High Lonesome Bluegrass Mass

This week on Going Beyond Words and ACDA Radio, Host Stan Schmidt invites you to tune up your Banjo, Violin and String Bass and prepare yourselves for a musical treat based on some of this country’s most popular gospel and hymn melodies. “Come Away to the Skies: A High Lonesome Bluegrass Mass” by Wes Ramsey and Dr. Tim Sharp, Executive Director of the ACDA will be the feature work on the program.

This work was conceived in 2011 and was inscribed on a legal pad in a Deli on Music Row in Nashville, TN. The premiere took place in 2012 in Vancouver, Washington and since then has endured hundreds of performances throughout  the world including two performances in Carnegie Hall and one in Nashville’s Historic Ryman Auditorium, Home of the Grand Ole Opry. I am sure you will recognize the tunes organized with care to reflect the liturgy of a church service with an Introit, Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei just like a High Mass.

Also included in this broadcast you will recall a lot of information and music regarding shape note singing, along with Singing Schools that flourished in Southern United States. Instrumentation requires the bluegrass combination of acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and double bass. Performing this joyful mass will be the voices of the Salt Lake Choral Artists, Conducted by one of the leading members of the choral podium, Dr. Brady Allred. Bob Mater is on drums and was session leader; Larry Paxton and Matt Wigton shared the bass responsibilities, David Talbot plays the banjo, with Wanda Vick on fiddle and banjo. Paul Grannon is guitarist and Aubrey Haynie plays mandolin.

Congratulations to Wes Ramsey and Dr. Tim Sharp.  Have fun listening.

For a look at the CD’s used and a complete list of the music heard go to the blog of WWW.GOINGBEYONDWORDS.COM website and click on show 2341