Fohs Hall Four Note Singing (including Southern Harmony)

Fohs Hall
Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky
Saturday, January 24, 1998

The seventh annual four note singing was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Wm. Ralph Paris. There being several newcomers to shape note singing in attendance, Ralph Paris explained some of the conventions and history of the shape note tradition.

The first session was sung from William Walker's The Southern Harmony, 1854 facsimile, 1987 UofK reprint. Ralph Paris opened the singing with the song on page 8t, New Britain.

Michael Alexander, Mayor of Marion, Kentucky, welcomed the singers to Marion on behalf of the City and the Community Arts Foundation.
Leaders:
299, Coronation - Bill Hunt
165t, Ionia - Paul Fourshee
292, Ripley - Ralph Paris
252, Wondrous Love
51, The Promised Land - Kenny Hise
103, Holy Manna - Ann Taylor
64, Olney - Michele Cull
123, Disciple
109, Welch - Phyllis Beck
50, Captain Kidd - Michele Cull
322, Samanthra - Drew Foster
10, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?) - Ralph Paris.

In response to some inquiries as to what the time signatures meant, Ralph Paris did his annual demonstration of William Walker's method of measuring time with a plumb bob swung on a string from knots located at specified intervals along the string.

RECESS

The second session was sung from the The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition.
Leaders:
89, The Church's Desolation - Ralph Paris
133, Hebrew Children - Sherry Parry
107, Russia
45, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?) - Faye Melton
159, Wondrous Love - Drew Foster
117, Babylon is Fallen
145b, Sweet Affliction - Ralph Paris
49t, Old Hundred - Sherry Parry.
The morning session was dismissed with prayer by Rev. Bill Hunt.

LUNCH

Following the wonderful barbecue and potluck meal, the afternoon session began with an hour of singing from Southern Harmony.
Leaders:
51, The Promised Land - Sherry Parry
1, Liverpool - Ralph Paris
83, Thorny Desert - Paul Fourshee
308, The Young Convert - Dixie McGregor
3t, Primrose - Nancy Paris
275, Rock of Ages - Michele Cull
66, Pleasant Hill - Bill Hunt
71, Green Fields
7t, Ninety-Third Psalm - Nancy Paris
77, Lenox - Sherry Parry
78, The Babe of Bethlehem - Ralph Paris
48t, Windham - Drew Foster
46, Evening Shade - Dixie McGregor
181t, Azmon - Nancy Paris
94t, Warrenton - Ann Taylor
111, Missionary Hymn - Ralph Paris.

RECESS

The Sacred Harp was used for the final session of singing.
Leaders:
178, Africa - Sherry Parry (she said she had come to Marion last year for her first singing and had during this past year come to love this music and the people who gather to sing it)
147t, Boylston - Michele Cull
268, David's Lamentation
87, Sweet Canaan - Sherry Parry
82t, Bound For Canaan - Michele Cull
146, Hallelujah
155, Northfield - Ralph Paris
72b, Bellevue.

Announcements of upcoming singings were made. A dismissal prayer was offered by Rev. Bill Hunt for safe journeys home for the singers.

Chairman—Wm. Ralph Paris; Secretary—Nancy Paris.