Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, August 20

The 6th annual Berlin Singing weekend was held on Saturday in the Ev. Brüdergemeinde Berlin-Neukölln, Germany, and on Sunday in the Evangelisch-methodistische Christus-Kirche Berlin-Friedrichshain, Germany. Saturday song selections were from the Shenandoah Harmony (ShH) and Sunday song selections were from the Sacred Harp (SH). Molly McCracken called the class to order by leading 77 (ShH). Eimear Maguire spoke the opening prayer.

Leaders: Mella Tönnies 204 (ShH); Petra Ertl 322 (ShH); Laura Eisen 144 (ShH); Caro Stamm-Reusch 226 (ShH); Hannah Kennedy 230 (ShH); Jessica Sligter 163 (ShH); Peter Kocher 260t (ShH); Saara Pakarinen 231 (ShH); Ellen Kennedy 120t (ShH); Jan Geerts 125 (ShH); Edward Ricemeyer 7t (ShH); Chris Affolter 428 (ShH); Mika 22b (ShH).

RECESS

Caro Stamm-Reusch called the class back together by leading 80 (ShH). Leaders: Jessica Sligter 17 (ShH); Edward Ricemeyer 70 (ShH); Ellen Kennedy 248b (ShH); Mella Tönnies 364b (ShH); Jan Geerts 60b (ShH); Mika 264b (ShH); Petra Ertl 162 (ShH); Peter Kocher 326b (ShH); Laura Eisen 108 (ShH); Caro Stamm-Reusch 229 (ShH); Hannah Kennedy 363 (ShH); Chris Affolter 310 (ShH); Molly McCracken 170 (ShH); Saara Pakarinen 171 (ShH).

RECESS

The class was called together by Laura Eisen leading 110 (ShH). Leaders: Petra Ertl 242 (ShH); Jan Geerts 197 (ShH); Saara Pakarinen 416 (ShH); Mella Tönnies 188 (ShH); Hannah Kennedy 241t (ShH); Ellen Kennedy 285 (ShH); Peter Kocher 296 (ShH); Jessica Sligter 413 (ShH).

Chris Affolter gave the memorial lesson, which was dedicated to the memory of Graham DeZarn. He recounted Graham’s impact on the Berlin singing and led 35 (ShH) in his memory, the song that Graham played on the fiddle at the first Berlin Shenandoah All-Day in 2017. Caro Stamm-Reusch then led 105 (ShH) (for Cherilyn Neilson and Graham DeZarn); Mika 287 (ShH); Edward Ricemeyer 456 (ShH). He then offered a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The class was called together by Saara Pakarinen leading 149 (ShH). Leaders: Petra Ertl 254 (ShH); Laura Eisen 93 (ShH); Chris Affolter 140b (ShH); Jan Geerts 6b (ShH); Ellen Kennedy 137 (ShH); Peter Kocher 132 (ShH); Edward Ricemeyer 146 (ShH); Caro Stamm-Reusch 340 (ShH); Mika 406 (ShH); Kate Halls 113 (ShH); Jessica Sligter 290 (ShH); Hannah Kennedy 278 (ShH); Mella Tönnies 153 (ShH); Peter Kocher 3b (ShH); Kate Halls and Amelia Spooner 429 (ShH); Petra Ertl 18b (ShH).

RECESS

Jessica Sligter called the class back together by leading 246b (ShH); Leaders: Petra Ertl 404t (ShH); Mika 403b (ShH); Saara Pakarinen 450 (ShH) (for Christopher Schuller); Christopher Schuller 414t (ShH) (for Cherilyn Neilson); Laura Eisen 89b (ShH); Edward Ricemeyer 15 (ShH); Chris Affolter 227 (ShH); Jan Geerts 200 (ShH); Ellen Kennedy 380 (ShH); Mella Tönnies 187 (ShH); Jessica Sligter 114 (ShH); Peter Kocher 265 (ShH); Hannah Kennedy 441 (ShH); Kate Halls and Amelia Spooner 259 (ShH); Christopher Schuller 10 (ShH); Caro Stamm-Reusch 24b (ShH).

Announcements were made, and committee reports were read. Caro Stamm-Reusch reported that all expenses were met. Petra Ertl gave the secretary’s report that there were twenty-one singers in total, and sixteen led seventy-seven songs.

Molly McCracken led 381 (ShH) as the closing song. Thanks were given, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, August 21

The 6th annual Berlin Singing weekend continued on Sunday in the Evangelisch-methodistische Christus-Kirche Berlin-Friedrichshain, Germany. We sang songs from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition.

Molly McCracken called the class to order by speaking the opening prayer and leading 72b. Leaders: Petra Ertl 276; Maria Neumann-Fraune 38t; Hannah Kennedy 134; Laura Eisen 472; Peter Kocher 48b; Eimear Maguire 171; Jan Geerts 351; Lucy Day 65; Saara Pakarinen 52t; Calum Parker 228; Caro Stamm-Reusch 45t; Mella Tönnies 196; Jeremy Bass 197; Mika 504; Edward Ricemeyer 440; Chris Affolter 556.

RECESS

Hannah Kennedy called the class back together by leading 42. Leaders: Molly McCracken 159 (for Pamela Larson); Petra Ertl 277; Maria Neumann-Fraune 114; Saara Pakarinen 215; Peter Kocher 270; Eimear Maguire 335; Jan Geerts 236; Lucy Day 131b; Calum Parker 313b; Caro Stamm-Reusch 500; Jessica Sligter 532; Mella Tönnies 214; Mika 163t; Chris Affolter 481; Edward Ricemeyer 345b.

RECESS

Calum Parker called the class back together by leading 344. Leaders: Caro Stamm-Reusch 528; Mella Tönnies 30t; Laura Eisen 189; Lucy Day 274b; Jessica Sligter 456; Edward Ricemeyer 234; Mika 203; Chris Affolter 522; Hannah Kennedy 142; Saara Pakarinen 444; Maria Neumann-Fraune 551; Laura Eisen 111b; Petra Ertl 430; Anne Hege 33b; Molly McCracken 47b; Peter Kocher 168; Jan Geerts 385t; Eimear Maguire 183.

RECESS

Calum Parker called the class back together by leading 542. Leaders: Lucy Day 290; Jessica Sligter 176b; Caro Stamm-Reusch 176t (for Christopher Schuller); Laura Eisen 545; Mella Tönnies 58; Mika 448t; Chris Affolter 501 (for Ted Mercer); Hannah Kennedy 112; Saara Pakarinen 345t; Maria Neumann-Fraune 566; Peter Kocher 146; Eimear Maguire 84; Jan Geerts 191 (with love to Virginia). Announcements were made.

Petra Ertl gave the Secretary’s report that there were twenty-two singers in total, and sixty-seven songs were led by nineteen leaders. Thanks were given to all the singers who joined us from Scotland, England, Norway, France, and the United States as well as from two other German federal states. Petra Ertl led 267 as the closing song. Caro Stamm-Reusch offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairwoman—Molly McCracken; Treasurer—Caro Stamm-Reusch; Secretary—Petra Ertl