The band will explore a range of songs popular during the ante bellum and Civil War periods in America. Their program also includes a wonderful selection of Irish tunes.

On Friday evening, 7-8 p.m. we are proud to present a wonderful reader's theatre experience at the Gathering. The play by Lisa Saunder's chronicles one couples journey through the Civil War. You will experience the actual words that were exchanged between a husband and wife. It's a compelling story of how a soldier and his wife dealt with separation, disease, threat of death and the various life challenges imposed by war. The program is supported by visual images to set the historical context for the letter readings. Gathering musicians will provide some background music as part of the production.

An opportunity to meet the musicians in an informal setting to enjoy each other's music talents.

Gathering musicians will hold camp sing-a-long, jam session and mini-concert from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Join the Providence Brigade Band and our community of parlor musicians for great time of music and history. An Ice Cream Social will precede the program from 8-8:30 p.m..

Jed Marum is a featured performer at Folk, Bluegrass and Celtic venues throughout North America. He is a superb singer and a gifted songwriter who resides in the Dallas, Texas region. Jed will relate the expectations of the Irish, Scottish immigrants and African Americans in his collection of songs. His song Sacred Store of the Chickahominy will haunt you with its wonderful lyrics and acoustic style.

Civil War Heritage Foundation 7th New Jersey Field Hospital members will discuss and portray famous personalities, civilians or soldiers who lived during the Antebellum/Civil War era. Foundation members will be available to discuss how they approach and develop their first person portrayals. Encampment visitors are encouraged to interact with the camp exhibitors and we encourage visitors to ask questions about their portrayals.

Kevin Hagen, a forty-year student of the Civil War, resides in Chatham, New York. Inspired by his years of reading and the highly acclaimed Ken Burns PBS series about the Civil War, Kevin developed a keen and passionate interest in the lives, motivations and beliefs of the citizen soldiers who fought to preserve the Union. Mr. Hagen is also a collector of Civil War memorabilia. He considers himself a re-enactor, skirmisher and musician. He has taught courses on the Civil War at Columbia Greene Community College and served as the Chairman of the New York State Battle Flag Commission.

Kevin Hagen and Beth Lawton will present the life of the common soldier, the true hero of the Civil war in a music tribute. A number of popular tunes will be played during the program. Sheet music will be provided and the audience will be invited to participate. Beth Lawton is an accomplished folk singer and instrumentalist. Kevin and Beth will present some beautiful harmonies and songs from the period.

David Thompson, a South Carolina native is currently Professor of Music at Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina. David has performed throughout the United States, England, Germany and Korea. This showcase will feature the music published in the South during the Civil War. During the program excerpts from Confederate diaries, letters and memoirs will be read recounting the moving effects of keyboard music in the home.

Paul Martin III is nationally known for his haunting and inspiring battlefield landscapes of the Civil War. His artwork will be on display in the Windham Centre Church gallery throughout the weekend. Mr. Martin resides in Yorktown Heights at Silent Sentinel Studios.

Ron Tunison, world acclaimed Civil War monument sculptor, will exhibit his collectible bronzes and give a short slide presentation. Sculptor of four Civil War bronze monuments on the Gettysburg, PA National Battlefield, one on the Antietam, MD Battlefield and one at the Museum of the Civil War Soldier at Pamplin Historical Park in Petersburg, VA. Tunison is recognized for his life-like realism and historical accuracy in portraying the Civil War period in sculpture to the finest detail. Years of study and research have earned him recognition for his flawless authenticity. Nationally recognized Civil war historian Gary Gallagher spoke of Mr. Tunison's work as, "superb sculptures that place him in the front rank of artists who work on military themes from the Civil War." Ken Burns of PBS spoke at the unveiling ceremony of Tunison's Delaware State Monument at Gettysburg acknowledging the sculptor's distinguished talent. "The Gettysburg Civil War Women's Memorial" of Elizabeth Thorn will be highlighted in the presentation. Gatekeeper at the Gettysburg Evergreen Cemetery, six-month pregnant C.W. heroine Elizabeth Thorn buried ninety soldiers after the battle without the help of her husband who was away fighting for the Union in VA.

