The 4th Annual National Shape Note Gathering

Ozark Folk Center
Mountain View, Stone County, Arkansas
Thursday, July 5, 2007 to Saturday, July 7, 2007

The 4th Annual Shape Note Gathering began on Thursday evening with leaders from:
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition (songs tagged with `SH'),
The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 2006 Revision (tagged `CB'),
The Christian Harmony ('Alabama book', Deason-Parris revision, 2002 printing) (tagged `AL'),
The Christian Harmony (‘Carolina book’, 1873 facsimile, 1994 reprint) (tagged `CHw'),
Black Mississippi Shape Note tradition (tagged `BM').
Cayce's Good Old Songs (tagged `GOS'), and
Missouri Harmony (tagged `MH').

Thursday, July 5

Gaylon Powell called the class together leading 484 (CB), My Country 'Tis of Thee (America).
Harrison Creel offered the opening prayer.

Charley Sandage appointed Gaylon Powell to moderate the Shape Note Gathering. Tammy Powell was appointed as Secretary.

Leaders:
31t (AL), Home - Cassie Allen
113 (MH), Converse - P. Dan Brittain
214 (CHw), Hosanna - Laura Boosinger
37t (SH), Ester - Hugh McGraw
476 (GOS) - Holly Ruth Gale
463 (GOS) - Charley Sandage
85 (AL), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Cindy Tanner
563 (CB), Jesus Is Mine - Sonny Erwin
110 (AL), Volunteers - Elsie Moon
569b (SH), Sacred Throne - Connie Stanton
59 (SH), Holy Manna - Mark Tew
85 (SH), The Morning Trumpet - David Johnson
138t (CB), Song to the Lamb - Tammy Powell
171 (CB), Exhortation - Gaylon Powell
235 (AL), Faithful Soldier - Cassie Allen
34 (MH), Amanda - P. Dan Brittain
58b (CHw), Primrose - Laura Boosinger
352 (GOS) - Charley Sandage
87 (SH), Sweet Canaan - Hugh McGraw.

RECESS

The class was brought back to order by Sonny Erwin leading 463 (CB), Angel Band (Land of Beulah).
Leaders:
53 (CB), Jerusalem - Catherine Hamilton and Lawson Hamilton
276 (CB), Bridgewater - Connie Stanton
488b (CB), Nearer, My God, To Thee (Bethany) - Holly Ruth Gale
47b (SH), Idumea - Mark Tew
303 (BM) - David Johnson
559 (CB), Will You Meet Me? - Tammy Powell
546 (CB), Farther On - Gaylon Powell
31b (SH), Webster - Hugh McGraw
155 (SH), Northfield - Elsie Moon
505 (CB), Cleansing Fountain - Sonny Erwin
289b (CHw), Happy Land - Holly Ruth Gale
73b (SH), Arlington - Connie Stantonx
109 (AL), Not Made with Hands - Mark Tew
585 (BM) - David Johnson
507b (CB), The Glory of the Cross - Tammy Powell.

Gaylon Powell led 105b (AL), Hamburg, as the closing song.
David Johnson offered the closing prayer.

Friday, July 6

The class was called together with Gaylon Powell leading 500 (CB), Sweet By and By.
The opening prayer was offered by P. Dan Brittain.

Gaylon Powell went over the traditions of the Cooper book, the 4 shapes used, and seating around the hollow square.

Cassie Allen went over the traditions and the 7 shapes used in Alabama Christian Harmony.

Dan Brittain talked about the history of the Missouri Harmony.

Laura Boosinger went over the 7 shape system used in the North Carolina Christian Harmony. Gary Hamilton closed with prayer.

Hugh McGraw talked about the traditions of the Denson Book.

Mark Tew talked about traditions in Mississippi of singing the 7 shapes to the 4 shapes.

Charley Sandage talked about the traditions of the Cayce book—“The Good Old Songs”. Gaylon Powell offered the closing prayer.

Saturday, July 7

The final day of the gathering was filled with class singing from The Sacred Harp (1991), The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book) (2006), The Christian Harmony (Deason-Parris revision, 2002 printing), The Christian Harmony (‘Carolina book’, 1994 reprint), Black Mississippi tradition, The Good Old Songs and Missouri Harmony.

Leaders were called and selections made from the book of choice.

Gaylon Powell, Cassie Allen, Dan Brittain, Laura Boosinger, and Hugh McGraw led 46 (SH), Let Us Sing, as the closing song, and those who wished took the parting hand. Mark Tew offered the closing prayer.

Moderator—Gaylon Powell, Secretary—Tammy Powell.