Dearest Home

Rank #1 Gettysburg, PA Folk / Civil War Era Music / American T...

50% of sales go to the charity Heifer International.

Browse more artists »

All Photos

About

Members: Chris Barnabei, Margaret, Beth and Stephen Folkemer, Chuck Krepley and Charles Thompson

Sounds Like: Home Front, Jean Ritchie, 2nd South Carolina String Band, atwater~donnelly, Sparky and Rhonda Rucker

Label: Independent

Bio: Dearest Home
Authenticity and Originality in Perfect Harmony
Dearest Home delivers the rare experience of authenticity and originality in perfect harmony! They recreate traditional American music, especially from the Samuel Bayard Collection (PA and WV) and other Appalachian sources, and from the... See Full Bio

More Info

Status

Posted a new song: "There Is a Land of Pure Delight (Varina) clip, George F. Root" http://www.reverbnation.com/c./poni/208109310 #music

Press

“If "home is where the heart is," then the singers and musicians who together make up Dearest Home have clearly poured their hearts into their new self-titled album. Deeply steeped in the traditional music of Pennsylvania, my own home state, they have chosen wisely from their wide repertoire of Civil War songs, Appalachian ballads and fiddle tunes. Singing with passion, skill and the resonant matching of voices that seems born in the blood of next-of-kin, Dearest Home presents us with close harmony in many senses of the phrase, on stage and on CD. In their voices, you can hear the peaks and valleys of the landscape, feel the past and future marching together, and sense the shadows of the mountains. Si Kahn, 2010 Folk Alliance Triple Crown winner: #1 Artist, #1 CD, #1 Song”

— Si Kahn, note from author

“CLASSICAL/FOLK | War Music This weekend it's a double-header for war music, at home and abroad, in a pair of performances ranging from large-scale classical to period recreation. On Friday, May 3, William Weinert will conduct Benjamin Britten's massive "War Requiem," ...the composition will require performances by the Eastman Rochester Chorus, Eastman Chorale, Eastman Philharmonia, and the Eastman Children's Chorus, along with four soloists. Weinert described the piece as "the most important musical work ever written with an anti-war message." Then, two days later on Sunday, May 5, Dearest Home, a folk ensemble from Gettysburg, will don Civil War-era attire to recreate a vespers liturgy from an 1862 worship book. The Civil War Vespers is presented to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The group features vocals, fiddle, concertina, guitar, bass, piano, reed organ, mountain dulcimer, pennywhistle, flugelhorn, trumpet, bones, and tambourine. Reception....”

— Paloma Capanna, Rochester City Newspaper

“Dearest Home Band Brings "Civil War Music on the Home Front" to Seminary Ridge Friday, April 19. This Friday evening at 7 p.m., Music, Gettysburg! presents the five-member Dearest Home Band and a 19th Century Dance Presentation (with an invitation to join in the dancing) with Dr. Briant Bohleke. The concert will be held in the Seminary Chapel; the dance will be held directly across the street in the Refectory. The evening event is free and open to the public. Dearest Home delivers authenticity in perfect harmony. In period attire, they recreate traditional American music, especially from the Samuel Bayard Collection (Pa. and W.V.) and other Appalachian sources, and from the U.S. Civil War era...with rich vocals, fiddle, concertina, guitar, bass, piano, mountain dulcimer, pennywhistle, and tambourine. The music, like the five band members, spans generations.”

— Gettysburg Times

“Dearest Home band will be featured at the Common Ground on Seminary Ridge event Saturday, beginning at noon, at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. The band will present workshops on Civil War Period Hymns and Songs. Attendees at the hymn workshop will be invited to sing along with period hymns from the Revival, Spiritual, Shape-Note and Mainline traditions, all well known during the Civil War.”

— Gettysburg Times

“AID AND COMFORT: ONE VAST HOSPITAL Dates: Sunday, September 30, 2012 Description: Aid and Comfort: Sunday, Sept. 30, 3:00 p.m. Historian and dramatist Rev. Dr. Phillip Fogarty and Gettysburg Musicians, Dearest Home, recreate scenes of a hospital in Frederick following the battle of Antietam. Sunday, Sept. 30, 3:00 p.m. This is a presentation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Fine Arts Series. It is free and open to the public. Location:Evangelical Lutheran Church 31 East Church Street Frederick 21701 Contact: (301) 865-0814”

— Heart of the Civil War

“Workshop to focus on CW music CIVIL WAR MUSIC - Dearest Home band will be featured at the Common Ground on Seminary Ridge Event Saturday, beginning at noon at Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. The band will present workshops on Civil War Period Hymns and Songs. Attendees at the hymn workshop will be invited to sing along with period hymns from the Revival, Spiritual, Shape-Note and Mainline traditions, all well known during the Civil War.”

