"Days of Gold is a companion to They Came Singing: Songs from California's History. Both books and CDs are important additions to the multicultural study of California History. These valuable resources for history buffs, teachers and singers should be included in all school and public libraries and museums throughout the West."
Marilyn Sousa, Crescendo, Publication of Kodaly Association of Southern California
"The multicultural richness of California's musical history is showcased in these two unique books. Lovingly compiled by Calicanto Associates (four educators trained in the Kodaly system of teaching music to elementary school students). Both Days of Gold! and They Came Singing present dozens of songs in simple arrangements that include harmonies, guitar chords, and additional lyrics. There are indigenous songs, sea shanties, work songs, spirituals, game songs, love songs, drinking songs, nineteenth-century popular tunes from the diggings or the Mexican-American War, and many other folk songs brought to California by immigrants. Original foreign language lyrics, in native Californian tongues, Spanish, Italian, German, French, Russian, Chinese (phonetically rendered) and Hawaiian, are arranged between staffs directly above their English translations. True to the Kodaly method, which equally emphasizes singing, music reading and writing, listening, movement and improvisation, both books augment the sheet music with illustrations, notes on history and culture, maps, glossaries, poems, playlets, directions for performance of songs, dances and playing of games, and sidebars on pronunciation of foreign language elements ...”
"Coupled with the editors' obvious love of music, the thoroughness of both Days of Gold! and They Came Singing bears out the sentiment expressed in the epigraph of the latter title. The quote from Hendrik Van Loon asserts that 'It is more vital to feel history than to memorize its details'."
Roberto Landzari, Corporate Archivist at Dolby Laboratories, California History, The Magazine of the California Historical Society, Winter, 2000/2001
"... We (KASC) very much enjoyed your wonderful, informative, historically-correct, enjoyable and entertaining workshop, with so much good material for the teachers to take right back to their classrooms
Marilyn Sousa, re: Kodaly Association of Southern California/Los Angeles Unified School District workshop, North Hollywood, CA
I was inspired with California's colorful history through this music and I plan to use it more effectively with my students.
Alice Isaac, President, Central California Association of Kodaly Educators, Fresno
"Proving that general music teachers can also be wonderful performers, the group of teachers who presented "California History Through Folksong" used an incredible array of instruments . . . Playing on everything from banjo to really old washboards, they sang in unison and beautiful harmony as they led us through the pages of California history. Their book is a broad resource of both historical information, maps and music. I was delighted to find several selections in Spanish which I can use with my bilingual classes."
Tempo, CMEA Bay Section Newsletter
I am blown away by the excellence of your music and the depth of your research.
Mary Herzle, classroom music teacher, Los Angeles
"Thank you again for giving up your weekend to be with us. Monday morning 4th grade teachers at our school were already "delving in" - teaching from your materials. They were very excited to have those resources.”
Marilyn Shepherd, re: Carlsbad School District In-service, Hope School, Carlsbad, California
"Calicanto presents music with dignity and style. They are individually accomplished musicians, teachers and researchers. They give the various ethnic groups homage and importance for their individual contributions to California's diversity."
Karen Bellinger, President, Central California Association of Kodaly Educators, California State University, Fresno
"Throughout the day and the weekend, OCTA members came to me with their enthusiastic compliments and thanks for your marvelous program of recitation and music to tell the Anza Trail. I cannot remember in my 25 years with OCTA that I have ever seen a spontaneous standing ovation to speakers or musicians. It came from every member who was touched by their own family experience about the migration of men and women with their children to settle or move into a new region or state or city.
You taught us with song and music to accept to mourn and to be joyous at any occasion. So many people commented that they enjoyed being educated about the Anza Trail. You have an outstanding program to share"
Mary Mueller, Oregon-California Trails Association, May 7, 2006
"Thanks again for your wonderful performance of the Calicanto Singers last week. It was truly a delight, and it gave our visitors an appreciation for the music and instruments of the Gold Rush. Your stories and songs were entertaining and educational - and the audience loved them. It was a great family program!. . . "
Margaret Kadoyama, Museum Consultant, Oakland museum of California, James Moore Theatre, re: "Days of '49! Songs from California's History with the Calicanto Singers, June 26, 1998
"The Calicanto Singers imparted a sense of what it must have been like to live in California at the time of the Gold Rush."
Terry Heinzman, Event coordinator, Oakland Museum of California
Working from their initial success with They Came Singing: Songs from California History. . . . Calicanto Associates has scored another big hit. This latest compilation is a diverse collection of songs and chants from the Gold Rush era. Beginning with "Getting to the Gold Fields," the recordings all come with lyrics and short historical explanation. Teachers can select traditional well-known songs such as "Oh California," Sweet Betsy from Pike", and "Buffalo Gals,." The really interesting part is titled "A Mix of Cultures" and features song selections of the California Indians, Californios and early Black settlers. Of special interest is "Cuatro Milpas," a Mexican lament retelling how Californios lost their ranchero land. In another section, songs honoring gold seekers from Hawaii, Australia and China - Pacific emigrants, are contrasted with musical selections of French, German and Italian "49ers."
The musical composition and performance on the CD are of an excellent quality. Your students will surely enjoy listening to, or singing, songs from this historically valuable collection - a must for every fourth grade teacher! It is important to remember that one of the most effective methods of developing historical empathy in students is to allow them to do "living history" and of the best way to do this is to let them become "49ers," performing Gold Rush songs.
Teachers will also find Days of Gold an effective tool in teaching appreciation of different cultures. As they listen to the lyrics and grasp the vary rhythms of each song, students can't help but build an understanding of cultural values and traditions.
Al Rocca, Social Studies Review, Journal of the California Council of the Social Studies Spring/Summer, 2000, Volume 39 #2
"This book and CD represent a massively researched and well organized collection of sixty-two songs, documenting the history of California from the days before the Spanish explorations, up to the Gold Rush era . . . . .The songs represented tell a fascinating story of the history of California, from the days of the many tribes of native people, to the Spanish "mission era" to the days of cowboys and gold-seekers. There are songs in Spanish. Russian, and Chinese; sea shanties, hymns and funny songs too. The producers' aim is to get teachers and children singing together, rather than simply listening to someone else's recording. That's the beauty of this set, and the reason why I wish every state could produce a project like these folks have undertaken. They Came Singing is an example of how anyone can use our traditional music to educate and inspire." MD
Sing Out! Spring 2004, Vol. 48
“This outstanding collection of 63 traditional songs allows you and your students to relive the musical and social history of our state…Your students will feel the emotion of real people living in a real place, facing real challenges, and celebrating life's pleasures…”
Al Rocca, Social Studies Review, Journal of the California Council for the Social Studies, Spring/Summer, 1997
“This book is a treasure! It provides a wonderfully rich resource for all those who are interested in California's unique and colorful history. It is a very important work because there is nothing else like it on the market.”
Peggy Lawrence, Fourth Grade Teacher