Brooklyn shapenote singing, Sunday, January 12, 2020
Posted: January 18, 2020 Filed under: tunes called | Tags: brooklyn, cooper book, sacred harp, shapenote, Shenandoah Harmony Leave a commentBrooklyn Shapenote Singing, January 12, 2020. St. Paul’s Church, Carroll Gardens. Singing from The Sacred Harp, Denson 1991 (SH) and Cooper 2012 (CB) Editions, and from The Shenandoah Harmony (ShH).
A smaller, but highly enjoyable singing. Find for the month: ShH 33 FLORILLA. Sorry I haven’t made minutes for the last quarter of 2019. I thought I might do a spreadsheet for all five singings but just doing the SH calls and then fussing with the format nearly bored my fingers off. So unless people really care I’m not doing the ShH and CB, but I’ll post the SH sheet somewhere.
Two important notes: (1) The class agreed to a new way of handling the collection. Instead of my retaining it all, borrowing $5 here and there for cups and the like, and then writing a check each quarter, every month the first $40.00 will go to the church; any amount between $41 and $55 will be kept as a slush fund for tea, cups, new books, tape, or whatever the singing needs; any amount over $55 will be added to the gift to the church. I’ll leave envelopes for the slush fund and the monthly donation and reflect this update on the BK singing instructions page here. This month we collected $39, so it all went into an envelope and under the door of Fr. Wallace’s downstairs office.
(2) I won’t be at the singing in February, so am asking for a volunteer to be in charge. I’ll get the key to you. Very excitingly, Myles and Ben have offered to host the after-singing festivities which will feature the PECULIAR GROUND role-playing game created by London singer Francis Gaskin: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U3k4PZC4o_KCtDmvZgqXyb1eBVt1cmfG/view. LET ME KNOW if you can be the key-holder and cleanup-checker on February 9.
Other news: there’s now a key on a long cord that can be tossed out the window to latecomers and hauled back up.
Present: Paul, Sarah L., Sara S., Alice M., Nancy B., Jasmine, Jaime, Lynn, Ezra, Molly, nbm. Visiting: Stacey B., Scott L. New(ish): Cassady
Collected: $39
SH: 12 CB: 9 ShH: 25 Other: 1 TOTAL: 47
CB 50t CONSOLATION nbm
CB 572 WE WILL SING W/THE ANGELS THERE Paul
ShH 114 YOUTHFUL BLESSINGS Alice M
SH 42 CLAMANDA Sarah L
CB 47t SALVATION O THE JOYFUL SOUND Nancy B
ShH 70t IMANDRA Scott
ShH 418t ROCHESTER Stacey
ShH 132 STAR IN THE EAST Paul
ShH 76b MOUNT WATSON nbm
SH 268 DAVID’S LAMENTATION Alice M
ShH 423 BRIER ISLAND Jaime
ShH 236t WANTAGE Molly
ShH 65t SALEM Nancy B
SH 353 MCGRAW Scott
SH 101t CANAAN’S LAND Stacey
SH 38b WINDHAM Lynn
SH 159 WONDROUS LOVE Paul
CB 39 EDEN OF LOVE nbm
SH 89 THE CHURCH’S DESOLATION Alice M
ShH 104b TIME IS WINGING US AWAY Jaime
ShH 424b WALPOLE Sarah L
ShH 326b THE GOOD OLD WAY Molly
JONAH Scott L
ShH 5b BREAKER Stacey
ShH 260t CONFLICT Jasmine
BREAK
CB 72 FIRM FOUNDATION Stacey
CB 30b PROSPECT Lynn
CB 442t BLOOMING YOUTH Paul
ShH 253 MY NATIVE LAND nbm
SH 86 POLAND Alice M
SH 33b ABBEVILLE Sarah L
ShH 202 MORPHEUS Jaime
ShH 420t O TURN YE Molly
ShH 413 MARCIA Nancy B
ShH 210 AMANDA Scott
ShH 418b LEICESTER Jasmine
ShH 3b NORTH CAROLINA Lynn
ShH 403 HICK’S FAREWELL Paul
SH 300 CALVARY Alice M
ShH 48 CAPTAIN KIDD Ezra
ShH 15 CONVERSE Jaime
ShH 363 CONSTRAINED BY LOVE Sarah L
CB 96 MERCY SEAT Molly
ShH 33 FLORILLA Nancy B
CB 571 NOT MADE WITH HANDS Scott
SH 48t DEVOTION Jasmine
Closer: SH 347 CHRISTIAN’S FAREWELL Scott
Big Singings, a Guide for the New Singer
Posted: September 18, 2019 Filed under: Explaining stuff | Tags: sacred harp, shapenote Leave a commentThanks to friends on FB for the recent thread on this subject which confirmed and added to my thoughts, especially Margaret Bradshaw’s mention of book-on-seat etiquette.. Additional comments are welcome. I’ll see if refinement is needed and can then put this out in another form, probably as a Google Doc. It’s two full pages as laid out.
