From the earliest days of human occupation of the Adirondacks music has sustained the people of the North Country, and we’re fortunate that so much of it has been handed down for our enjoyment today.
Native Americans, French-Canadian loggers and trappers, New England settlers, waves of immigrants from the British Isles and Ireland, rural New Yorkers in search of work, escaped and freed slaves – all contributed to a rich store of self-made music which continues to this day.
Performer and teaching artist Dave Ruch is set to host a Facebook Live concert of traditional Adirondack music and stories on Tuesday.
As Project Director of the Adirondackmusic.org website and Music Director/Producer/Concert Host and performer for the Emmy-winning “Songs to Keep: Treasures of an Adirondack Folk Collector” project, he’s spent thousands of hours researching Adirondack musical traditions and studying old field recordings.
Ruch also offers hands-on lessons for beginning guitar players of all ages (Mondays), traditional and historical folk music of New York State (Tuesdays), songs for kids (Wednesdays), and special themes and request hours (Thursdays).
The event can be found on the Dave Ruch Music Facebook page on Tuesday at Noon EDT / 11 am Central / 10 am Mountain / 9 am Pacific / 5 pm UK.
Jim Corriveau here – high school music teacher at Warrensburg. I am sending out a message to all my music students to attend your Facebook event featuring the music of Dave Ruch. The concert is especially relevant to me as I’ve been trying to complete an orchestral & chorus work entitled “Adirondack Suite” The lyrics I am setting currently, reflects on the work and music of the early Adirondack settlers. Other movements feature favorite sayings of the Mohigan people; another is a tonal poem of the Hudson River. Perhaps the concert enhance my work in it’s stylistic and historic accuracy? Either way, I am very excited to hear your music and the the stories you will share.
Thank you for this notice. I wanted to mention that the event can also be viewed on my website for those who don’t use Facebook. The address is daveruch “dot” com/live