The 77th NY Regimental Balladeers will perform some of the music and verse from their new CD. Like the singers, poets and instrumentalists who lived over one hundred and forty years ago today's living history parlor musicians continue the rich tradition of minstrelsy by performing the ballads and tunes that the evoke the memory of a turbulent time. The narratives and melodies from this project are certain to paint poignant lyrical images that stir the emotions. Photo images will accompany some of the music selections and readings. Song sheets will be provided.

The Cumberland Blues are David Budmen (guitar and banjo) - John Clementi (mandolin and guitar) - Mark Juza (bass) - Rich Mendoza (guitar, dulcimer and multi-instrumentals) - Greg Mushinski "Dr. Mush" (harmonica) and Cliff Speer (percussion-bones and all things percussive). This is their third appearance at the Gathering.

At historical events where the focus is the Civil War, we are all used to hearing "Battle Cry of Freedom", "Bonnie Blue Flag", "Vacant Chair", Marching Through Georgia", "Dixie" and a host of other similar thematic music. But the common soldier, woman and child, in a mostly agricultural environment, grew up with songs that were handed down from generation to generation and performed not on stage, but in the home. Much of that music originated from our immigrant ancestors from the British Isles and other countries. This would be the song of the "folk", not the latest popular song from the major publishers of the time. The Cumberland Blues will be sharing the folk music of the people during this tumultuous time in our history.

Jerry Ernst is a Civil War reeanctor with a passion for the music of the period. Jerry has recorded five CDs including Billy Barlow and Night March to Gettysburg. In addition, he has researched and published several period songsters. Mr. Ernst is an accomplished musician and very knowledgeable about many aspects of the musical landscape of mid-19th America

Learn first hand all about the history of America's most popular folk instrument, the harmonica. Milton performs using one, two and sometimes three harmonicas at the same time. Mr. Hermans will explain some of the history of the harmonica, where it was invented and its evolution. Milton has performed at music festivals throughout the United States.

A history through song of an Irish brigade in the Civil War. A wonderful group of musicians from CT region. There song list includes favorites such as the Irish Jaunting Car, Fag An Bealac and the Irish American Army.

The brass bands are back for the '05 camapign. We are pleased that the Providence Brigade Band & Excelsior Cornet Band will be reprising their highly successful music programs at the church

Town brass bands proliferated in the 1840s and 50s due to the prosperity of the period. The Providence Brigade and Excelsior Cornet bands carry on the tradition and performing style of the military brass band. Their showcases will have a special emphasis on the American Civil War.

Regina Daly, George and Jean Seiler will conduct a workshop and sing-a-long featuring this American musical tradition dating back to the 18th century. The music is printed with four different shapes for the note heads corresponding to the syllables of the scale, "fa sol la sol la mi fa" to help people learn to sight read. The tune book most widely used is The Sacred Harp, an anthology of lively hymns that has been in continuous publication since 1844. In the traditional style, the music is first vocalized by singing it through using fasola syllables. The hymns are sung unaccompanied, and the singers typically face each other sitting on the four sides of a hollow square, and sing at full volume with a strong beat. This is no genteel choir music, but an exuberant outpouring of sound and feeling.

Gaylene Getman and Beth Miller will present an interpretive display of antique clothing prominent in a ladies private sitting room. A period fashion show will compliment the exhibit. Various forms of attire will be discussed. Mrs. Getman has appeared at numerous encampment programs. Beth Miller is a well-known dressmaker from the Gettysburg region

A book fair with a focus on local and regional publications related to the Civil War and other periods of American history. See Heritage Expo Book Fair description.

A first portrayal of Union veteran who was blinded by fever at Fredricksburg. Private Hogan is seen peddling apples while he waits for his army pension to help support his family. Through Hogan's eyes we come to understand how war not only wounds the body but also the soul.

Students will showcase the results of their project that describes how music was a reflection of the feelings, motives and experiences from an historical era, the Civil War. In April members of the 77th NY Regimental Balladeers worked with students and faculty on a concert performance and a variety of Art and Media projects. The Media project will be showcased on Saturday at the Gathering. This project was funded through a grant from the Catskill Regional Training Center as part of their Enabling Mini-Grant Award initiative.