Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 12th annual Shaker Meetinghouse and Francis Bliss Memorial Singing was called to order at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village Meetinghouse in New Gloucester, Maine, at 1:00 p.m. by Barb Ames leading 143. Song selections were from (The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition) unless otherwise indicated. Liz Cantrell offered the opening prayer. Meg Haskell and Barb Ames led the class in singing two Shaker songs, “Come, Little Children” and “Little Children”.

The following officers were appointed to serve: Chairman—Barb Ames; Treasurers—Sara Sandberg and Eric Sandberg; Arranging Committee—Elizabeth Stoddard; Secretary—Erin Fulton.

Leaders: Elizabeth Stoddard 32t; Erin Fulton 324; Sara Sandberg 39t; Scott Harriman 47t; Ethan McNerney 77t; Kathe Pilibosian 75; Peter Golden 268; Debby Bliss 155; Eric Sandberg 441; Rachel Taylor 99; David Bliss 66; Pleasance Crawford 297; Bill Holt 455; Ron Trial 127; George Dyment 209; Liz Cantrell 217; Robert Dove 473; Dennis O’Brien 486; Carly Goss 440; Ian Quinn 511; Julius Pasay 505; Laura Hodges 208; Eric Hildebrant 551; Charles Biada 453; Yael Tarshish 203; Gwen Gethner 126; Chris McKnight 318; Eric Sandberg and Sara Sandberg 313t; Chuck Crawford 546; Pat Callahan 176b; George Sigut 448t; Lyra O’Brien 336.

RECESS

Elizabeth Stoddard called the class back to order leading 87. Leaders: Christopher Kain 471; Emma Swartz 172; Jesse Flynn 548; Thomas Begley 290; Jesse Vear 204; Chris Holley 49b (in honor of Corrone and Ruth Anne Bryant, founding members of Maine’s shape-note community). Barb Ames commented on the history of the singing and the relationship between Maine singers and the Shaker community. Leaders: Joan Frankel 414; Robert Stoddard 325; Gwen Gethner 270; Ian Quinn 370; Pat Callahan 475; Dennis O’Brien 474; Yael Tarshish 272; Julius Pasay 344; George Sigut 72b; Liz Cantrell 315; Lyra O’Brien 573; Chris McKnight 300; Charles Biada 333; Pleasance Crawford 488; Thomas Begley 111b; Erin Fulton 522; Ron Trial 195; Emma Swartz 57; Scott Harriman 337; Carly Goss 58; Bill Holt 269; Peter Golden 225t; Jesse Vear 460; Bobbie Goodell 151; Debbie Bliss and David Bliss 193; Rachel Taylor 48t; Laura Hodges 176t.

The Treasurers reported that expenses had been met. The Secretary and Arranging Committee reported that forty-one leaders had led sixty-eight selections; the class of sixty-three singers represented Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Ontario. Barb Ames thanked the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community for their hospitality and led the Shaker song “We Will All Go Home with You” followed by 347 as the closing song, while those present took the parting hand. Chris Holley offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed to supper at the nearby Brick Dwellinghouse.

SUPPER

Following supper, a portion of the class reconvened at 6:15 p.m. in the Rotunda of the 1893 Maine State Building in Poland Springs Historic District, Poland Spring, Maine, to sing from The Sacred Harp, Revised Cooper Edition. Ron Trial called the class to order leading 461 (CB). Leaders: Ian Quinn 39 (CB); Robert Stoddard 150 (CB); Rachel Taylor 367 (CB); Erin Fulton 53 (CB); Elizabeth Stoddard 198 (CB); George Sigut 38t (CB); Gwen Gethner 559 (CB); Charles Biada 416t (CB); Joan Frankel 393 (CB); Pleasance Crawford 210 (CB); Ron Trial and Robert Stoddard 505 (CB); Laura Hodges 450 (CB); Jesse Vear 98 (CB); Jesse Flynn 392 (CB); Joan Frankel 137 (CB); Scott Harriman 96 (CB); George Sigut 196 (CB); Lyra O’Brien 86 (CB); Charles Biada 303 (CB); Erin Fulton 271b (CB); Ian Quinn 422t (CB); Elizabeth Stoddard 373 (CB); Robert Stoddard 45b (CB).

RECESS

Ron Trial called the class back to order leading 572 (CB). Leaders: Robert Stoddard 573 (CB); Jesse Vear 567 (CB); Julius Pasay 571 (CB); Gwen Gethner 174 (CB); Charles Biada 578 (CB); Chris Holley 580 (CB); Erin Fulton 457 (CB); Jesse Vear 522 (CB); Ian Quinn 587 (CB); Elizabeth Stoddard 576 (CB); Ron Trial 577 (CB); Robert Stoddard 133 (CB); Robert Dove 264b (CB); Chris Holley 341 (CB). Jesse Vear led 122 (CB) (in honor of Chuck Micciche), and dismissed the class.

Chairman—Barb Ames; Secretary—Erin Fulton