Who were the Shakers? What did they believe? Where are they now? Long associated with furniture, celibacy and dance, the Shakers have been much more- a religious community that celebrated communal life, racial & gender equality, and the divine feminine centuries before such ideas were even close to acceptable in the American mainstream. They've also been prolific songwriters who have contributed much to the American repertoire. In this workshop, we’ll explore historic Shaker culture by learning 18th and 19th-century Shaker songs with their messages of love, humility, and community, as well as their expressions of the feminine aspects of God. We will teach several melodies, a few lovely harmonies, and also play with layering song parts on top of each other to create interesting polyphonies.
Samples: Pretty Mother's Home, I Want a Broken Heart
Saro Lynch-Thomason and Miranda Brown are the song leaders teaching this workshop. Saro has spent years researching and teaching historic repertoires from Appalachia and the Southeast. Miranda runs a community sing in Lexington, Kentucky and previously worked at the Pleasant Hill Shaker Village as a historical interpreter. Neither are Shakers, but both love to celebrate the relevance and power of Shaker songs through workshops and performance.
When: Friday, February 22nd, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Where: Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Gray, TN
Cost: $25 for church members, $35-50 sliding scale for the general public.
You must register for this event! E-mail Saro at blairpathways@gmail.com to sign up!
Shaker Song Workshop