THE BIG SINGING: A Guide for First-Timers
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Bring food; sign in; move around; be ready; help out; enjoy.
WHAT IS IT?
A big singing may be an All-Day Singing (one day) or a Convention (more than one day). Only minuted* sessions count; added activities like a night-before singing school or a day-after regular singing don’t convert an all-day to a convention. At either, singing will run from morning till mid-afternoon (typically 9:30 to 3:00 or 10 to 3:30) and will include a potluck lunch known as Dinner on the Grounds. There will be one or two breaks in the morning, making two or three sessions, and one or two sessions in the afternoon, with as many as 90 songs.
*Big singings from the Denson Sacred Harp report leaders and song choices along with other basic information to the Sacred Harp Publishing Company in the form of minutes. The information is tabulated, printed, and available online.
WHAT HAPPENS AND WHAT DO I DO?
I. Before the singing
If you are a local, and you are able, please bring something for Dinner on the Grounds (or breakfast). A main course would be great but snacks, bread, dessert are all good; you do not have to make it yourself and it doesn’t have to be large or fancy. I have never known a box of donut holes to go unmolested. If you want suggestions, talk to the Food Chair, who may have an idea of some of the dishes already planned, and will also know whether there are facilities for chilling or heating up food at the venue. Also, be aware that many people find it fun as well as traditional to dress up a little.
II. Arrival
Registration usually opens about half an hour before the singing starts. Whenever you arrive, at the REGISTRATION DESK, fill out a registration card with your name, your address (town or city is fine), when you’ll be there (morning and afternoon), and whether you would like to lead. YOU DO NOT NEED TO LEAD. If you aren’t ready, you don’t want the anxiety, or you just don’t feel like it, there is no dishonor in saying No. If you want to lead, see below for advice. Fill out a nametag and wear it. Pick up a loaner if you need one. Get some coffee. If you brought food, put it where instructed. Put your bag, coat, etc., out of the way.
Figure out where your part is sitting and find a seat for the first session. SEATING GUIDANCE: Singers will move around between sessions so that everyone who wants to gets a chance to sit on the front bench. If you are not an experienced singer, don’t take the middle seats on the tenor front bench, but otherwise you should feel free to sit up front for a session. A book left on a seat during a break is a marker: don’t move one, but also don’t leave your book on a seat you aren’t returning to.
III. During the singing
Remember that registration card? The ARRANGING COMMITTEE is responsible for calling singers to lead. Using the cards to plan the flow, they call each leader up to the square and announce the next, who then has one song to get ready.
