Shaker music brings to my mind the fleeting memory of the background music for a Ken Burns documentary, composer Aaron Copland’s score for “Appalachian Spring” and a handful of better known hymns with only a vague notion of their sound and history. Now Glasgow Musicale is providing an opportunity to experience a program of Shaker Music as performed by noted multi-talented storyteller, author, art therapist and musician Thomas Freese.

Thomas sang for ten years with the Pleasant Hill Singers. Along with the other volunteer singers, he learned Shaker song and dance and helped bring those scripted performances to the visitors of Shakertown near Harrodsburg, Kentucky. His first of seven books, Shaker Ghost Stories from Pleasant Hill Kentucky, provides a glimpse into the culture and spirit of the Shaker brethren. Learn more about this gifted author and performer at his website: www.ThomasLFreese.com. The public is invited to attend his dynamic performance on Sunday, October 17, at 2:00PM at First Christian Church at 1100 N. Race Street.

This special occasion marks a return visit of Mr. Freese to Glasgow after an active summer including a 10 day tour of Argentina where he was hired by their government’s Education Ministry to conduct a series of storytelling workshops for schoolchildren. His program “Silly Songs” last year for the February segment of the Mary Wood Weldon Public Library’s Winter Storytelling series attracted a standing-room only crowd. Thomas will also be giving a talk about documented Ghost Stories at the library on the 16th at 1:00. Our thanks go to Gary and Karin Carroll at Hall Place Bed & Breakfast for their participation in sponsoring these two events. The program on Shaker Music is sure to be lively, entertaining and informative. Light refreshments will follow the performance. Glasgow Musicale offers programs that are admission free, family friendly and fun. Please mark your calendar for October 17 and plan to attend our Shaker Music program. Glasgow Musicale, established in 1894, a member of the National and Kentucky Federations of Music Clubs, is the oldest continuously operating music club in Kentucky.