The 38th Annual Kentucky State Sacred Harp Singing (with Southern Harmony)

Pisgah Presbyterian Church
Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky
Saturday, May 18, 2019

The 38th annual Kentucky State Sacred Harp Singing, hosted by the Appalachian Association of Sacred Harp Singers (AASHS), was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Ron Pen. The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition was used throughout the day, and The Southern Harmony, 1854 facsimile, 1987 UofK reprint was used after lunch. Jim Thobaben offered the morning prayer

73b, Arlington - Ron Pen
489, The Savior's Call - Raphael Finkel
32t, Corinth - Tim Morton
277, Antioch - Ray Rechenberg
300, Calvary - Ray Turner
376, Help Me to Sing - Greta Combs
475, A Thankful Heart - Jim Herr
29t, Fairfield - Clara Herr
178, Africa - Rob Coulston (by request of Jim Thobaben)
58, Pisgah - Don Waggener
34b, St. Thomas - Donna Kwon
   “Rafael” - Randy Webber (original composition)
288, White - Rob Coulston
496, The Rock That is Higher Than I - Tom Morton
535, Shawmut - Brenda Waters and Tim Gregg
313b, Cobb - Mary Brinkman
30b, Prospect - Bill Hollingsworth
354t, Lebanon - John Hollingsworth
40, Lenox - Joy R. Dunn

RECESS

87, Sweet Canaan - Tim Gregg
454, The Better Land - Pearl Marshall
503, Lloyd - Gabrielle Manion
196, Alabama - Eddie Mash
411, Morning Prayer - Amy Pemberton
268, David's Lamentation - Rafi Finkel (by request of Kathy Sweeton)
455, Soar Away - Ron Pen
269, Bear Creek - Rafi Finkel
217, Ballstown - Tim Morton
564, Zion - Ray Rechenberg
125, Expression - Ray Turner
155, Northfield - Greta Combs
176t, Ragan - Jim Herr
335, Return Again - Clara Herr
341, The Lone Pilgrim - Don Waggener
71, Leander - Donna Kwon
222, Ocean - Randy Webber
117, Babylon is Fallen - Rob Coulston
457, Wayfaring Stranger - Tom Morton
515, Federal Street - Brenda Waters and Tim Gregg
479, Chester - Mary Brinkman

RECESS

Randy Webber conducted the memorial lesson. He read the following names of the sick and shut-ins: Steve Duff and Sue Duff. Jim Herr commented that Sue had had surgery and was also aging, and that caring for her was becoming hard for her husband, Steve. Jim led 68b, Ortonville, for Steve and Sue.

Individual memorial lessons were then led by those close to the deceased.

After some comments from Randy about bereavement theory and process, Ron Pen made remarks about Hugh McGraw. Ron first met Hugh in 1982 in Berea, Kentucky, at the inaugural Kentucky Sacred Harp State Convention. Hugh was 51 years old at the time, and had a voice as powerful as a jet engine. At a break during the afternoon session that day, Hugh leaned over to Ron and whispered that he wouldn't cross the street to hear the music, but I would walk a mile on broken glass to sing it. Ron sat next to Hugh again the following year at the Kentucky State Singing, and learned from Hugh, among other things, that the distinctive oblong profile of the four-shape books fit on your lap well. Hugh was a tireless evangelizer for this music during the early 1980s, sparking singings all over the country. He was the force behind the Sacred Harp Publishing Company as Executive Secretary, and wrote several of the tunes in The Sacred Harp, the most recent being the 1991 edition. Hugh McGraw died in May 2017. Ron honored Hugh by leading 163b, China.

Randy Webber also remarked about a conversation he had had with Hugh some years back about the similarity between 549 (SH), a composition of Hugh's, and “Olive's Brow,” a Lent hymn written by William Bradbury. Randy led 549, Phillips Farewell, in memory of Hugh.

Ray Rechenberg memorialized his daughter, Elizabeth, an Ohioan who had been a shape note singer and traveled frequently to singings with Ray. His other children sang shape note music too, but Elizabeth was the one who traveled with him. She died in May 2018. Ray led 285t, Arnold, in memory of Elizabeth, no notes, both verses, the way she liked it.

Rob Coulston memorialized Steve Hirschberg, who died in 2018, in Jim Thobaben's absence. Rob commented that he felt Steve had died a holy death, and led 128, The Promised Land, in his memory.

Greta Combs memorialized John Stephenson, a Virginian, a shape note singer, and past President of Berea College. John died in 1994. Greta commented that John at times had a wicked sense of humor, but that he was a brilliant man and could put people at ease in almost any situation. No song was led for John. Randy Webber asked a blessing for the noon meal.

LUNCH

159b (SoH), New Haven - Rafi Finkel
448t (SH), Consecration - Laura Lee Earles
236 (SH), Easter Anthem - Randy Webber (by request of Kathy Sweeton)
183t (SoH), Peterborough - Eddie Mash
480 (SH), Redemption - Doug Trent
89t (SoH), Dove of Peace - Tim Morton
157 (SH), Essay - Jim Herr
148 (SH), Jefferson - Clara Herr
59 (SH), Holy Manna - Amy Pemberton
49b (SH), Mear - Ray Rechenberg
70 (SoH), Bower of Prayer - Ray Turner
171 (SH), Exhortation (First) - Greta Combs
291 (SH), Majesty - John Hollingsworth
84 (SH), Amsterdam - Joy R. Dunn
83 (SoH), Thorny Desert - Tim Gregg
13t (SoH), Dublin - Bill Hollingsworth
551 (SH), Jacob's Vision - Pearl Marshall
209 (SH), Evening Shade - Ron Pen
547 (SH), Granville - Annaliza Cull

RECESS

After announcements of upcoming singings were made, Michele Cull, Annaliza Cull, and Amy Pemberton were thanked for filling in for Charles Coulston, our usual kitchen coordinator, who was unable to be there.

540 (SH), Nidrah - Michele Cull (by request of Rafi Finkel)
322 (SoH), Samanthra - Don Waggener
86 (SH), Poland - Donna Kwon
115 (SoH), Morning Star - Randy Webber
31t (SH), Ninety-Third Psalm - Rob Coulston
277 (SH), Antioch - Tom Morton
504 (SH), Wood Street - Annaliza Cull
147t (SH), Boylston - Mary Brinkman
66 (SH), Jordan (First) - Rafi Finkel
16 (SoH), Star in the East - Rob Coulston (by request of Jim Thobaben)
146 (SH), Hallelujah - Ron Pen
107 (SH), Russia - Randy Webber
106 (SH), Ecstasy - Ray Rechenberg
The class sang 267 (SH), Parting Friends (First), as the closing song, and all who wished took the parting hand.

Rob Coulston gave the closing benediction and the class was dismissed at 3:06 p.m.

Chairman and Treasurer—Charles H. Coulston; Secretary—Mary Brinkman.