PRAYERS AND SPECIAL SESSIONS: There will be three or four prayers offered during the day: after the first song calls the class together; before lunch; to close the singing; and if there is a Memorial/Sick & Shut-Ins lesson. There may be a BUSINESS MEETING to formally elect the officers of the singing. The MEMORIAL LESSON generally falls shortly before lunch, on the second day if it’s a two-day singing, and it honors members of the singing community who are unable to come to singing and those who have died in the preceding year. The TREASURER’S LESSON will come early in the day. You can make a contribution then or put it in the container which will doubtless be on the welcome table. Whatever you can give will be accepted with thanks and goes to the expenses of the singing (the venue fee, equipment for lunch, and similar).
HELPING: If you want to help during the singing, see the Food Committee to help with lunch or just pitch in with setup and cleanup. If you brought food, follow the Food Chair’s instructions as to setting it out. There will be utensils you can borrow.
GENERAL: Have fun singing and listening, watch the leaders as much as you can, remember to rotate benches, leave or take a break if you’ve had enough, try not to forget your water bottle.
IV. After singing
The chair will speak and there will be reports from the Secretary and the Treasurer. A RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE may offer general thanks and a resolution to meet next year. Announcements of singing events will be made. The final song (often 62 PARTING HAND, but not always) will be sung standing, even milling around and shaking hands or hugging – a tricky moment for new singers who may never have had the chance to sing this song. A prayer of dismissal closes the singing.
At NYCADS, the singing is often followed by a composium, an opportunity to sing newly composed songs and offer feedback to the composer. There will generally be a SOCIAL of some kind in the evening.
LEADING AT A BIG SINGING – advice for new singers
• Have two songs you are prepared to lead, ones you know well so you can enjoy them. (Two, in case one is used before you are called.) You will not be judged on the rarity or complexity of your song. Simple and popular songs are great.
• Be efficient. When you hear your name called as the following singer, get out of your seat and to a corner of the square if you can. While the previous song is going on, find your song in the book. Decide which verses you plan to lead and whether you want to take a repeat. Remember that it is better to leave the class wanting more than to wear them out, and that there are many other leaders who need time.
• When you’re called to the square, come up as quickly as you can and say the number of your song loudly and clearly. Look up rather than at your book when you say it.
• Let the pitcher key your song.
• If you prefer to sing a line other than tenor, let the tenor front bench know.
• Announce your verses before the notes (or after) and use your fingers if you can to remind the class of your verse numbers.
• The front bench tenors are your team for the length of your song. They will help you and give you back the energy of the square. Look at them and use them.
• When you’re done, relish the sound and the experience BRIEFLY and then scoot on out of the square. Get some more coffee if you want, maybe one of those donut holes you brought.
N B Mandel 9/18/19
Brooklyn Shapenote Singing, August 11, 2019 — notes
Posted: September 6, 2019 Filed under: tunes called | Tags: brooklyn, cooper book, sacred harp, shapenote, Shenandoah Harmony Leave a commentSt. Paul’s Church, Carroll Gardens. Singing from The Sacred Harp, Denson 1991 (SH) and Cooper 2012 (CB) Editions, and from The Shenandoah Harmony (ShH). As always, let me know if I mistranscribed anything and I’ll correct it.
Thanks to all the singers who came out and came over for sangria.
Present: Terry R., Myles, Ben S-H, Sam, Quinn, Sarah, Jaime, Mary Jane, Alice W., Brandon, Lynn, Molly, nbm. New: Casey, Ethan, Helene.
