Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The third New York State Regional Singing was held at The Farmers Museum in Cooperstown, New York on Saturday before the first Sunday in June from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The singing was called to order by Margaret Bornick leading song on page 228. Ted Tate led the opening prayer.

Leaders: Margaret Bornick 122; Dennis Leipold 150, 49t; Laura Densmore 350, 528; Patricia Geritz 34b, 31t; Gina Balestracci 313b, 312b; Barbara Swetman 217, 30t; Katie Boardman 87, 141; Mryka Hall-Beyer 479, 352; Jean Seiler 147t, 209; Scott Luscombe 39t, 481.

RECESS

Barbara Swetman brought the class to order leading song on page 442. Katie Boardman of The Farmers Museum gave some welcoming remarks and then gave a brief discussion of The Easy Instructor tunebook, which was published in upstate New York. She, and the leaders that followed in this portion of the singing, led songs first from The Easy Instructor and then from the 1991 revision of The Sacred Harp, when it appears in both books, to point out differences.

Leaders: Katie Boardman “Portuguese Hymn” (223), “Sherburne” (186); Barbara Swetman “Florida” (203); Gina Balestracci “Windham” (38b); George Seiler “Mear” (49b); Mary Ann Morrison “Jordan” (66); Mryka Hall-Beyer “Montgomery” (189); Roland Hutchinson “St. Martins”; Michael Ryan “Russia” (107); Laura Densmore “Schenectady” (192); Jean Seiler “New Jerusalem” (299); Mryka Hall-Beyer “Bristol” (468); Gina Balestracci “Evening Hymn”; Roland Hutchinson “Ode on Science”; Katie Boardman “Coronation” (63). Margaret Bornick closed this portion by leading song on page 59.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by Ron Bornick leading song on page 63. Leaders: George Seiler 268, 269; Linda Delfts “Heavenly Meeting”; Tom Metzger 198, 29b; Anne Kazlauskas 201, 95; Robert Todd 335, 455; Francis Gurtz 448t, 117; Michael Ryan 34t, 48b; Jason Law 178; Roland Hutchinson 507, 515b; Hugh Anderson 40, 46.

RECESS

Allen Fannin called the class to order leading song on page 110.

Katie Boardman led a discussion about the tunebook Indian Melodies by Thomas Commuck and then led “Missionary”, or “White Pilgrim” and “Susquehanna” from it.

Leaders: Colette Miller 436, 347; Mary Ann Morrison 501, 300; Laura Densmore 547 (CB); Jean Seiler 183; Gina Balestracci 170; Mryka Hall-Beyer 327; Roland Hutchinson “Oneida” (Indian Melodies); Anne Kazlauskas 155; Francis Gurtz 500; Robert Todd 159; Allen Fannin 495; Colette Miller 368; George Seiler 480; Barbara Swetman “Commuck” (Indian Melodies); Linda Delfts 146; Dennis Leipold 373; Tom Metzger 547; Ron Bornick 454.

Announcements were made of upcoming singings. Margaret Bornick led song on page 62 as the closing song. George Seiler led the closing prayer.

Chairmen—Margaret Bornick and Ron Bornick; Secretary—Dennis Leipold.