But let me find them all again

(Arts & crafts time.)

Oh my! Thanks everyone, for making this one of the best singing weekends I've ever had. It was a lot to pull off on the heels of the All-Cal, but I hope you all agree that it was worth it. We had more than 80 people attend the singing school on Saturday! I've heard that it was invaluable for some of the newer singers, and I think everyone took something away from that day. I'm thinking on a couple of the things Tim said in closing... That the singers who came before us still inhabit our hearts and voices. That we value revisiting the same songs, that every time we come together it's a new experience, richer than the last time. Personally, every time I open my mouth to sing I hear echoes of so many Tuesday nights in Northampton. And I think we're all the richer for having had some of those voices raised with ours this time around. Thanks to Tim, Matt, Rosie, and Allison for traveling to be here this weekend. Thanks especially for lending us your pitching, your strong leading, and some of that New England intensity. (And for bringing me a playmate!)

I encourage everyone to return the favor... the Western Mass Convention is held every March, and this August they will also host the Young People's. Travel grants are available to help with the expense.

Now, lest you think I only had eyes for our out-of-towners, please enjoy this video of someone pretty high up on my list of local greatness! Excuse the low quality, I just wanted to capture a little something for posterity. Here's Inder, a week before her due date, leading one verse of 383.

Elvis Perkins in Dearland

A few of us sang on a very cramped stage last night with Tim Eriksen (I was sprawled over some huge MOOG floor pedals), four songs fast & high. It sucks it was sold out, hopefully there'll be better opportunities in the future for us to sing in loud bars. The next band was really great, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, very wide-ranging musicians with positive energy. & since I think Jessica & I were the only shape-note singers remaining by the time they did their Sacred Harp medley, I'll post this video of "Weeping Pilgrim" (it was even better than this last night, & it segued into an inspiring cover of "Weeping Mary".) I believe their "Weeping Pilgrim" is on the second disc of the Awake My Soul cds. Their drummer is so cute & has quite a way with thwacking bass drums.

Linda's Tips for Newbies: Leading

As we were a small group tonight, Susan kindly prompted newer singers to share their questions. This reminded me that I've been meaning to post some tips that were helpful to me as a new singer. Perhaps this will be a series, if I don't get too distracted.

Leading

It's important to learn to lead, because it preserves the democratic and participatory nature of the tradition. That said, it can be a little intimidating at first. Here are some tricks to make it easier:

1. Always beat time at your seat. Then when you come up to lead, it won't be so unfamiliar. It will also make you a better singer, and help others stay on track, too.
2. Don't worry if you don't know the notes yet. Just do the best you can. No one will call you out for making a mistake.
3. Pick a song even if you don't lead it. You can also ask for someone to stand up with you while you practice leading.
4. Consider choosing a song with lots of half and whole notes- it's a little easier to get the shapes right when they're not going by so fast.
5. Pick a song and memorize at least the words- one less thing to figure out on the fly.
   
6. Lean on the front row of the tenor bench. They are supposed to beat time, and support the leader in keeping the class together. Kick us if we let you down.
7. It's helpful to have decided which verses of a song and if you want a repeat at the end. Announce your choices clearly, and make sure that the tenors really heard you. While an experienced leader can get away with making these decisions as the song progresses, a mini-train wreck can happen if a newer leader gets confused or gives confusing signals.
8. Consider the class. On a night with lots of strong singers you can try out a song you are less comfortable with but want to practice. When we have few strong singers it may be better to stick to things we know a bit better. 
9. Even a song you think you know by heart can produce little challenges when leading. Check the song for
   

• internal repeats- don't forget to sing the notes twice
• songs that start on the upbeat (the downbeat is a rest)
• time changes

  10.  Relax. We know you're new. The only way to learn to be good at leading is to persevere                through being a bit awkward and clueless. 

Murillo's Lesson

Here are the lyrics to the Murillo's Lesson, number 358 (lyrics credited from the Sacred Melodeon) a hymn especially popular (I just read) in Cleburne County, Alabama.

As down a lone valley with cedars o’erspread,
From war’s dread confusion I pensively strayed,
The gloom from the face of fair heaven retired,
The winds hushed their murmurs, the thunders expired.
Perfumes as of Eden flowed sweetly along,
A voice as of angels enchantingly sung,
Columbia, Columbia to glory arise,
The queen of the world and the child of the skies.

Fair science her gate to thy sons shall unbar,
And the east see thy morn hide the beams of her star.
New bards and new sages unrivalled shall soar
To fame unextinguished when time is no more.
To Thee the last refuge of virtue designed,
Shall fly from all nations the best of mankind;
There grateful to heaven with transport shall bring
To Jesus, the author of nations will sing.

I just found this amazing recording of Murillo's Lesson at this website, bee mp3, performed by Jimmy Wofford & the Churchmen. They have a pretty impressive website format, making tons of recordings from WFMU & old 78s free online, easy to download, & easy to embed:

	Jimmy Wofford and the Churchmen - Murillo's Lesson
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

There's several videos on the Youtubes of the Sacred Harp version:

Blue Highway

So, I'm pretty picky about modern/popular interpretations of Sacred Harp. Also, I've long since reached my lifetime quota of Wondrous Love. But somehow this arrangement just wins.



I adore the spare use of instrumentation, and the perfect pausing! (5 guys who can all sing and pick like crazy, and my favorite part is the negative space?)

So in case you're interested in bluegrass done right by some really nice, talented folks who respect Sacred Harp, check out Blue Highway at the F&S this Friday.

Where's our memories?

Jessica just put some photos from the All-California Convention up on the Facebooks. I'm sure people have thousands of photos! I want to see some, are there any albums online? Are there any recordings yet? Let's hear it!

Here's the recording Natalie made from the after-party New Music singing at Mark's house, of my tune Multnomah. (Click play on the little player, or download this mp3 here, & there's a pdf of the score here.)
-James

On registration, socks, and naughty dogs

Hey! What a fabulous convention! I want to thank everyone who helped out with registration... over the two days we welcomed 215 people, sold 19 books, and helped raise enough donations to cover expenses with a comfortable margin! Yay!

On a personal note, my favorite kind words of the weekend?
1) A friendly woman in line at the bathroom complimented my stockings and asked where I had bought them, thus validating my last minute obsession with acquiring cream ribbed stockings to match my vintage dress and the ensuing obsession with sockdreams.com.
2) Someone thanked me for being a strong voice in the back of the alto section... and here I thought I was just being distracting in between running around micromanaging registration! The best part was that the singing sounded fabulous even from way back there. (Also, it smelled like I was being baked into a chocolate cake while Susan was laying out desserts a couple inches behind me. Sweet sweet torture...)

I don't have any real singing pictures, but here's one of me and Katie (my guest from Texas, one of my best friends, and in fact the very one who turned me on to sacred harp singing way back when!) in front of the beautiful Casa de Flores.


And here's what happens when you leave your dogs home all day while you go singing...