NORTHUMBRIAN MUSIC
NIGHTS
What we said about
Village Harmony
Village Harmony Transcendent
in Allendale
'Young people searching for a musical experience that is transcendent' -- that's how the concert last Thursday night of Village Harmony at St. Cuthbert's Parish Church in Allendale was billed, and it would be fair to say that the billing was fulfilled in all particulars.
Take a whole bunch of teenagers, throw them into a weeklong summer camp under the direction of Kate Howard and Val Mindell, facilitators of the exciting harmony and rhythm of the shape note tradition now re-emanating out of Vermont, and at the end of the camp session, take the best ones out on the road to tour around the UK, performing and sharing with others who are also searching.
Take the music of the hollers of Appalachia, take some ancient Balkan orthodox harmonics, take some thrilling African rhythms, add in some gospel, some classic Irish fiddling enthusiasm, with a bit of melancholy Scottish vocals and some catchy French-Canadian syncopation, and wrap it all together in a vigorously counterpointing discipline from the stern New England states, and you've discovered shape note singing as it is today.
Several of the pieces were composed by members of the choral ensemble, whether individual instrumentals on piano or violin, or full choral works. You had the impression, as you watched young faces illuminate with the spirit of encompassing music delivered with professional aplomb, that this musical experience was great fun, too.
Rafters really can ring, and they were ringing in sympathetic resonance with the lively voices of Village Harmony, just as the entire audience shared in the power of the final workshop-practised harmonies which saw Kate's large voice, accompanied by virtuoso members of the choir, soaring on exalted melodies way up into the stratosphere.
From the delighted reports communicated back to the organisers, Northumbrian Music Nights, over the next several days after the concert, it seems that Allendale's rewarding experience, in a whole panoply of harmonies, looks set to be repeated next year. And which of our local teenagers, do you suppose, will be on home ground when they find themselves touring with next year's ensemble?
