Michael Roy and Jan - The Duets
MR and Jan sang many duo concerts from the 70's through the 90's. They also sang their duets, as a special act, in many of the larger choral concerts, such as the Country/Bluegrass. The combo of bass-baritone and alto-tenor was versatile and inspired complex arrangements. Many of the duets were spirituals, old and historic hymns, or songs written by MR, as opposed to contemporary sacred and praise and worship. All are MR's original arrangements, and his guitar work.
Lord of the Dance - This song, based on the early American Shaker tune, "Simple Gifts," was written in 1962 by Sydney B. Carter, an Englishman who served as an ambulance driver in a Quaker unit during WWII. Here, it is sung by Michael Roy and Jan, with MR on guitar and Diane
Maltby on piano/organ. MR also plays the soprano recorder in the instrumental interlude. This was not in-concert, but recorded in remote studio conditions at Redlands Community Church in the '90's. It was used in the duet concerts by Michael and Jan, and always was well received. Michael displays the complex folk-style guitar finger-picking based on the "Travis pick."
Don't Let Me Come Home a Stranger - As happens in concert recording situations, this song is missing its first phrase: "As I walked out one evening to breathe the air and clear my mind: I thought of friends and the home I had, and all the things I've left behind..." This song is about the
prodigal who prays that, if he/she ever gets homes again, to not come home a stranger. MR and Jan heard this song on Prairie Home Companion, written and sung by Robin and Linda Williams. As flawed as this recording is, their extent duets from back in the day are rare and many were never recorded...even with flaws.
Goodbye, World, Goodbye - This version of the Southern Gospel gem is completely in-studio, overdubbed by MR and Jan. MR plays guitars and elec. bass. Although this recording is a studio overdub, wherein MR and Jan add other voices, in fact they sang this song (with other singers) and this same arrangement as a duet in many concert situations, so it gets on this duet page by a technicality.
These Proceedeth - Again, another studio overdubbed version of a duet MR and Jan sang in live concerts; the live performance, however, was never recorded, so this suffices. Hear an excellent song displaying huge overdubs of vocals to create background vocals behind Jan's and Michael's
duet lead. It is complexedly canonic to boot. The instruments are Michael's guitar tracks in stereo, elec. bass, and multiple flute and bass flute interludes and assorted licks. The lyrics are quite simple: "Love and joy and peace and hope proceedeth from the Lord." MR wrote this song back in the '70's, which is when it was recorded in his home studio. MR & Jan used this in their duet concerts as an audience participation song. The guitar part is so much fun it hurts to play it.
Daddy Sang Bass / Will the Circle Be Unbroken - This concert duet esculates wildly into bluegrass, but it starts off with the well-liked country song they often sang as a stand-alone, featuring Michael Roy, the bass singer, and Jan, the tenor singing the roles of Daddy and Mama.
It then careens full-tilt into "Will the Circle.." with the bluegrass band on fire. The audience is disbelieving as Ken Barret on the five-string, Jim Miauri on the mandolin, MR on the acoustic guitar, and Dale Chapel on string bass turn the old mountain gospel song into a great bluegrass piece. Diane is also back there stealthfully adding a bit of gospel piana to the mix. It was much fun for the pickers and grinners,.. and the full-house audience (at RCC in '98) also loved it.
Bright, Bright, the Holly Berries: (Alfred Burt) Jan and Michael Roy sing this challenging arrangement of one of the enchanting Burt carols (he also wrote "Caroling, Caroling"). Michael plays guitar (recorded a bit too loud, alas), and Diane supplies the piano accompaniment. This
song, nonstop lyrics, and guitar part is quite complex, and one of its difficulties is lengthy lyrical phrases which require long-winded singing. But,..we were in our prime. (in concert - RCC - Christmas Eve, 1993)
Somebody's Knockin' at Your Door: (arr. MR) Recordings of Jan and Michael's duets, which they sang in many duo church concerts between 1970 and 1990, are extremely rare: regrettably, many were never recorded in their home studio, and recordings of them in-concert are all but
nonexistent. This recording is a bit sketchy in quality, but is at least an extant recording of one of their arrangements of spirituals. A third harmony voice was added by MR, but this is the basic duet version, with guitar accompanying.
Long Time Ago in Bethlehem - (Arr. MR) This trad. Caribbean Carol is usually sung by Michael and Jan as a duet. This performance, from an RCC Christmas concert in 1998, added several other voices to the refrain harmonies, but is essential in duet form. MR plays guitar and Diane adds organ. Aremis Rios is on bongos.
I Will Arise - (Arr. MR) An authentic early American hymn tune, and pure pentatonic: the melody never touches the fourth ("fa, a long.long way to run") or seventh ("ti, a drink with jam and bread"), but uses only the other five degrees of the scale. Jan sings this haunting tune that was first seen
in the famous "Southern Harmony" publication that has so many early American hymns in initial published form. The arrangement features a digital orchestration of strings, elec. bass, and piano. The guitar and recorder were played by MR. Listen for complex three-part canons on the tune, first, separated by a measure, and then by only two beats.
Via Dolorosa - (Arr. MR) This duet by Michael and Jan is from a Palm Sunday/Easter Concert. 1995, at Redlands Community Church. MR is also playing guitar. Diane Maltby is at the organ. MR introduces the song with a few lighthearted comments about how it's the sopranos and tenors of singing that get "famous"; bass-baritones and altos, scarcely.