Collected: $61
SH: 9 CB: 8 ShH: 24 Total: 41
SH 32b DISTRESS nbm
ShH 25 DAMASCUS Ben
SH 569t EMMAUS Terry
ShH 84 LAMBERTON Myles
ShH 22b PSALM 30 Sam
ShH 418b LEICESTER Mary Jane
SH 142 STRATFIELD Sarah
ShH 399 THE HUMBLE PENITENT Molly
ShH 1b ROCKBRIDGE Jaime
CB 500 SWEET BY & BY Alice
CB 501 THAT BEAUTIFUL LAND Paul
ShH 319 SALUTATION nbm
ShH 23 WESLEY Ben
ShH 254 PENNSYLVANIA Terry
SH 387 PENICK Myles
ShH 186 WORLDS BEYOND THE SKY Sam
SH 133 HEBREW CHILDREN Quinn
ShH 12b STROUDWATER Molly
ShH 183 PARIS Mary Jane
ShH 15 CONVERSE Jaime
CB 96 MERCY SEAT Alice
SH 134 THE CHRISTIAN’S HOPE Paul
ShH 9t BRAY nbm
ShH 79 HECK Ben
SH 267 PARTING FRIENDS Lynn
BREAK
SH 160b TURN, SINNER, TURN nbm
SH 240 CHRISTIAN SONG ??
ShH 378b PLEASANT VALLEY Myles
ShH 423 BRIER ISLAND Ben
ShH 422 WE’LL GO ON Quinn
ShH 92 STAUNTON Molly
ShH 226 THORNY DESERT Mary Jane
CB 524 MY HOME ABOVE Jaime
CB 505 CLEANSING FOUNTAIN Alice
CB 518 LOVE AT HOME Paul
ShH 170 AMBOY Brandon
CB 522 SHADES OF NIGHT Terry
ShH 120t I WALKED ABROAD Sam
CB 499 WHERE LOVE IN GLORY SHINES Molly
ShH 30 FEW HAPPY MATCHES Mary Jane
Closer: ShH 309 OVERTON Jaime
Brooklyn Shapenote Singing, July 14, 2019.
Posted: August 8, 2019 Filed under: tunes called | Tags: brooklyn, cooper book, sacred harp, shapenote, Shenandoah Harmony Leave a commentSt. Paul’s Church, Carroll Gardens. Singing from The Sacred Harp, Denson 1991 (SH) and Cooper 2012 (CB) Editions, and from The Shenandoah Harmony (ShH).
A very enjoyable singing graced with the rare presence of our old friends Eric and Sarah H and new friend Eliza the Baby, and I was thrilled to have so many folks come over afterwards for Ice Cream Social, with upstairs singing and late deck time. I recommend an ice cream party to anyone who wants to spread pleasure among her friends in a child-safe manner. Although we did, of course, have drinks, so. And thanks to everyone for generously managing the door-opening system that will be standard from now on. We will miss Stefani’s FRIENDSHIP here but wish her a wonderful time in grad school. (Does that even make sense? Yes, yes it does.)
Present: Gwen, Geoff, Jenny, Annie, Paul, Ben S-H, Sam, Charles, Nancy B., Stefani, Elsa, Jon, Jasmine, Sarah, Quinn, Jaime, Patrick, Eric, Sarah (and Eliza), Anna, Molly, nbm. As always, corrections welcomed.
Collected: $45, plus $50 for one copy each SH and ShH, of which I’ll save half for our New Edition fund and Myles will sell me a replacement ShH.
SH: 8 CB: 13 ShH: 30 TOTAL: 51 (!)
