The Trees
Sacred, communal folk that feels like a whispered secret in a vast stone cathedral. Haunting woodwinds and liturgical harmonies for moments of deep stillness.
Sacred, communal folk that feels like a whispered secret in a vast stone cathedral. Haunting woodwinds and liturgical harmonies for moments of deep stillness.
The Trees Community (originally The Symphony of Souls) represents a unique intersection of 1970s counterculture and traditional Episcopalian liturgy. Formed in a Manhattan loft in 1970, the group evolved into a formal religious order based at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.
Their sound identity is characterized by 'liturgical folk,' blending the improvisational freedom of spiritual jazz with the structured beauty of choral music and chamber folk. They were notably mentored by literary icon Madeleine L'Engle and Canon Edward Nason West, which infused their work with a high-art intellectualism rarely seen in communal music. Their 1975 masterpiece, 'The Christ Tree,' is a landmark of the 'freak folk' lineage, utilizing unconventional instrumentation like recorders, bells, and varied world percussion. Critics often cite them alongside artists like Comus or Exuma for their 'otherness,' yet The Trees remain distinct for their genuine devotional intent and lack of occult trappings. Their legacy persists as a primary example of the 'Jesus Music' era's most experimental and artistically rigorous fringe.
Shares cathedral, chamber folk, flute, library (signature)
Shares freak folk, chanting, avant-garde jazz, chamber folk (subgenre)
Shares sparse_bare, chamber folk, flute, cello (production)
Shares cathedral, choral, sparse_bare, chamber folk (signature)
Shares choral, sparse_bare, chamber folk, flute (vocal style)
Shares freak folk, avant-garde jazz, chamber folk, field_recordings (subgenre)
Shares cathedral, spiritual jazz, chamber folk, cello (signature)
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