Old County Line Christian Harmony Singing School

Old County Line Church
Corner, Jefferson County, Alabama
Saturday and Sunday, February 7 and 8, 2009

All selections from The Christian Harmony ('Alabama book', Deason-Parris revision, 2002 printing), unless otherwise noted.

Saturday Session

Danny Creel opened the singing school with announcements and thanked the Alabama State Council on the Arts for grant money provided to have the school (Steve Grauberger was there representing the Council). He also acknowledged the crew members present to film the singing school courtesy of the Beasley Foundation. He led 131, Will You Meet Me?, to open the singing school then Tim Cook began the school by going over the notes and had the class sing the scale. During an object lesson, singers formed a 'human scale' made up of the seven shapes. Tim gave a handout with information about where shape-notes originated. He spoke about sharps and flats and how to pronounce those note shapes when singing. Tim went over individual parts in several songs, so each student would hear the different parts, and then the class sang the entire song (page 67b, 30b).

BREAK

Bill Hogan began teaching about more rudiments such as beating time and time signatures, which were not gone over in the previous session, and the class sang songs to demonstrate these rudiments. He then began instructing the class in elements of keying music. The class sang many songs to demonstrate the points that he gave listed on his handout.

LUNCH

Cassie Allen taught the class about the history and background of the 1958 revision of the Christian Harmony songbook, and about its revisers, O.A. Parris and John Deason. She spoke of Alabama singers and their roots to this tune book through the present day. Cassie also gave details about the changes to the previous songbooks over the years and what revisions were made, such as songs that were removed and added. The class sang songs by Parris:
43, The Heavenly Throng
131, Will You Meet Me?
172, The Grand Highway
Deason:
186, Lord Remember Me
322, Among that Band
John Hocutt:
167b, (No song at that page no.)
120, Home in the Sky
William Walker:
307, True Happiness
208b, French Broad
William 'Bennie' Rigdon:
352, My Home on High
A.M. Cagle:
54, My Trust
Elsie Calvert Moon:
10, Zion's Dove.
Elsie was present to help lead the song she wrote when she was a teen. Cassie closed her session with 204t, What a Day.

At this time different students led songs that were from other songbooks put in the Christian Harmony at the time of the revision:
261, (No song at that page no.) - Henry Johnson
248, Twilight is Falling - SuNell Ellis
346, Star in the East - Lucy Heidorn and Ken Tate.

BREAK

David Daniel spoke of a website he constructed to preserve history in Bibb County. This website features documents, letters, poetry from R.J. Deason, information regarding Little Hope church in Bibb County, etc.
http://historicbibb.com
Leaders: Danny Creel and Kelly Isbell led 155b, (No song at that page no.)
238, Child's Wish - Emily Creel
165, Babylon is Fallen - David Daniel
133, Juniata - Jane Spencer
287, Indian Convert - Yancey Jett
360, The Saints Bound for Heaven - Yancey Jett and Ann Jett
117, Angel Band - Yancey Jett.
Announcements were given, Danny Creel offered prayer and the class sang 85b, Mercy Seat, to close the day.

Sunday Session

Bill Hogan welcomed the class to the singing, then he and Tim Cook opened the singing with 64, Youthful Blessings.
The following officers were appointed serve:
Bill Hogan and Tim Cook - Co-Chairmen
Emily Creel - Secretary
Cassie Allen - Arranging Committee.
Tim Cook sang 31t, Home, and Henry Johnson offered the morning prayer.
Leaders:
57, Salvation's Rock - Emily Creel
93, Something New (for Harrison Creel)
281t, Am I Born to Die? - Cassie Allen
354t, Summer - Cassie Allen
281b, Palmetto - Gary Smith
204t, What a Day - Gary Smith
308, The Happy Time - Danny Creel
149, A Good Time Coming - Danny Creel
54, My Trust - Carolyn Thompson
148, Leander - Carolyn Thompson
235, Faithful Soldier - Michael Spencer
361, Solemn Thought - Michael Spencer
255, Watchman (Second) - Marlin Beasley
325b, Jesus Died For Me - Marlin Beasley
248, Twilight is Falling - Billy Thompson
277b, (No song at that page no.) - Billy Thompson
274, Mother Tell Me of the Angels - Nancy Hogan.
321, Hear and Save - Nancy Hogan.

RECESS

Tim Cook brought the class back by leading, from North Carolina Christian Harmony:
261b (CHw), Aberdeen
103b (CHw), Fish Pond.
Leaders:
157b, (No song at that page no.) - Hannah Tate
59b, Dove of Peace - Henry Guthery
4, Copeland - Henry Guthery
180, The Sinless Summerland - Ann Jett
264, Harwell - Ann Jett
178, That Beautiful Land - J.C. Rutledge
179, Traveling On - J.C. Rutledge
19, The Day of Days - Joan Aldridge
280t, Zion - Joan Aldridge
163b, Burroughs - Ed Thacker
309t, Singing School - Ed Thacker
76b, Night - Judy Caudle
172, The Grand Highway - Judy Caudle
35b, Boylston - Steve Grauberger
77, How Beautiful Heaven Must Be - Steve Grauberger
214, Hosanna - Robert Walker
128t, Hester - Robert Walker
143, Farther Along - SuNell Ellis.
142, The Solid Rock - SuNell Ellis.

LUNCH

Cassie Allen called the class back with 170, On My Way.
Leaders:
105t, Tender Care - Jane Spencer
74, God's Helping Hand - Jane Spencer
117, Angel Band - Yancey Jett
109, Not Made with Hands - Yancey Jett
105b, Hamburg - Henry Johnson
80, The Blind Girl - Henry Johnson
85b, Mercy Seat - Julianna Jett and Ann Jett
131, Will You Meet Me? - Bea Carnathan
189, One by One - Bea Carnathan
253, Is It Far? - Ken Tate
186, Lord Remember Me - Ken Tate
238, Child's Wish - Sarah Smith
239t, Soft Music - Sarah Smith
322, Among that Band - Cindy Tanner
51, Lonsdale - Cindy Tanner
332, Babylonian Captivity - Velton Chafin
120, Home in the Sky - Velton Chafin
323, Holy Manna - James Parker
   “Beulah Land” (by request)
254, (No song at that page no.) - Billy Williams
272, Felicity - Billy Williams
172, The Grand Highway - Judy Caudle (for video taken to Harrison Creel, who was in the hospital)
10, Zion's Dove - Cassie Allen (by request)
176, Heavenly Treasures
284, Don't Grieve Your Mother - Bill Hogan (by request).

Announcements were made, and Bill Hogan, Tim Cook and Cassie Allen sang 50, Cranbrook.
Henry Guthery closed the singing with prayer.

Respectfully submitted by Emily Creel, Secretary