, Old American Songs, was well received at its 1950 premiere at the Aldeburgh Festival (which Britten had founded two years earlier). Click here to listen to Peter Pears, ever the high-class Brit. He starts this song at 3:53 of the YouTube clip, which includes a few other songs from the same cycle.

Copland then created a new version for baritone and orchestra, which was premiered by American bass-baritone William Warfield and the L.A. Philharmonic in 1955. Warfield was closely associated with this cycle for the rest of his career and recorded it, with Copland conducting, in 1963. And for a little interpretative contrast, click this link to hear Warfield’s terrific version. 

Finally, here’s the choral version, performed by the Eastern New Mexico University Chamber Singers. You’ll hear that it’s a crowd-pleaser.