September 2016 NYC singings
Posted: September 8, 2016 Filed under: calendar, NYCADS 2016 | Tags: brooklyn, cooper book, dinner on the grounds, sacred harp, shapenote, Shenandoah Harmony Leave a commentComing up this week, the Brooklyn singing (Sept. 11 at 2, St Paul’s Carroll Gardens) — bring your blue and tan books if you have them, as we sometimes are a loaner or two short. Help me carry the loaners back to my house afterwards and be rewarded by the sangria promised last month but deferred because of the heat (please, please let it be less hot this month!). Of course we need the loaners for —
THE NEW YORK CITY ALL-DAY SINGING on Saturday, September 17. 9:30 to 3:30 at Middle Collegiate Church on East Seventh Street (enter just off Second Avenue). See the NYC Sacred Harp website or the Facebook event for more details. New York singers, please plan to bring something tasty for Dinner on the Grounds; see what others have planned here.
The monthly Third Sunday Manhattan singing returns from summer hiatus and will be hosted upstairs at the same location on Sunday, Sept. 18, at 2:00.
Brooklyn Shapenote Singing, August 14, 2016
Posted: August 23, 2016 Filed under: tunes called | Tags: brooklyn, cooper book, sacred harp, shapenote, Shenandoah Harmony Leave a comment
Singing from The Sacred Harp, Denson 1991 and Cooper 2012 (CB) Revisions, and from The Shenandoah Harmony (ShH), and from other four-shape sources.
We collected $36. It was far too hot to brew and drink tea. It was so hot, in fact, that I wondered if we’d get more than three or four people: we had 19 and a fine-sounding singing, with a particularly excellent bass section including Myles and Ben, mid-travels.
Why isn’t CB 272 MARTHASVILLE set in 6/4? (Presumed answer: Because the composer didn’t want it that fast. But I’d like it that way, swingy.) And on behalf of the trebles, I apologize for missing that SO in ShH 294 (but in our defense, it’s hard!).
Present: Terry, Sam, Myles, Ben S-H, Gary, Chris; Stuart, Solon, Andre, Paul, Molly; Nancy B., Mary Ellen, Sara, Rebecca W.; Jasmine, Alice W., nbm. New: Ellen Resnick.
Lesson nbm
56t COLUMBIANA nbm
56b VILLULIA Jasmine
49t OLD HUNDRED Paul
36b NINETY FIFTH Andre
CB 30t ROCHESTER Terry
ShH 1b ROCKBRIDGE Sam
569t EMMAUS Sara
50b HUMILITY Nancy B
ShH 147 RIVER OF JORDAN Mary Ellen
ShH 57 NEW ORLEANS nbm
354b HAPPY LAND Alice
31t NINETY-THIRD PSALM Paul
ShH 431 NORTH PROVIDENCE Andre
CB 505 CLEANSING FOUNTAIN Molly
CB 408 WEEPING MARY Terry
ShH 403 HICKS’ FAREWELL Sam
ShH 124 GONE TO REST Solon
ShH 260t CONFLICT Sara
ShH 346t WARREN Nancy B
CB 486 NO NIGHT ON THAT
GOLDEN SHORE Mary Ellen
CB 273 MARTHASVILLE nbm
84 AMSTERDAM Alice
ShH 7b WINCHESTER Stuart
CB 312 SING TO ME OF
HEAVEN Paul
ShH 181 THE GOOD PHYSICIAN Andre
ShH 22b PSALM 30 Jordan
230 CONVERTING GRACE Myles }
38t WINTER Ben } topical!
