Join Tim's FREE Shape Note workshop on Sunday, Oct 27 at 11 AM in CCAC's Annex.

Early American Shape-Note Singing School

The Sacred Harp tune book, first published in 1844 in Georgia, is at the heart of one of

America’s most vital homegrown musical practices. Within its pages, “Amazing Grace”

meets the toe-tapping “fuging tunes” of early New England, all harmonized for a four-part

social singing and written in a unique and practical notation system. Tim Eriksen has

been teaching this music around the world for over thirty years, his students ranging

from inner-city kindergarteners to the cast of the film "Cold Mountain." This workshop,

addressed to absolute beginners and more experienced singers alike, begins with the

basics of the human voice and group singing and includes an introduction to reading

shape-note music, notes on important aspects of history, traditional practice, and lots of

full-on singing. No prior experience is required.

Tim Eriksen is a widely respected practitioner of traditional American folksong, with a unique voice as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (banjo, fiddle, fretless bajo sexto, and guitar). Given the Jean Ritchie Musical Heritage Award by Ritchie herself and called “the best ballad singer of his generation” (BBC Radio) he has been celebrated for his “otherworldly harmonies” (Barbara Kingsolver) and as “one of the best singers in music” (T Bone Burnett). A pioneer of postpunk American folksong and the only man to have shared a stage with both Doc Watson and Kurt Cobain, Eriksen’s performances transport listeners to a world of moss and fireflies, dancing and mourning, Turkish castles, and New England graveyards. To some Tim Eriksen is known for his work with folk-noise innovators Cordelia’s Dad and Bosnian ensemble Žabe I Babe, to others for his collaborations with Omar Sosa, Eliza Carthy, Bonnie “Prince” Billy and films including the Oscar-winning Cold Mountain, and cult horror phenomenon The Outwaters. His song “I Wish The Wars Were All Over” was chosen by Joan Baez as her last recorded musical statement, and he has sung and taught early American shape note music around the world. His media appearances have included Mountain Stage, Prairie Home Companion, and the 2004 Academy Awards. He has performed at venues around the world including CBGB, the Newport Folk Festival, and as a soloist with a symphony orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Eriksen’s current projects include writing songs for new albums by Alison Krauss, working on an album featuring Abigail Washburn and Rhiannon Giddens produced by legendary producer Joe Boyd (Pink Floyd, Nick Drake, Ivo Papasov) and Andrea Goertler, and creating new works with world/jazz impresario Omar Sosa for a follow-up to their GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nominated Across the Divide Eriksen is the subject of an upcoming episode of the BBC World Service program Heart and Soul.