In Harmony's Way

In the spring of 2005, eighteen Bay Area singers got together to record some of their favorite chorus songs from the American and British Isles traditions in a CD collection called “In Harmony’s Way.” The project seeks to document the rich local heritage of a cappella singing, and to share these wonderful songs with a greater audience. The rehearsal, recording process and concert were filmed by El Mundo Bueno Studios for a documentary on the Bay Area folk singing community.

Participants of “In Harmony’s Way” are Richard Adrianowicz, Steve Baughman, Michael and Shay Black, Susan Frank, Sylvia Herold, Lani Herrmann, Holdstock and MacLeod, Kim Hughes, Arlene Immerman, Peter Kasin, Oak Ash & Thorn, Riggy Rackin, Ed Silberman and Pam Swan.

The project celebrated its culmination in a rousing, sold out evening of song at Berkeley’s Freight and Salvage Coffee House where the audience was invited to join in as much as they wished.

There are few moments in life more worth living than those spent singing with friends and family. In our increasingly troubled world, and country, group song takes on even greater import. Not that singing changes the world, but it does change the singer. And many wrongs can be overcome with a single right-folla-rolla-rolla, especially when it’s got a hearty too-ra-lie-o tacked on at the end.

Two thousand years ago, also in troubled times, Virgil said, ‘Let us go singing as far as we go: the road will be less tedious.’

My sentiments exactly!

Steve Baughman
May 12, 2005
San Francisco, California