BREAK
Callback: 82t BOUND FOR
CANAAN nbm
385b CAN I LEAVE YOU Gary
ShH 132 STAR IN THE EAST Sam
ShH 61 WABASH Terry
ShH 81 THE SHEPHERD’S STAR Chris
57 CHRISTIAN SOLDIER Sara
ShH 248b TRIUMPH Nancy B
CB 515 WHEN THE LORD SHALL
COME FOR ME Mary Ellen
100 BOWER OF PRAYER Rebecca
ShH 109 ZION’S WALLS nbm
128 THE PROMISED LAND Alice
ShH 404t PARADISE Stuart
CB 376 HELP ME TO SING Paul
CB 571 NOT MADE WITH
HANDS Andre
501 O’LEARY Molly
400 STRUGGLE ON Solon
179 CHRISTIAN WARFARE Jordan
ShH 243 BALM IN GILEAD Gary
ShH 140b TEN THOUSAND
CHARMS Terry
ShH 306 BUONAPARTE Sam
SH 5b BREAKER Chris
ShH 294 AN ANTHEM FROM
ISAIAH Myles
ShH 114 YOUTHFUL BLESSINGS Ben
ShH 18b A SONG OF TEXAS Sara
ShH 136 PERFECT LOVE Nancy B
CB 96 MERCY SEAT Mary Ellen
ShH 158b THE APPLETREE Rebecca
Closer: 267 PARTING FRIENDS Myles & Ben
Total songs: 28 + 28 = 56
SH: 20
CB: 10
ShH: 26
Personal favorites: As in previous months, Mary Ellen called RIVER OF JORDAN, Sara called CONFLICT, Terry called ROCHESTER. Other duplicates from July include SH 49, 56b, and 267; CB 505; and ShH 158b and 124.
Brooklyn shapenote singing, July 2016 — notes
Posted: July 22, 2016 Filed under: tunes called | Tags: brooklyn, cooper book, frozen treats, sacred harp, shapenote, Shenandoah Harmony Leave a comment
Singing from The Sacred Harp, Denson 1991 and Cooper 2012 (CB) Revisions, and from The Shenandoah Harmony (ShH), and from other four-shape sources.
We collected $46. I had bought Earl Grey and what turned out to be MORE peppermint tea with last month’s reserved funds, leaving $3 with which I will get some chamomile, unless someone has a different preference. Thanks to Solon for calling BUNKER HILL and Jordan for BOULDER, with their sadly timely, terrifying texts of “blood and carnage.”
I was delighted to have a nice group back to my place for ice cream and mojitos afterwards, capped off with a lounge and sing on my upstairs neighbor’s roof deck, featuring commercial cranes (yes, they work from time to time), other roofs, and the Statue of Liberty like a rubber toy floating far off on the harbor. Let’s not forget the Miracle of the Mint appearing just when it was needed to make those mojitos possible. Marshmallow Fluff is ridiculously sticky.
Present: Bruce, Solon, Terry, Jordan; Nancy B., Sara, Sarah, Mary Ellen, Rebecca, Julie; Paul, Lynn, Gideon, Gwen, Jacob, Charles; Alice W., Jasmine, me. New: Jacob’s friends Isaac and Gabriel.
48t DEVOTION nbm
Lesson nbm
354b HAPPY LAND Alice
49t OLD HUNDRED Paul
56b VILLULIA Gwen
63 CORONATION Jacob
37b LIVERPOOL Solon
CB 30t ROCHESTER Terry
ShH 260t CONFLICT Sara
324 NORTH PORT Rebecca
ShH 147 RIVER OF JORDAN Mary Ellen
ShH 7b WINCHESTER Nancy B.
504 WOOD STREET Sarah
ShH 77 COLLINS nbm
367 CONSOLATION Jasmine
ShH 158b THE APPLETREE Alice
ShH 264b MILLBROOK Paul
312b RESTORATION (1st) Lynn
ShH 226 THORNY DESERT Gwen
59 HOLY MANNA Gabriel
131t MESSIAH Gideon
313t CONCORD Charles
ShH 373b WEEPING MARY Jacob
ShH 440 ARINELLO Isaac
89 CHURCH’S DESOLATION Jordan
BREAK
Callback: 67 COLUMBUS nbm
ShH 106 BUNKER HILL Solon
CB 581b WELLS SECOND Terry
ShH 444t YE OBJECTS OF SENSE Julie
545 THE PILGRIM’S WAY Sarah
430 ARBACOOCHEE Rebecca
CB 505 CLEANSING FOUNTAIN Mary Ellen
ShH 124 GONE TO REST Nancy B.
