Program Note

Eskimo Lullaby (2006): The composer writes, “Eskimo Lullaby is one of the ‘songs’ from Songs and Toods, five pieces written for the Lou Harrison Just Intonation Resonator Guitar. It is loosely based on a piano arrangement I found in a book of Canadian folk songs.” John Schneider’s recording of this piece appeared on the anthology Cold Blue Two. Reviewing that recording: “Certainly one of the CD’s most arresting pieces is Larry Polansky’s gentle Eskimo Lullaby, not so much for the beauty of its Just-Intonation National steel guitar playing—as pretty as it is—but for the unexpected inclusion of guitarist John Schneider’s unadorned vocal.(Textura) “. . . disarmingly lovely, glowing Eskimo Lullaby, written by Larry Polansky for Lou
Harrison’s just-intonation National guitar and the diaphanous, untrained voice of guitarist John Schneider (NewMusicBox)