SH 42 CLAMANDA nbm
SH 47t PRIMROSE Gwen
ShH 191 RICHMOND Jenny
ShH 236t WANTAGE Ben
CB 45b SUPPLICATION Charles
ShH 290 HARMONY Sam
CB 586 TRAVELER’S REST Nancy
ShH 18b A SONG OF TEXAS Stefani
CB 572 WE WILL SING W/ANGELS THERE Jon
CB 392 LITTLE PILGRIM Elsa
ShH 413 MARCIA Patrick
ShH 414t CONDESCENSION Eric
ShH 65t SALEM Jaime
SH 268 DAVID’S LAMENTATION Quinn
ShH 174 FAITHFUL SOLDIER nbm
SH 214 REPENTANCE Geoff
ShH 15 CONVERSE Gwen
ShH 57 NEW ORLEANS Patrick
CB 571 NOT MADE W/HANDS Jon
ShH 260b BOWEN Annie
ShH 262 CHARLSTON Eric
Break
CB 559 WILL YOU MEET ME nbm
ShH 166 VOORHEESVILLE Jaime
ShH 288b MISSISSIPPI Ben
ShH 428 PSALM 119 Charles
ShH 348b BIRMINGHAM Sam
ShH 58 SAINTS’ REPOSE Quinn
CB 563 JESUS IS MINE Nancy
CB 175 STAR IN THE EAST Stefani
ShH 373? WEEPING MARY Molly
CB 174 GOSPEL MESSAGE Jon
CB 450 LEANING ON JESUS’ BREAST Elsa
CB 380t NETTIE nbm
ShH 264b MILLBROOK Jasmine
SH 336 ETERNAL HOME Geoff
ShH 146 SAMANTHRA Gwen
ShH 364 STONY ISLAND Jenny
ShH 326b THE GOOD OLD WAY Paul
SH 229 IRWINTON Patrick
ShH 260t CONFLICT Annie
ShH 259 MECKLINBURG Eric & Eliza
SH 135 OLNEY Jaime
ShH 429 SYMYADDA Ben
CB 372 MOUNT PLEASANT Charles
ShH 147 RIVER OF JORDAN Sam
ShH 393 HE HATH DONE ALL THINGS WELL Nancy
SH 458 FRIENDSHIP Stefani
ShH 363 CONSTRAINED BY LOVE Molly
CB 381b THE SURRENDER Jon
ShH 243 BALM IN GILEAD Elsa
Closer: ShH 22b PSALM 30 Eric
Brooklyn singing June 2019, notes (sans names)
Posted: July 14, 2019 Filed under: tunes called | Tags: brooklyn, cooper book, sacred harp, shapenote, Shenandoah Harmony Leave a commentI can’t claim I didn’t have time, but I didn’t get around to filling in the tune names. I’ll come back to it. Meanwhile, have fun seeing how many you can name!
Brooklyn Shapenote Singing, June 14, 2019. St. Paul’s Church, Carroll Gardens. Singing from The Sacred Harp, Denson 1991 (SH) and Cooper 2012 (CB) Editions, and from The Shenandoah Harmony (ShH).
The room we sing in is handsome, with its Gothick leaded casements, and sounds good. But it’s a little dim, especially in winter and in the center of the square, since the elaborate chandeliers are spaced close to the edge, and there were quite a few bulbs out on top of that. Several months ago I mentioned it in a note to the rector, but nothing was done. So this month I brought some bulbs. And Paul brought some bulbs. And Myles brought some bulbs. And meanwhile, the bulbs had been replaced!
Present: Paul, Sarah, Elsa, Nancy B., Molly, Geoff, Brandon, Gwen, Jaime, Ben, Myles, Annie, Jon, Jenny, Carol, Alice W. New: Louis, Chris G., Gabe; Max Grafe’s friends Chelsea and Tim. Visiting: Jimmy from Philadelphia
Collected: $63. Thanks for your generosity.
SH: 11 CB: 11 ShH: 29 TOTAL: 51
SH 52 nbm
CB ___ Paul
SH 58 Gabe
ShH 99 Myles
ShH 96t Ben
ShH 7t Nancy B.
