Interview with Martha Bassett, June 17, 2016

Partial Transcript: Martha, just say your name for the camera and spell it as well for me.

Segment Synopsis: Martha Bassett describes her first time meeting Sara Holroyd at a summer program before her freshman year at UK. The program was at Shakertown and they were practicing and performing worship songs so beautiful that it brought Bassett to tears outside of the building.

Keywords: Choirs; Sara Holroyd; Shaker Village; Shaker music; Shakers; Shakertown; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Choirs; Shakers

Partial Transcript: What was it like studying with Phyllis Jenness?

Segment Synopsis: Bassett describes her inspiration and teacher, Phyllis Jenness. She tells a story about how someone noticed that Bassett's style was similar to Jenness' at a live concert. Next, Bassett talks about Sara Holroyd's method of practicing and preparing the chorus for a concert.

Keywords: Phyllis Jenness; Singers; Singing; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Choirs; Music--Instruction and study; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Tell us how that--your direction and how maybe it took some curves...

Segment Synopsis: Bassett acknowledges all of the experiences that UK provided to help her in achieving her masters degree. Next, she talks about how she has used Phyllis Jenness' teachings to help her be a better musical communicator. Finally, Bassett talks about the numerous albums she has recorded and her thoughts on original vs. cover songs.

Keywords: Choirs; Cover songs; Musicians; Original songs; Singer songwriters; UK

Subjects: Choirs; Music--Instruction and study; Musicians; Singers; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Let's, let's go back--

Segment Synopsis: Bassett talks about how she became interested in Shaker music and convinced her professors to allow her to do an independent study about Shakers. Bassett went to a Shaker conference and there she got to meet the few remaining Shakers and Shaker scholars.

Keywords: Hymns; Praise; Shaker scholars; Shakers; Traditional

Subjects: Choirs; Hymns; Shakers

Partial Transcript: The tribute concert and that whole surprise and sneaking around and rehearsing. If so, could you talk about that experience?

Segment Synopsis: Bassett talks about her experience preforming a tribute concert for Sara Holroyd. Next she talks about performing as Mother Anne in her senior year and how exciting and scary it was.

Keywords: Concerts; Mother Anne; Sara Holroyd; Tributes

Subjects: Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Any other favorite Shaker songs that, that continue to ramble in your head?

Segment Synopsis: Bassett recalls some Shaker songs that she is especially fond of and talks about Sara Holroyd's comments to the Shaker choir. Next, she sings a portion of "Love O' Love."

Keywords: Hymns; Love O' Love (Song); Shaker songs; Traditional music

Subjects: Shakers

Partial Transcript: Tell me why you think it is that you and so many others are continually tied to the University of Kentucky School of Music.

Segment Synopsis: Bassett explains why she thinks her time at UK was such a special time in her life. Next, she talks about her performance of the song "Mother" at the Sara Holroyd tribute concert.

Keywords: Mother (Song); Performances; Recitals; Sara Holroyd; Tributes

Subjects: Performances; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Tell Mother it's cold...

Segment Synopsis: Bassett performs the song "Mother," which was written by a friend of hers. The song was written from the perspective of one of the few remaining Shakers telling God or "Mother" that the earth has become forsaken.

Keywords: Live performances; Live shows; Mother (Song); Shakers; Songs

Subjects: Musicians; Performances; Shakers