Instructor: Sheila Kay Adams

During the summer and early fall months of 1916-1918, the renowned English folklorist and collector, Cecil Sharp, spent a total of 46 weeks in the southern Appalachian mountains locating and recording singers who sang what he called, “English Folk-Songs.” Fourteen and a half weeks were spent in Madison County, NC which he referred to as “The Laurel Country” where he collected 231 “love songs.” Of the Laurel Country he said, “I found myself for the first time in my life in a community in which singing was as common and almost as universal a practice as speaking.” The majority of the singers were my relatives - from my great-great Aunt Mary Sands, he collected 25 love songs, from Mrs. Ruben (Clora) Hensley, 26 songs and Mrs. Tom (Ona) Rice, 18 songs. They were first cousins to both my grandmothers. In this workshop, we’ll tag along with Sharp and through my family stories we’ll “visit” with the singers and “listen” to their songs as they were passed down to me. Come prepared to learn at least one of those love-songs that I’ll teach in the same manner in which it was taught to me. Please join us for the other side of the story of Sharp’s meanderings through my part of the world! It’ll be great fun!