This is a beautiful example of Drawl Singing! Thank-you for posting!
It is one of the few examples recorded, and one of the very few online.
This style of singing was brought to the eastern United States by German (and Wendish/Polish) Immigrants most especially from the province of East Prussia.
It spread in past the Lutheran Churches, and when sung in other Protestant religions in English became an influential element of what would be known as rural "Shape Note" singing. The Lutheran Church was not eventually the main preserver of drawl singing though.
It was the Mennonites, after their sojourns from East Prussia through Russia and America that became most known for this style. Among Mennonites this singing is called “lange Weise” or Mennonite long melody.
They preserve this, and the Low Prussian language to this day.
Growing up Lutheran, and of East Prussian descent, there were still hints of drawl singing
In our church music. My mother called these the singing cat hymns - because of what they sound like to her - I think of “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star” and “Chief of Sinners” - but soon it will be all gone.
From the Middle Ages and before, Drawl Singing was widely influential as a musical form, especially in “acapella” churches.
It is no wonder then that it reached its height in Pre-1700 Russia, (in the Orthodox church, organs are not used) before the reform in church music there. Today, drawl singing is heard mostly in Siberia and Alaska. I am so happy you have shared your community’s music with the world through Youtube! Thank-you, and never let go of your heritage!
By the way, I love your Alaskan style stars. We do “Star Singers” too, on Epiphany, but it is a little different. God bless you
This is a beautiful example of Drawl Singing! Thank-you for posting!
It is one of the few examples recorded, and one of the very few online.
This style of singing was brought to the eastern United States by German (and Wendish/Polish) Immigrants most especially from the province of East Prussia.
MattDiClemente 1 year ago
It spread in past the Lutheran Churches, and when sung in other Protestant religions in English became an influential element of what would be known as rural "Shape Note" singing. The Lutheran Church was not eventually the main preserver of drawl singing though.
It was the Mennonites, after their sojourns from East Prussia through Russia and America that became most known for this style. Among Mennonites this singing is called “lange Weise” or Mennonite long melody.
MattDiClemente 1 year ago
They preserve this, and the Low Prussian language to this day.
Growing up Lutheran, and of East Prussian descent, there were still hints of drawl singing
In our church music. My mother called these the singing cat hymns - because of what they sound like to her - I think of “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star” and “Chief of Sinners” - but soon it will be all gone.
From the Middle Ages and before, Drawl Singing was widely influential as a musical form, especially in “acapella” churches.
MattDiClemente 1 year ago
It is no wonder then that it reached its height in Pre-1700 Russia, (in the Orthodox church, organs are not used) before the reform in church music there. Today, drawl singing is heard mostly in Siberia and Alaska. I am so happy you have shared your community’s music with the world through Youtube! Thank-you, and never let go of your heritage!
By the way, I love your Alaskan style stars. We do “Star Singers” too, on Epiphany, but it is a little different. God bless you
MattDiClemente 1 year ago