In close harmony

Today Windborne the famous a Capella group from Massachusetts, were in Humshaugh for a morning workshop and an afternoon concert. I was at both.

I think I will need a rest after this weekend!

I have been to one of their workshops before and they were just as good again. The hall was almost full of participants and we worked hard with the singers. They teach by call and response and we had on song to learn in Occitan, an old language spoken by very few people in southern France and some surrounding area.

After lunch, the quartet gave a concert. More people arrived for this and the hall was definitely full by then.

This group sings in a variety of styles. Their repertoire is mainly allied with social activism, labour and civil rights, and other movements that champion the oppressed, the poor, and the disenfranchised. 

They rarely use instruments so the extra, with the Jews' harps was worth recording. (These mouth instruments have nothing to do with Judaism and no one knows definitely how the name arose. There are several theories.)

Their UK tour ends on 5th February and they will be playing in Manchester, Wrexham, Bangor, East Runton and Eye in the next few days. Don't miss them if they are near to you.