The Essex Children’s Choir presents an afternoon of special music making with Deb Flanders and Robert Resnik on Saturday, November 14, at 4:30 p.m., at the McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester. In pre-celebration of the choir’s 30th anniversary in May 2016, this program has been created to recognize, preserve, and promote the traditional folksongs and ballads collected by Helen Hartness Flanders. Over a period of thirty years, Mrs. Flanders, with the assistance of Marguerite Olney, collected 4800 field recordings of New England folksongs and ballads sung by native Vermonters. The program will highlight melodies collected by Mrs. Flanders from Bethel, East Burke/Mt. Psiah, East Calais, Hardwick, Ludlow, Marlboro, Pittsford, Readsboro, South Royalton, Springfield, Townshed, Wardsboro, and from Charleston, New Hampshire. In addition, the Choir will perform traditional melodies arranged in artistic settings by Benjamin Britten, Aaron Copland, Harry T. Burleigh, and others.

The traditional folksong is a key component in the Essex Children’s Choir music curriculum. These songs contain the science of sound that is used for ear training to read and write the language of musical sound just as letters of the alphabet contain sounds for learning to read and write the English language. Come and experience the disappearing tradition of family gatherings during the holiday season where one can rejoice, feast, and share in the joy of singing.

The Preservation of Vermont Folksong project is sponsored by an IBM Community Grant with support from the staff at the Middlebury College Special Collections and Archives, and the Fine Arts Department at Saint Michael’s College. Donations will be received at the door. For additional information, contact (802) 863-9161 or visit www.essexchildrenschildrenschoirofvermont.org .

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Jan 29, 2025, 9 AM to 4 PM

Jan 30, 2025, 3:30 PM