Shapenote Singing Workshop and Performance

Posted 01/11/11

This Sunday, January 16, the Starry Mountain Trio will be hosting a shapenote singing workshop and performance here at the Appalshop Theater, 91 madison avenue, from 3-5 pm. The workshop is free and open to the public, and donations are welcome. WMMT's Sylvia Ryerson spoke with trio members Avery Book, Susannah Park, and Giedeon Crevoshay to hear more about their group and the event on Sunday.

The Starry Mountain Trio was born from the nine-voice ensemble, the Starry Mountain Singers, and performs a wide range of traditional music from around the United States and abroad. The group’s members are all lifelong musicians who share a deep love of traditional vocal styles and a dedication to studying and performing them. The Starry Mountain Trio members have all toured extensively with Northern Harmony and Village Harmony. In addition, trio members have worked with Meredith Monk and the Revels International, and have participated in international recording projects of traditional Georgian music. The American repertoire includes shape-note songs (a traditional New England song style), and haunting folk tunes from the Appalachians, supplemented by traditional British ballads. The Georgian and Corsican songs are a mixture of sacred and secular pieces that demonstrate the incredible range of unique singing traditions from those countries. Each member has contributed songs from his or her particular area of musical knowledge and expertise, resulting in a dynamic and eclectic program that will delight world-music fans and lovers of choral performance.

For more information call 606-633-0108 or visit http://appalshop.org/wmmt/node/2238.