Here in the States there are any number of community choruses that sing Sacred Harp, gospel, and other folk-related music. One of the best is the Potluck Singers, which I used to be a part of in the Mt. Washington Valley of New Hampshire. We had the best time - not only shape note, spirituals and the like, but also lots of rounds, folk songs (not ballads, mnind you), Balkan and other music in various languages, and anything else that happens to catch the fancy of the group members.

I miss it - and when I go back up to the area I try not to miss a chance to go sing with them. Such groups may use written music (though not always), but there is much of the folk tradition in them.

Dan Schatz