Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Folk-Gospel/Blues-Gospel Acoustic meetup

Details

Some of the greatest music of the last 150 years has derived from the folk and blues-gospel tradition. This was a music with deep spiritual roots, born from a special time in history. The words and music reflect suffering and joy, faith and hope. It is a precious part of our collective heritage. Come play and sing this uplifting music and feel the power of its simple but deep refrains...

Some of the great blues-gospel artists include Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Willie Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Robert Johnson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sleepy John Estes, Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Notable folk-gospel artists include Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Mother Maybelle Carter, Gillian Welch, Allison Krause, Ralph Stanley, Emmylou Harris...

Please confirm RSVPs one week prior to meetup

IMPORTANT: This will be primarily an Acoustic Coffeehouse style meetup with a group singing emphasis- There will be some pro and semi-pro performers together with skilled amateur musicians playing. You should prepare/arrange your music to lead it, and direct the group regarding the scope of accompaniment you desire.

This is excellent material for building our group singing ability and some of you may have extensive experience in choir and gospel singing to help guide us. I suggest singing prepared arrangements by the lead singers for the verses and directed group singing for the chorus sections. We should aim to fill in various ranges and create harmonies.

When you RSVP, please try and post the songs you'll bring on the meetup page. The sooner you post your song, the sooner you might work with other members on group arrangements.

We will be welcoming special musical guest Aleksandra Vargas, a highly accomplished, classically trained singer to our event.

If you are able to prepare a duo or trio act in advance- that would be splendid. Communicate with one another and create musical partnerships!

So Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring.....

...We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

(from James Weldon Johnson- 'Lift Every Voice and Sing')

Song list for "Folk-Blues Gospel Meetup"

(threw in a few easy group songs in case we don't get volunteers)