A few years ago when Claudia Schmidt and I were asked to perform together on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, Claudia brought this beautiful round to our rehearsal. It had been sent to her in the mail by a Milwaukeean named George Furse. He sent the following note along with it: “In 1948 Ruth Idleman and I were privileged to hear the four Idle Sisters, Mariba, Loretta, Ollie and Myrtle sing this round. Mariba died the following year at 86. The other sisters continued singing, each reaching advanced years. The round has been passed down from generation to generation. No words were used…just ‘La, la, la, etc.’ I recently wrote these words.” I have since found an older version written by the Elizabethan composer, John Blow, which begins: “Welcome, welcome, every guest! Welcome to our music fest!” And can be found in the front of the The Original Scared Harp. (Closing The Distance)
Appalachian-Round