Ebbie-- Yes, I sing a Hazel Dickens song "Fly Away, Little Pretty Bird," and would love to learn more of hers. (Rcommendations?) Lots of Appalachian songs are lovely sung a capella ("Bright Morning Stars" is one of my faves).

And Alison, every time I've stood up and sung a song without accompaniment, the house instantly falls completely quiet -- in a way it doesn't when there are accompanied voices. Maybe it's because it is unusual, but I certainly haven't experienced any unwillingness on the part of audiences to listen to such songs, when they're given the opportunity.

I'm learning to play the guitar now, just because I got tired of limiting myself to only a capella songs and because I wanted to stop driving guitarists crazy when I'd say things like, "No, no. I think it goes UP right there," but I agree with Alice (and me dear ol' mama, the vocal music teacher) that the first instrument probably was the voice and it ought to be honored as such.

And re. having to ask the instrumentalists not to play -- one of the reasons to have well-established rules for singarounds is to let the players know that whoever's turn it is gets to say whether or not s/he wants accompaniment. I've run into a few guitarists who get a bit snooty about this, but generally everyone is respectful and happy to listen.

WW