American blues icon Ruthie Foster released Mama Said on her 2007 recording The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster. The lyrics are a mother's advice to her daughter, warning her to "learn how to pray" and to "fall on your knees before you fall in the wrong direction." This arrangement is deliberately "choral," preferring to honor Ms. Foster's exquisite vocal shadings--a bend here, a fall-off there--by avoiding exact imitation. The basses provide the rhythm section of electric bass and closed hi-hat cymbal, leaving the upper three parts in gospel harmony in all but a few measures of the piece. The divisi is confined to a few chords and is not difficult. An arresting and totally unique setting that will be a favorite with any group that is comfortable singing unaccompanied. |
