If you took photos or videos of the event, please share them here: https://www.dropbox.com/request/5gaERTudQFFWlrBDxADc
Thanks to all that joined us in Berryville, VA, from January 3rd to 5th 2025, for a weekend celebrating the launch of The Valley Pocket Harmonist! Festivities began Friday evening, with a social gathering and singing from 6–8 pm. Saturday features a traditional all-day singing with a potluck lunch and opportunities for composers to lead their works. Sunday offered workshops and performances to explore the tunebook’s content and its composers—both historical and contemporary.
“The group of more than 70 people sang for nearly six hours, as members took turns leading the hymns…. All hymns were sung from the recently published Valley Pocket Harmonist, which includes previously published hymns dating back to the 19th century. It also includes contemporary works, many of which were written by composer John Bayer Jr. He died before the book was finished.” —“Singers celebrate new ‘shape note’ hymnal in Berryville“, WMRA Radio
Workshops:
Songs of Zion – Josh Barnett and Rachel Hall
Obscure and Non-Traditional Sources – John delRe and Nora Miller
Wilkinson, Folk, and Family Songs – Dan Hunter and Cheri MacNeil
Videos:
Here is a playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdNDFwi1d7i5pc-ujt7VvfkLvL8haSSWT