ShH 10 SOMETHING NEW nbm
ShH 103 BABE OF BETHELEHEM Alice
ShH 104t TIME IS WINGING US AWAY Gideon
267 PARTING FRIENDS Lynn
CB 411 FINEST FLOWER Gwen (for Jon, who asked for a CB song)
81t BEACH SPRING Charles
159 WONDROUS LOVE Jacob
80b SERVICE OF THE LORD Isaac
CB 587 NEARER MY GOD TO THEE Solon
CB 559 WILL YOU MEET ME Terry
ShH 242 BOULDER Jordan
CB 116 I WILL SHOUT & SING IN GLORY Julie
384 PANTING FOR HEAVEN Sara
106 ECSTASY Rebecca
CB 515 WHEN THE LORD SHALL COME FOR ME Mary Ellen
ShH 15 CONVERSE Nancy B
Closer: ShH 403 HICKS’ FAREWELL nbm
Total songs: 23 + 25 = 48
SH: 22
CB: 8
ShH: 18
Distribution not too dissimilar from last month, just a touch heavier on the ShH and lighter on the CB side. Some personal favorites reappeared from June (and perhaps months before): Paul called MILLBROOK, Mary Ellen called RIVER OF JORDAN, Lynn called RESTORATION (1st), Sara called CONFLICT, Jacob called WEEPING MARY from the Shen Harm.
Weds singings STAY IN GREENWICH VILLAGE this summer, 2016
Posted: July 9, 2016 Filed under: Explaining stuff | Tags: midweek, sacred harp, shapenote Leave a commentThere’s an old post that may be confusing people. We’re staying at St. John’s, Christopher Street, through the summer, not moving to St Peter’s, Chelsea (we use that air-conditioned room).
TODAY, JULY 10: July singing and ice cream social
Posted: July 6, 2016 Filed under: calendar | Tags: brooklyn, frozen treats, shapenote 1 Commentif I lived in an igloo*, would that be cool enough for you, Jon?
I may have omitted mention of the actual singing. 2 to 5 pm at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Clinton & Carroll Streets, Brooklyn. Beware, the southbound F train isn’t stopping at Carroll St., so go past and loop back, or take the 2, 3, or 4 to Borough Hall, or the A or C to Jay St. and walk (or catch the 57 bus along Court St, or the 61 to Columbia St and walk across the highway).
This weekend, in fact, July 10, 2016. I thought we’d have three suggested “sundaes” (of course, mix and match as you like):
AFFOGATO: Over ladyfingers, coffee or vanilla ice cream; coffee; crushed chocolate espresso beans; whipped cream; coffee liqueur
S’MORES: Over graham crackers, vanilla or chocolate ice cream; Marshmallow Fluff; chopped milk chocolate; chocolate sauce. Possibly actual marshmallows, but no open flames, sorry.
TROPICALIA: Over bananas, citrus or berry sorbet; chopped dried pineapple, dried coconut, mango; spiced rum.
Details are subject to change, as the shopping’s not done yet. Please feel free to invite non-singing friends with a fondness for frozen treats to meet us at my place after 5.
*Image from the Los Angeles Public Library: the Igloo Ice Cream Parlor, complete with iceberg and stranded ship; 4302 W. Pico St., 1927.
Brooklyn singing, June 2016 — notes
Posted: June 24, 2016 Filed under: tunes called | Tags: brooklyn, cooper book, sacred harp, shapenote, Shenandoah Harmony, singing school Leave a comment
Summer fun on the Whirly Ride
Singing from The Sacred Harp, Denson 1991 and Cooper 2012 (CB) Revisions, and from The Shenandoah Harmony (ShH), and from other four-shape sources.
