There is just something about fall...

Last month Chris and I were able to get down to Baltimore and sing with our old group, which was wonderful for a million reasons.  Not least of which was the FOOD.  Our friend Nora made the most amazing squash dish with pecans and gorgonzola... Yum.

Take a little inspiration from that visit, and a little inspiration from an upcoming holiday that shall remain nameless (not to mention a little procrastination on some pretty important projects), and I think you'll find that the next monthly North Country Shape Note Singing may also be a bit of a feast.

But only if you come!

Saturday, November 15th
6-9pm

NEW LOCATION!!

We'll be breaking the sound barrier at the new WREN Space
WREN: The Collaboratory
117 Main Street
Berlin, NH

No experience necessary.  All our welcome.  And no, we don't care if you "can't sing."

Next singing: August 16th!

Hi all!

Our next regular North Country Sacred Harp singing will be held this coming Saturday, August 16th, 6-9pm at WREN921 (921 Main Street, Berlin NH).

All are welcome, and no experience is necessary (so bring a friend)!

We take a short break about halfway through for a snack.  Please bring something to share.

Stay tuned over the next few months, as we will have a few schedule and location changes! 

Also, of note:

Our friend, Amelie, is performing with Village Harmony this summer, including a concert this Thursday in Tamworth.  If you want to listen to a group of fabulously energetic children and teenagers singing traditional music from around the world (including some shapenote music) you'll want to check this out!

Thursday, August 14 –Tamworth, NH

7:30pm

Tamworth Congregational Church

Next Singing: July 19th!

Join us at WREN921 in Berlin for the regular third Saturday Sacred Harp Singing

Saturday, July 19th
6 - 9pm

921 Main Street
Berlin, New Hampshire

We'll sing from the Sacred Harp, taking a short break about halfway through for a potluck snack.
Bring a friend.   Bring your voice.  Bring a snack to share if you are able.

This event is free (small donations to help run the space are accepted gratefully) and open to the public.  No experience necessary.  We're always happy to teach the basics to beginners.
We have tune to loan and to sell.

Have we shared this one yet?
These folks are actually singing out of a Primitive Baptist hymnal, but this song is in our book, too.  It's a little tricky with time changes and lots of notes, but it's super killer.



Don't forget!  We're singing in Berlin, NH this coming Saturday, May 17th.
6-9pm
WREN921
921 Main Street
Berlin, NH

All are welcome.  We have books for sale or loan, and if we have our brains screwed on straight, we might even remember to bring The Shapenote Machine.
See you there!

Singing in Maine, singing in New Hampshire...

There will be a Portland Singing on Sunday, April 6th, 1 - 4 p.m. at The
New Church, 302 Stevens Ave., Portland.  The shapenote singing is
a free, participatory event, not a performance.  No experience is necessary
and beginners are warmly welcomed.  We will be singing from
the Sacred Harp, 1991 Denson edition.  Books will be available for loan or
purchase.  For those who can, please bring a snack to share
during the break.

AND, don't forget the North Country monthly shape note singing in Berlin--Saturday, April 19th.  6-9pm.

Wee!

There's a whole lot of singing going on!!

This past weekend was the Western Mass Sacred Harp Convention, held every March in Northampton, Massachusetts since...I don't know...1999?   Western MA is where I grew up, and where I started singing, so it'll always have a place in this loud hymn-singing heart of mine.

Here's our pal, Jonathon, leading a tune (page 189, Montgomery) at this convention a few years ago.  Incidentally, today is Jonathon's birthday.  Wee!



We weren't able to attend this year, and it's a shame because this is the first year they've held the annual convention at their regular weekly singing location instead of at the Center for the Arts.  Pretty neat.  It must have felt almost like having an weekend-long convention in your living room.  I'm really enjoying going through everyone's photos and videos of the singing.

Not to be outdone... the North Country Monthly Singing will be this coming Saturday!  Beware the Ides of March!

That's right... this Saturday, March 15th
6 - 9 pm at WREN921
921 Main Street
Berlin, NH 03581

Come with your voice and a snack to share.  We will teach you what you need to know if you've not sung this music before.

And THEN!  In April we're hoping to make it to the Portland, Maine monthly singing.  They sing on the first Sundays of the month, so it looks like we'll be headed their way on Sunday, April 6th.  You'll join us, right?
Come on.....

Happy Valentine's Day, nerds!

Here's just about the only romantic shape-note song I'm aware of...


We're singing tomorrow (Saturday, February 15th) at WREN921.

921 Main Street
Berlin, NH

6pm - 9pm with a break for a snack midway through.
Bring something to share if you are able.