Have you ever wondered what Shaker songs are out there beyond “Simple Gifts”?
Over the course of this weekend, a handful of great New England songleaders will share and teach a collection of original Shaker songs with participants, in a simple and unadorned style inspired by Shaker aesthetics and sensibilities. These will include an emphasis on early Shaker wordless songs and other songs from the repertoire that are accessible to all singers.
Our aim over the weekend is to create a small chorus of singers to learn Shaker songs. It will be less about being “instructed” on how to sing, and more about creating a small group of mixed voices that will sing these songs together at a final concert. Each of our song leaders will offer two to three songs to the group, with a final repertoire of about one dozen songs. We hope participants will then take them back to their home communities and share them more broadly. This will be quite a special and rare small group experience!
The beginning of this three-part weekend takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17 at Darthia Farm (51 Darthia Farm Road, Gouldsboro). Sing in the barn of a working horse-powered farm inspired by Shaker aesthetics! Please bring your own lunch. On Sunday, Aug. 18 the workshop will continue from 1-3 p.m. at Bagaduce Music in Blue Hill (49 South St.). The final concert will be held later that day at 7 p.m. at the Burnt Cove Church (58 S. Burnt Cove Road, Stonington).