ShH 104t Elsa
ShH 236t Molly
ShH 15 CONVERSE Gwen
CB 100 Jon
CB 96 nbm
CB 128 Louis
CB 30t Gwen
CB 518 Paul
ShH 364b Jenny
ShH 260t Annie
ShH 171 Gabe
ShH 109 Myles
ShH 296 Ben
ShH 133 Jaime
SH 115 Nancy
CB 465 Jon
SH 376 HELP ME TO SING Elsa
ShH 170 Molly
ShH 132 Brandon
Break
SH 82 nbm
CB 5 Louis
ShH 147 RIVER OF JORDAN Gwen
ShH 403 HICK’S FAREWELL Paul
ShH 431 Jenny
SH 159 Jimmy
ShH 174 Myles
ShH 137 Ben
ShH 269 Jaime
CB 368b Nancy
ShH 243 Elsa
ShH 242 BOULDER nbm
SH 322 Brandon
CB 54t PALMETTO Alice
ShH 390 Geoff
ShH 173 Gwen
ShH 326b Paul
CB 464 Carol
ShH 422 Jenny
SH 178 AFRICA Tim
Sh 183 GREENWICH Chelsea
SH 288 WHITE Gabe
ShH 363 Jaime
ShH 443b Myles
ShH 249 Ben
SH 86 POLAND Chris
Brooklyn Shapenote Singing, May 12, 2019.
Posted: June 9, 2019 Filed under: tunes called | Tags: brooklyn, cooper book, sacred harp, shapenote, Shenandoah Harmony Leave a commentSt. Paul’s Church, Carroll Gardens. Singing from The Sacred Harp, Denson 1991 (SH) and Cooper 2012 (CB) Editions, and from The Shenandoah Harmony (ShH).
Present: Paul, Sarah, Myles, Ben S-H, Sam, Elsa, Colman, Patrick, Fr. Alex, Justine, Mary Jane, Terry R., Molly, Stefani, Geoff. New: Colman’s friend Ande. (Image is MAY from the Hours of Bona Sforza, 1490-94, British Library Add. 62997.)
Collected: $47.
SH: 12 CB: 8 ShH: 24 TOTAL: 44
SH 31b WEBSTER nbm
CB 515 WHEN THE LORD SHALL COME FOR ME Paul
SH 512 THE SPIRIT SHALL RETURN Colman
ShH 10 SOMETHING NEW Myles
ShH 1b ROCKBRIDGE Sam
SH 95 VERNON Sarah
ShH 104t TIME IS WINGING US AWAY Elsa
SH 547 GRANDVILLE Justine
ShH 404t PARADISE nbm
ShH 147 RIVER OF JORDAN Patrick
ShH 12b STROUDWATER Colman
CB 442t BLOOMING YOUTH Paul
SH 334 RAINBOW Terry
ShH 116 EDEN OF LOVE Myles
ShH 186 WORLDS BEYOND THE SKY Sam
ShH 78 STAFFORD Ben
SH 106 ECSTASY Sarah
SH 317 JACKSON Stefani
ShH 218t REDEEMING GRACE Molly
CB 38t SESSIONS Elsa
CB 39 EDEN OF LOVE nbm
ShH 4b GRAVITY Patrick (for Ellen’s father)
ShH 330t DAY OF JUDGMENT Colman
ShH 265b MILLBROOK Paul
Break
ShH 109 ZION’S WALLS nbm
ShH 114 YOUTHFUL BLESSINGS Terry
ShH 247 CRUMBLY Ben
ShH 246b AMELIA Myles
ShH 173 JACOB’S WELL Sam
ShH 140b TEN THOUSAND CHARMS Molly
ShH 24t CONSOLATION Ande
CB 54t PALMETTO nbm
SH 34t THE GOSPEL POOL Stefani
SH 44 THE CONVERTED THIEF Patrick
SH 448t CONSECRATION Colman
CB 572 WE WILL SING W/ANGELS THERE Patrick
CB 522 SHADES OF NIGHT Terry
ShH 120b KERSHAW Ben
ShH 180 GLORY SHONE AROUND Myles
ShH 305 THO DARK BE MY WAY Sam
CB 96 MERCY SEAT Molly
SH 140 SWEET SOLITUDE Mary Jane
SH 376 HELP ME TO SING Elsa
SH 331 JESTER Ben
Stacy B leads at April’s Brooklyn singing
Posted: May 12, 2019 Filed under: postcard from me | Tags: brooklyn, cooper book, shapenote Leave a comment
Cooper Book 567, CHILD OF THINE
