Journal issue: Vol. 2, No. 2
Introducing Vol. 2, No. 2 of the Sacred Harp Publishing Company Newsletter
The fourth issue of The Sacred Harp Publishing Company Newsletter highlights much-loved singers and singings from Sacred Harp’s not-so-distant past, and features updates on our music’s exciting growth in the present. Our issue leads off with Sacred Harp Publishing Company President Mike Hinton’s story about the items tucked into the Bible of his aunt, beloved Sacred…
Aunt Ruth’s Bible
My aunt Jerusha Henrietta Denson was born on July 5th, 1893 at Carrollton, Georgia. She was called “Rush” by her family. At school her name was changed to Ruth, which stuck for the rest of her life. She was one of eight children born to Thomas Jackson Denson and Amanda Burdette Denson—her brothers were Paine…
The Cullman Courthouse Singings
A note from the editor: This essay on Sacred Harp singing in the Cullman County Courthouse is excerpted from Buell Cobb’s forthcoming Sacred Harp memoir. Thanks to Buell for permission to include it in this issue of the Newsletter. It is no longer—as it may once have been—the biggest and best convention in all the…
The Making of The Shenandoah Harmony
At 469 songs on 480 pages, The Shenandoah Harmony is the largest new four-shape tunebook published for more than 150 years. The music committee includes John del Re, Kelly Macklin, and their daughter Leyland del Re of Virginia; Nora Miller of Maryland; Daniel Hunter and me, Rachel Hall, of Pennsylvania; and Myles Louis Dakan and…
“Take My Staff and Travel On”: A Sacred Harp Journey
Have you ever wondered how many people sing Sacred Harp? Even though I have no idea what the exact number is, I am amazed by how many people around the world share the experience of this music. Each of these singers has his or her own unique story—every one has followed a different road toward…
Road Trip to Roberta
I recently was invited to ride with the world-renowned duo of Hugh McGraw and Charlene Wallace to Oscar McGuire’s monthly singing school down in Roberta, Georgia. No Sacred Harp singer in their right mind would pass up such an opportunity, so of course I said yes. How I, a mere babe when it comes to…
Congratulations to David Ivey, 2013 National Heritage Fellow
The Sacred Harp Publishing Company congratulates David Ivey, who has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as a 2013 National Heritage Fellow. David, who co-founded Camp Fasola in 2003 with Jeff Sheppard and served as one of seven members of the Music Committee that revised The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition, is the secretary…