Spinner

Peter Yarrow Says Mary Travers Was 'Wowed' by the 'The Prague Sessions'

Peter YarrowThis week, a new Peter, Paul and Mary live album dubbed 'The Prague Sessions' was released, and for those that might know their landmark folk hits such as 'Puff the Magic Dragon,' 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' and Bob Dylan's 'Blowin' in the Wind,' the material here culls from approximately 30 shows the trio did with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. It may seem like an odd pairing, but throughout the 1980s and 1990s, they performed over 100 concerts with various orchestras.

All of this was born out of the trio's association with music director Robert De Cormier, who'd worked with Harry Belafonte and at the time, was director of the New York Choral Society. "We had these songs written for us that were pretty remarkable," Peter Yarrow tells Spinner. "No other arranger that I can think of has the capacity to unite folk music with orchestral music that doesn't feel idiomatic and synthetic."

As musicians age, it's not unlikely that their voices do as well, but for the most part, the music from 'The Prague Sessions' retains the rich harmonies Peter, Paul and Mary were known for. And Yarrow agrees, to an extent. "I don't think they were as precise as the voices of the first decade, but we had better experience and better empathy in certain ways," he says. "But what is lost in our vocal abilities is made up for by a greater command of the actual spirit and sound we were making."

'The Prague Sessions' serve as a posthumous tribute to Mary Travers, who passed away in September 2009 after a battle with Leukemia, and Yarrow says that he played her the preliminary mixes before her death. "She was wowed," he says. "She was so proud. She felt really strongly about was that she wanted the chapter of our musical history in Prague, the singing of these songs with orchestration. We only completed it shortly after her passing."

In a fitting tribute, the record closes with the orchestral piece 'Adagio for Strings,' a song Travers requested be played at her memorial celebration.

Download 'The Prague Sessions' on iTunes

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Vic Stalley

They are the best-best stories, best songs, great harmony and solid dedication to their fans and the things they believe in: they sung and continue to sing the the tenants of human kind's moral compass. And as a result, they remind us of what we can be as a nation and as human beings.

October 18 2010 at 8:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tom

I JUST FOUND OUT WHERE DEAN WAS BORN:

IN DOUCHE(N) BAG(EN), GERMANY WHERE ALL THE COLD HEARTED PEOPLE ARE! LOL!! LMFAO!

March 14 2010 at 6:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Marcia Weber

I had the privilege of seeing PP&M shortly before Mary's death, at the Kimmel Center in Phila. I have loved them since their beginnings, and have every album they have recorded, both together and solos. Sadly, they can no longer record, but their music will live on forever.

March 14 2010 at 11:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lee

Peter Yarrow, Mary Travers and Noel Paul Stookey will be remembered eternally as one harmonic voice of the 60's and forward into the 21st century. We, who grew up with them know their value and feel their loss when Mary passed away last year.

I, too, was priviledged to see them Live in Concert in the 80's at Universal Amphatheater in North Hollywood. Thank you for this album for our youth lives on with your voices in harmony.

March 14 2010 at 6:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David S.

While I don't typically sit at home and jam to Peter, Paul and Mary, it is tough to deny their talent. They harmonized well and didn't rely on studio tricks. Just pure musicians, which are sadly lacking from the current music world.

March 14 2010 at 4:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kentucky Jim

If you weren't around to listen to radio music in the early to mid 1960's then I would say you search for some of those recordings. You will find on them a pleasant variety of musical styles hidden within the song selections. Find the album with a number called "Polly Von" (not sure of spelling)and you will be pleasantly surprised. By the way, shame on the one who said "bullshit" Sorry about your loved one, but it has no bearing on PP&M's music. I'm a musician and I the work it takes to reherse and perform shows. Unless your a professional musician, then listen up or shut up.

March 14 2010 at 4:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rich AHARON


The orchestral arrangements were indeed inspired and
inspiring, as Paul reported Mary's reaction to be. There
was a humanity and timelessness in them that brought the group we all love to life in a way we never heard before. Yet it was done subtely in a way few of us even noticed. The Czeck orchestra gave them the eternity
they deserve; indeed, Mary can rest in peace.

March 14 2010 at 3:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave Anderson

Their voices, harmonies and lifelong committment to human/civil rights have inspired the best of my life - they never became a 'nostalgia act'- new songs and new stories and new passions stirred in them throughout their career. Mary's voice - commanding, warm, loving, passionate - the wonderful Peter and Paul - I miss Mary and I miss the sounds of their raised voices. Today's folk singers are holding the torch and it's burning brightly.

March 14 2010 at 3:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ETEE

How appropo. A return to the sweet strains of early 60's "Commie Light" for the Obama Kool-Aid slurper generation. I've always wondered why they didn't close their performances with their rendition of "The Internationale". Lets not bring up Peter's prurient interests in tender young boys, now, either. It's just not good for album sales.......

March 14 2010 at 1:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ed Baggett

I never saw them in person. They played Columbia,SC in 1963 where I'm from. I wish I had been so lucky.....

March 14 2010 at 1:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply