Filled with the vocal agility and authentic sound for which they are known, Windborne concerts include songs from Corsica, the Republic of Georgia, Bulgaria, Quebec, and Basque country, as well as traditional and original American folk music.
Want to explore more Windborne music and learn about their interests and special talents? Then read the Featured Performers or More Resources sections below. Find out about their upcoming album release? Special Projects and a New Album Alert.
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Windborne: Our Featured Performers April 14
Special for National Dance Week, April 16-25, Windborne’s Woodstock Wednesdays performance features foot percussion.
Windborne at Green Note in Camden Town/London England
“The best musical discovery of the year…Stunningly powerful vocal harmony…Windborne sets a new bar for folk harmony singing today” ~ Brian O’Donovan, NPR
Excited reviews like these are routine for Windborne, singers who grew up immersed in the traditional song and dance communities of New England. Read more reviews in the next section, What Folks Say.
Windborne crafted their unique style and honed their skills by seeking out and studying masters of traditional singing styles in the U.S. and around the world. Now they bring their authentic music and vocal agility not only to communities in their own New England area but to a global community, energized by a belief that music can change hearts. With each step, teaching, learning and experiencing the joy of music and dance. Specializing in close harmony singing, the quartet has a vibrant energy and a strong connection, evident in their engaging performance.
In addition to their vocal virtuosity, Windborne members are seasoned teachers and song-leaders, delighting groups of all ages and musical experience. Their instruction is ‘enthusiastic, clear, and nuanced.’ And Windborne brings more than musical instruction to their teaching. It’s not just about the notes of a song but about varied vocal styles, pronunciation and cultural contexts of musical styles.
Some Windborne History
This a cappella quartet based in Massachusetts performed at our 2019 Festival. They set a record for CD sales!
During its 10+ year history, Windborne was first a duo, then a trio, and now a vocal quartet. Today Windborne is Lynn Mahoney Rowan, Will Thomas Rowan, Lauren Breunig and Jeremy Carter-Gordon.
The group in its various forms has traveled extensively in the U.S. and around the world, studying, performing and leading workshops. The music masters with whom they studied include:
Their collective five decades of performing and teaching experience perfected their ability to switch effortlessly between drastically different styles of singing within the same concert. Their performances delight audiences with carefully crafted arrangements and vocal energy.
As award-winning musicians, they have appeared at many festivals in the U.S. and taught master classes at Keene State College. In January 2014, AMA (American Music Association) sent Windborne on a month-long tour to Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Angola performing and teaching as musical ambassadors for the U.S.!
Locally, they’ve been on the Woodstock Folk Festival stage, receiving an enthusiastic standing ovation from our audience. Zoe Mulford appeared that year as well. And not so surprisingly, Windborne has collaborated with Zoe. You’ll learn about that when you see their Woodstock Wednesdays video.
What Folks Say About Windborne
Specializing in close harmony singing, the quartet has a vibrant energy and a strong connection, evident in their engaging performance.
“A quartet the likes of which I’ve not seen since…Coope, Boyes and Simpson, the Watersons, or The Voice Squad. Just absolutely phenomenal!” ~ BBC Traveling Folk
Mary DesRosiers, folk musicologist for the Monadnock Folklore Society, acclaims Windborne for “the purity of their voices, strength of their material, and attention to detail in their arrangements.”
“The singers of Windborne have a deep understanding, both musically and culturally, of the traditions from which they draw much of their repertoire. Their singing is a feast of a cappella harmony.” ~ Peter Amidon, www.amidonmusic.com
Still can’t get enough of this quartet’s awesome vocals? Try Soundcloud.
Special Projects and a New Album Alert . . .
Not idled by the current situation, Windborne has looked for additional ways to express themselves. This includes recording and creatively adding to a 1640s protest anthem, The Diggers’ Song. Here are the last lines of the song, added and composed by them…
Against the hate and fear, stand up now, stand up now,
Against the hate and fear, stand up now.
The press have closed their eyes, they spread the tyrants’ lies
They’ll tell you with their cries, who to love and to despise
Stand up now, Diggers all.
And then there’s this, from Windborne: “NEW ALBUM ALERT! Friends, we are so excited to announce the launch of our next album, Of Hard Times & Harmony.
“Support our Indiegogo fundraising campaign and pre-order your copy (IGG.me/at/WinborneHT). Thank you for believing in our music and message! In song and solidarity, Will, Lauren, Lynn, and Jeremy.”
Now go, enjoy the Windborne performance!
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If you love what you heard here this evening, watch our own Calendar of Folk Music Events for upcoming performances online and in real time for all our music friends. And remember: you can always browse our Video Gallery, a wonderful folk music community resource.
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