From Earth to Sky:
An International Folk Song Festival
June 21, 22, 23, 2002
Sundin Hall, Hamline University
Folk music, what is it?
According to Bruno Nettl, in his book, Folk and Traditional Music of the Western Continents, folk music is defined as "...involving people who are not professional musicians and consists of music that all of the people in a culture can understand and in which many can participate." Nettl also believes that "Folk music has the fascinating quality of being both old and contemporary, of being representative of a people's ancient traditions as well as an indicator of their current tastes."
On June 21-23, the members of One Voice Mixed Chorus performed multiple arrangements of familiar and not-so-familiar folk songs from around the world, including folk songs in six foreign languages. Audience members were transported from the banks of Loch Lomond to a Home on the Range and many interesting places in-between.
Libby Turner, two-time Grammy Award winning vocalist was the guest artist for the OVMC June concert. Libby and the members of OVMC shared selections derived from a true American folksong genre, spirituals, from composers such as Thomas Dorsey, Duke Ellington and Roberta Davis.
I truly believe Nettl's statement that "An authentic [folk] song is thought to be one truly belonging to the people who sing it, one that really reflects their spirit and personality."
--Camilla J. Horne, Interim Director
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