Big turnout this month! Thanks, everyone. We collected $37, of which I added $30 to the gift I delivered to the church that day and reserved $7 to buy new tea, since our tea box has gone missing in the church’s closet cleanout. I was thinking Earl Grey or Irish Breakfast for a black tea, and peppermint or chamomile for herbal; any requests?
Present: Paul, Lynn, Stuart, Patrick, Scott, Nancy B., Leon, Sarah L., Sara L., Molly, Alice W., Alice B., Jacob, Jamie, Jon, Jasmine, Lisa D., Mary Ellen, Chris, Carol, Terry, Brian (visiting), nbm. New: Kevin, Eleanor, Matt (Brian’s friend), Jonathan, Luke
ShH 300t HARMONY GROVE nbm
ShH 265 MILLBROOK Paul
312b RESTORATION Lynn
ShH 161 HARVEST HYMN Stuart
49t OLD HUNDRED Molly
ShH 373b WEEPING MARY Jacob
28b WELLS Leon
39t DETROIT Patrick
CB 408 WEEPING MARY Terry
ShH 260t CONFLICT Sara L
ShH 13t BOURBON Nancy
ShH 22b PSALM 30 Sarah L
ShH 147 RIVER OF JORDAN Mary Ellen
82t BOUND FOR CANAAN Alice B
83b DYING MINISTER Jamie
CB 38t ROAD TO LIFE & DEATH Jon
“JONAH” Scott
83t VALE OF SORROW Lisa
30b PROSPECT Alice W.
215 NEW TOPIA Brian
BREAK
Callback: 35 SAINTS BOUND FOR HEAVEN nbm
31b WEBSTER Paul
271b RESTORATION (2nd) Lynn
CB 368t REMEMBER ME Stuart
339 WHEN I AM GONE Molly
196 ALABAMA Jacob
214 REPENTANCE Leon
142 STRATFIELD Patrick
CB 585 GOSPEL FEAST Terry
122 ALL IS WELL Alice
CB 505 CLEANSING FOUNTAIN Mary Ellen
ShH 398 ELECTION HYMN Nancy
ShH 309 OVERTON Jamie
CB 380t NETTIE Sarah
CB 572 WE WILL SING WITH THE ANGELS THERE Jon
CB 571 NOT MADE W/HANDS Scott
ShH 119t LAMENTATION Lisa
128 PROMISED LAND Alice
448 (b? GRIEVED SOUL) Brian with Matt
CB 38b ROAD TO LIFE & DEATH Lynn
ShH 218t REDEEMING GRACE Stuart
348t AINSLIE Carol
48b DEVOTION Jacob
ShH 5b BREAKER Chris
332 SONS OF SORROW Leon
300 CALVARY Patrick
CB 583 SAVANNAH Terry
Total songs: 20 + 27 = 47
SH: 23
CB: 10
ShH: 13
Scott Luscombe brought his own song, JONAH, which I enjoyed singing again.
Brooklyn shapenote singing, May 8, 2016
Posted: May 9, 2016 Filed under: tunes called | Tags: brooklyn, cooper book, sacred harp, shapenote, Shenandoah Harmony Leave a commentBrooklyn (Joe Beasley) shapenote singing, Sunday, May 8, 2016. At St. Paul’s Church, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, New York. Singing from THE SACRED HARP, 1991 Denson edition and 2012 Cooper Book Edition [CB], and the Shenandoah Harmony [ShH]).
Is her hair on fire, or what are those things?
So pleased to have all the books (including our fresh new Densons) on a shelf in the singing room instead of downstairs, through a gate, across the tiny courtyard, through a door, and stacked in the supply closet. (Our tea things will continue to live there, but it’s so much less to carry around.)
It felt like an unusually minor singing, punctuated by gospel-ish Top of the Pops numbers like TRUSTING JESUS, GOSPEL MESSAGE, and ANGEL BAND (and now that I think of it, a lot of C Major too; but scarcely any F Major). And Ezra, our Vermonter, offered us a mini Ingalls-fest. Sarah sang bass throughout: entertaining and instructive for her and all of us. Thanks to Julia Reischel, last month, for the excellent idea to use 425 as a closer.
