Rivers and Roads

Classical string musicians create ‘progressive’ folk music

January 20, 2017 at 1:00 a.m.

by Jocelyn Murphy

"We have an element of classical style in our playing, that gives us a lot of tools because there's a very vast technique, but you have to make sure it all serves the greater musical purpose" says Maria Di Meglio of balancing music and lyrics when creating a new song. Di Meglio's group, Harpeth Rising, returns to Northwest Arkansas with a performance Thursday at Artist Audience Community Live in Fort Smith.
"We have an element of classical style in our playing, that gives us a lot of tools because there's a very vast technique, but you have to make sure it all serves the greater musical purpose" says Maria Di Meglio of balancing music and lyrics when creating a new song. Di Meglio's group, Harpeth Rising, returns to Northwest Arkansas with a performance Thursday at Artist Audience Community Live in Fort Smith.

I've seen places all but forgotten.

I've seen a hundred acres of snow white cotton.

FAQ

Harpeth Rising

with guest Bayard Blain

WHEN — 7:30 p.m. Thursday

WHERE — AAC Live, Fort Smith

COST — $40

INFORMATION — artistaudiencecommu…, harpethrising.com

Oh, babe, I'm rollin' to you.

I took the Natchez Trace down to Tupelo,

And an old stray dog is what I got to show.

Oh, I'm rollin' to you.

Three classically trained string musicians; three layers of harmony; lyrics that roll Americana romanticism, mysterious charm and accessible metaphors all into one. Harpeth Rising is more than a folk trio -- they're progressive, genre-bending performers out to give audiences a unique listening experience.

"I think that 'progressive' is just that element of keeping an open mind to new sounds -- to be OK to do things a little differently," says cello player Maria Di Meglio. "A full symphony orchestra with 70 people -- think about what they've got at their disposal. And we like to think, that with just the three of us, we can come up with as many colors in our own unique way."

Di Meglio -- along with Jordana Greenberg on violin and Michelle Younger on banjo -- make up the band named after the river in Nashville, where they got their start. Di Meglio guesses the three women were on the road more than 150 days last year, and Wednesday, they just set out again.

"She takes her inspiration from life [and] from life on the road. It's all fair game -- it's just an expression of life," Di Meglio says of Greenberg's writing. The trio works together to put the words to music after Greenberg -- or sometimes her singer and songwriter father -- writes them. "Sometimes, we'll have an idea and it takes on a life of its own, so we'll scrap it. Because at the end of the day, even if you have a great idea, if it's not the right idea, it's just not going to work. We talk about how best to shape the lyrics and let them speak."

And those lyrics have a lot to say. Tales of challenges and mistakes, of lessons learned and of finding yourself. Greenberg's writing ebbs and flows with imagery and themes, but Di Meglio won't share them. She says the goal is to offer people something to think about, something they can judge for themselves. Seeing what the audience picks up in each song is one of Di Meglio's favorite parts.

"When you're performing, every audience gives you something different and unique, and that can kind of shape your performance," she says. "We're on stage performing, but the audience is an important part of that for us. It's music, but it's more than that. It's about life, about who we are. I like to think that every night is an opportunity to share something -- share a bit of ourselves and share a bit of art with someone."

Mile by mile and town by town,

I'm counting every hour down.

Babe I'm rollin' to you.

It'll be some time I won't lie,

But I will make it there if the creek don't rise.

NAN What's Up on 01/20/2017

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