The "Prairiesong" website gathers information and links on the Appalachian dulcimer and shape-note singing, along with promotional material for talks that Pete Ellertsen gives on music history for the Road Scholars program of the Illinois Humanities Council. He has two: (1) "Ballads, Bobby Burns and Show Tunes: Popular Music in Illinois, 1800-1850"; and (2) "Shape-note Singing Schools on the Illinois Frontier." Ellertsen, who teaches English and journalism at Springfield College in Illinois, is moving his music pages here from his faculty website. (Picture shows a Sacred Harp singing in Springfield in October 1997.)
Road Scholars
Ballads, Bobby Burns and singing schools
How to line up a Road Scholars speaker
Pete Ellertsen's faculty website at SCI
Return to Prairiesong home page
Appalachian dulcimer
Playing the dulcimer pick'n noter style
Prairieland Dulcimer Strings of Springfield
An (unmatched) set of dulcimer links
Singing the Sacred Harp
Illinois State Convention 2002
New Salem Shape Note Singers
Sacred Harp in downstate Illinois
