Voice | Jefferson Hamer | All Levels | Period 1 | Week 2 (July 13-18, 2025)
In this group singing class, we will examine some well-known songs from the familiar collection of Francis James Child and arrange them in class for group harmony singing. Often narrative in style and lacking obvious choruses, these long-form songs present a unique challenge, and opportunity, as vehicles for harmonization. As collected by Child, they are presented without melody, and in many different textual settings. We will sing through some of the “hits” of the collection and look for the obvious chords and harmony parts.
About the Instructor
Jefferson Hamer is a guitarist, songwriter, traditional musician, and producer of studio recordings. He is best known for his collaborations with Anais Mitchell (Child Ballads, recipient of a BBC2 Folk Award), Sarah Jarosz (as guitarist and harmony singer on her Grammy-nominated Blue Heron Suite), Session Americana, and other solo artists including Kristin Andreassen, Reed Foehl, and Laura Cortese. His original songs are featured on his self-released albums and singles, including the full-length Alameda. Perhaps his most enduring collaboration is The Murphy Beds, a harmony-rich folk duo with Irish musician and songwriter Eamon O’Leary, featuring a self-titled LP and the follow-up Easy Way Down.