Renowned for their unearthly vocal blend and virtuosic ensemble singing, the four women of Anonymous 4 combine historical scholarship with contemporary performance intuition to create their magical sound. They return for the last time (2015 will be the last season for Anonymous 4 to perform) with songs from their 1865: Songs of Hope and Home from the American Civil War tour.

1865 focuses on the personal experience of men, women, and children from the North and from the South, toward the end of the Civil War and in its immediate aftermath — as told in songs originally written for the stage and for the parlor, and in songs and instrumental tunes from the hills and back roads of America.

Many of the songs in 1865 were published between 1861 and 1865; others first appeared in print earlier, but were sung constantly during the war years, perhaps in an effort to bring to mind the familiar and the good. Yet other songs and instrumental tunes are not datable; by the year 1865, they had already been passed down from generation to generation without the aid of the printed page.

Joining Anonymous 4 for this project is renowned old-time fiddler, master banjo and guitar player, and heavenly vocalist, Bruce Molsky. 

Anonymous 4 and Bruce have put our own stamp on the songs in 1865: sounds include 5-part harmonies on the Stephen Foster gem “Hard Times, Come Again No More;” “Home, Sweet Home” and “Listen to the Mocking Bird” accompanied by the banjo; an homage to the Carter Family on “The Faded Coat of Blue;” the high lonesome sound on folk songs like “Bright Sunny South” and “Brother Green;” Bruce’s inimitable fiddle and banjo playing on instrumental tunes “Camp Chase,” “Rebel Raid” and “Polly Put the Kettle On,” and the four-part a cappella singing of Anonymous 4 on the hymn “Abide with Me” and the timeless anti-war song “Tenting on the Old Camp Ground.”

The concert starts at 7:30 pm at Christ Episcopal Church.  Tickets are $25, students $15, available at the door. CDs will be available after the performance for cash or check only.