It‘s unusual to have an opportunity to use the words “young” and “veteran” to describe the same people, but in this case it fits.  Lynn Mahoney of Marlboro , Vermont, and Will Thomas of Rindge are twenty-something scions of families deeply involved in the music and dance communities of their respective states, and veteran performers of vocal music: both having begun touring with the acclaimed Village Harmony chorus as young teens.

Unlike many “graduates” of youth musical companies who turn to other pursuits as they enter their college years, Mahoney and Thomas delved more deeply into traditional song. Both studied music at Marlboro College—Mahoney as a performer, Thomas as a composer, and continue to tour, both as singers and collectors.

Windborne is both the name of their duo and the title of their debut CD, recorded, produced and designed by Will Thomas.  It was recorded at the historic Guilford Community Church in Guilford Vermont, long a favorite performance venue for musicians of many genres. The acoustic dynamics of the church give the CD a rich “live” sound: perfect for the material they’ve chosen.

It’s a challenge to produce a recording of unaccompanied vocal music—one with a variety of sonic landscapes and vocal textures.  It’s even more of a challenge to carry that off with only two voices  (although they are joined by several “friends,” but more of that later). Mahoney and Thomas carry off that challenge nicely, assembling an unusual and striking repertoire of songs.

The CD begins with a Sacred Harp warhorse, and one of my favorite songs in the world, Ananias Davidson’s setting of Charles Wesley’s Idumea. It’s a stark memento mori of a hymn, that never ceases to raise the shorthairs of singers and audience alike:

And am I born to die/ To lay this body down
And must my trembling spirit fly/Into a world unknown?

The inherent dissonances and minor chords of the hymns’s harmonies underlie its somber theme.

Nils Fredland then joins the duo for a shape note hymn of their own composing: Slave To Time, which embodies the optimism and environmental ethics of many modern hymns.

When the land becomes the ocean/And the stars forbear to shine
Do not say we had no notion/ Do not be a slave to time.

It’s a lovely example of using an old folksong format to create something new, and Fredland’s rich bass line adds depth to the harmony.

Some of the most striking moments on the recording are Windborne’s settings of European songs, particularly the Corsican and Italian sacred songs.  Mahoney’s strong, rhythmic alto shines in Salve Sacra Parens, and the two voices follow and blend perfectly in the Georgian lullaby Iav Nana.  There’s also the beautiful Scottish song Taladh Ar Slanair, in which they add Scots Gaelic to their list of musical languages.

Windborne sometimes performs as a trio, with soprano Lauren Breunig.  She joins them here for three songs: Tres Morillas, Hallowell, and Fisher, a lovely tune from a 1909 collection of parlor ballads.  They are also joined on other songs by Tobey LaRoche of Peterborough, Kirsten Schrull, and Matt Wojcik.

The recording ends with three beautiful American songs from three different genres of traditional music.  Frank Proffitt’s haunting Poor Soldier, is not as well known as Tom Dooley or some of his other songs; but is a gorgeous example of his craft.  The Delmore Brothers gospel hit Lonely River gives Mahoney and Thomas a chance to have some fun with a lively tune; and their own arrangement of the 1850 ballad The Dying Californian combines a respect for the original with a gorgeous new setting.

This is a strong debut from these richly talented newcomers. The purity of their voices, strength of their material, and attention to detail in their arrangements, combine to create an unusual, but very inspiring recording.

Mary DesRosiers is a folk musicologist, writer, dance caller and musician. She has been a central component of the Monadnock region’s folk culture since the mid 1970’s when she hosted a radio show on WSLE in Peterborough.

The recording Windborne is available from CD Baby