— Gettysburg Times

“The Dearest Home band will accompany the “Common Ground on Seminary Ridge” event on Saturday, July 21, 2012. From noon until 11:00pm, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg will be the site for the first Common Ground experience organized by the long-running traditional arts festival “Common Ground on the Hill” at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. The Seminary event will include workshops on Civil War-era hymns and songs. Attendees at the hymn workshop will be invited to sing along.... Dearest Home will also lead participants in singing songs that were popular at home, including songs by Foster, Root, Tucker and Work as well as some set to traditional tunes. At 7:30pm, at historic Christ Lutheran Church, 30 Chambersburg Street in Gettysburg, Dearest Home will perform for the Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital program. Following the Civil War hospital program, they will accompany a Civil War Period dance in the church’s education building. ”

— Katy Giebenhain, LTSG News

“Folkemers to play at First Friday Stephen and Beth Folkemer to perform at Christ Lutheran Friday! The Folkemers, joined by bassist, Chris Barabei, will be performing from 6pm to 8pm this Friday at Christ Lutheran. The will be appearing as part of the Dearest Home band performing during the town's First Friday celebrations. Songs and dances performed will be from traditional Appalachian/American tradition as well as Civil War Period and Celtic music. Please drop by and say, "hi," and "set yourself down a bit" while you are visiting the Blue Parrot, Pub, bakeries, etc. or shopping. They'd love to see you! As with all Christ Lutheran's First Friday music events, it is free to the public. ”

— The Daily Redactor

“The summer series relates the history of Christ Church leading up to, during, and after the Civil War, and its role as a hospital during that time. The program incorporates readings of first-hand accounts from Civil War soldiers and civilians, including Virgil Gibson, pictured, portraying Sgt. Stearns, a wounded soldier in the Massachusetts 13th Regiment whose wounds were treated at Christ Church. Civil War-era music is provided by local musicians before and during the program. More information and this year’s remaining schedule can be found on the website www.candlelightatchrist.org. (Bill Schwartz/Gettysburg Times)”

— Bill Schwartz/Gettysburg Times, The Gettysburg Times

All Press

Recent Blogs

Members of Dearest Home, Pa...
Feb 2, 2013
Stephen Folkemer, who admits his all-time favorite birthday present is his Hayde... [more]

Members of Dearest Home
Feb 2, 2013
Dearest Home Authenticity and Originality in Perfect Harmony Margaret Folkemer’s... [more]

All Blogs

Songs

Play All | Queue All | Share All

The Battle Cry…

Share Buy Lyrics

Download
We Wait Beneat…

Share Lyrics
Charming Beaut…

Share Lyrics
Fare Y'Well, S…

Share Lyrics
The Battle Hym…

Share Lyrics

All Songs

Shows

Full-Screen View »

Fri
Jun 21

19 on the Square in Get…
Gettysburg, PA, US | 6:00pm
19 on the Square in Gettys...
Gettysburg, PA, US
Fri Jun 21 6:00pm
Details

Celebrate the 150th Commemoration of the Battle of Gettysburg with Dearest Home's authentic Civil War Era music and beverages by Hauser Estate Winery at their store on the Gettysburg Square. Playing 5-8:00pm.
Thu
Jun 27

Orchards
Chambersburg, PA, US | 6:30pm
Orchards
Chambersburg, PA, US
Thu Jun 27 6:30pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Details

Dearest Home plays authentic Civil War Era music in period costume, in the Civil War Lounge at The Orchards, Chambersburg! Relax and enjoy delicious food and drink in an atmosphere beautifully adorned with replica arms and other period accouterments as well as original oil paintings by noted local artist, Brad Clever. To make reservations for dinner please call: 717-264-4711
Fri
Jun 28

Trinity Lutheran Church
Mechanicsburg, PA, US | 6:00pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
Mechanicsburg, PA, US
Fri Jun 28 6:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Details

Authentic Civil War Music for the Skirmish of Sporting Hill/Occupation of Mechanicsburg, 1863. Dearest Home performs in full costume and involves the audience in commemorating these PA150 events. Foor and fun activities for all ages!
Sun
Jun 30

Hollabaugh Brothers Fru…
Biglerville, PA, US | 1:00pm
Private Show: Hollabaugh Brothers Fruit ...
Biglerville, PA, US
Sun Jun 30 1:00pm
Details

Private Show: Authentic Civil War Era music in full costume, presented by Dearest Home. Enjoy this outstanding farm market with a wide variety of fruit and other wares while you experience living history and entertainment!
Sun
Jun 30

Music, Gettysburg! Outd…
Gettysburg, PA, US | 5:00pm
Music, Gettysburg! Outdoor...
Gettysburg, PA, US
Sun Jun 30 5:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Details

Authentic Civil War Era Music, in Period Clothing - Commemorating the 150th Anniverary of the Battle of Gettysburg and Celebrationg the Grand Openning of the Seminary Ridge Museum.

All Shows

Store

All Store Items

The Battle Cry of Fre...
MP3: $1.29

Comments

Add Comment

Inner Planets
Stopping by to show some love!
SottoSopra69
thank you...
Christopher Morse, S...
What a great pleasure to hear these faithful and very well performed renditions of our great old songs. I'd love to hear you all do "Hard Times Come Again No More." Thanks ...
Eddie Ray Franks Jr
Wishing you much success with your music and have a great day. Eddie Ray
Michael Sky
Nice style....talk about roots! All the best!
Jeff Stetson
can't think of a better place to sing "battle hymn of the republic than gettysburg! great stuff!!