Jon and I both encountered a surprising hitch in ShH 279, MILES’ LANE, in the treble. For one thing, in starting (and returning to) the La below So below Fa, if you take my meaning, in C Major, it lingers in a grave if not gravelly region for sopranos, at least. For another, where the bottom two parts have exact repeats between the first and second phrases, the treble and alto make tiny changes requiring the treble to sing directly into a discord (A La vs G So). Conceding that just because something is difficult, that doesn’t make it wrong, can someone with a third printing of the Shen Harm just check the errata and make sure there’s no mistake?
Thanks to Nancy B for ginger brownies, Alice W for poppy seed cake, and Sara for coconut cookies. Thanks also to those who made the sacrifice and came back to my apartment to eat potato chips and save me from their perilous lure.
Present:
Paul, Nancy B., Solon, Sara, Aldo, Mary Ellen, Sarah L., Stina, Jon, Alice W., Chris C., Julie, Ezra, Lynn, nbm.
Opener: ShH 1t DUBLIN nbm
312t SING TO ME OF HEAVEN Aldo
31t NINETY THIRD PSALM Paul
CB 266b LEBANON NEW Nancy
30t LOVE DIVINE Stina
CB 96 MERCY SEAT Mary Ellen
CB 504t PETERBOROUGH nbm
CB 573 TRUSTING JESUS Jon
CB 98 GLORY SHONE AROUND Aldo
ShH 260t CONFLICT Paul
63 CORONATION Solon
ShH 339 BEGONE UNBELIEF Ezra
ShH viii WHEN JESUS WEPT (round) Stina
213t THE GOOD OLD WAY Sara
ShH 147 RIVER OF JORDAN Mary Ellen
ShH 399 HUMBLE PENITENT Nancy
ShH 364b STONY ISLAND nbm
ShH 279b MILES’ LANE Jon
CB 422t A SONG OF TEXAS Aldo
ShH 204 WAKE UP Paul
ShH 106 BUNKER HILL Solon
ShH 127 PEMBROKE Ezra
ShH 105 PETITION Chris
146 HALLELUJAH Stina
CB 463 ANGEL BAND Mary Ellen
203 FLORIDA Sara
ShH 68 WARD Nancy
RECESS
CALLBACK: CB 380t NETTIE nbm
84 AMSTERDAM Alice
CB 174 GOSPEL MESSAGE Jon
CB 210 MINNESOTA Aldo
ShH 254 PENNSYLVANIA Paul
ShH 77 COLLINS Chris
29t FAIRFIELD Solon
158b THE APPLETREE Ezra
171 EXHORTATION Stina
ShH 22b PSALM 30 Sarah
528 SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS Sara
ShH 34 SOLEMN THOUGHT Nancy
ShH 1b ROCKBRIDGE Julie
155 NORTHFIELD Alice
CB 411 FINEST FLOWER nbm
CB 563 JESUS IS MINE Jon
CB 54t PALMETTO Aldo
ShH 264b MILLBROOK Paul
159 WONDROUS LOVE ***
CB 497 THE BITTER CUP Chris
290 VICTORIA Solon
506 THE ARK Sarah
ShH 48 CAPTAIN KIDD Ezra
82t BOUND FOR CANAAN Stina
ShH 73 EXULTATION Nancy
ShH SUMMER Julie
178 AFRICA Alice
CLOSER: 425 GOLDEN STREETS nbm
STATS: Totals: 27 plus 28 for 55 songs, pretty well distributed across the three books: 19 Denson, 14 Cooper, 22 Shenandoah. There were four Denson duplicates from March (31t, 63, 425, 528): zero from the Cooper Book (again), and four from the Shen Harm (ShH 147, ShH 254, ShH 264b, ShH 364b). MILLBROOK FTW. We collected $31 for the church.
