Local singer to perform at library

Jeni Foster and friends will bring history to life at the Sisters Branch Library at 7 p.m. Friday, February 26, presenting a collection of folk songs relating to history and literature.

Foster will be joined by Portland musicians Julie Hoagland and Jinx Davis.

Foster and Hoagland performed together in a folk group during their high school years and have collaborated on folk music projects again during the last few years.

Davis is a prolific writer of songs about Oregon. The program will include three of his original compositions: "Valsetz," which is the story of the demise of a lumber company town in the Oregon coast range, "John Templeton Craig," a song about a figure from our local history, and a song about the De'Autremont brothers, who perpetrated the last western train robbery in southern Oregon. Davis has recently released two albums of music about Oregon history.

Each song in the program will be accompanied by a description of the historical event or work of literature to which it relates. The diverse selections include Rudyard Kipling's "Smuggler's Song," the Greek myth of Persephone and the pomegranate, the story about the Mann gulch fire, described by Norman Maclean in his book "Young Men and Fire," and a number of songs right for everyone to sing along.

During the past few years Foster has presented other programs at the library including the songs of Robert Burns and a collection of songs relating to the great famine in Ireland and Irish immigration.

"These are the types of programs I enjoy doing," said Foster. "Over the years I find that I'll hear a song and it will inspire me to do some research on its historical context. This format of music and history is a great way to bring characters from the past to life."

Families are especially encouraged to attend as children will find this musical format a fun way to learn about history and literature.

Admission is free.