Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 32nd annual Lincoln’s Birthday Singing was held on the second Saturday in February at Ida Noyes Hall, University of Chicago, in conjunction with the 64th annual University of Chicago Folk Festival. The class was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by Ginny Landgraf leading 72b. Because this singing is a workshop intended for people who are new to Sacred Harp, Ginny turned the floor over to the singing school master, Lisa Grayson, who explained the rudiments of shapenote singing and gave a brief history of Sacred Harp using 47b and 49t as teaching examples.

Leaders: Randy Neufeld 99; Jim Helke 271t; Brady Santoro 340; Kathleen Taylor 79; Mark Dawson 496; Michael Roth 186; Jim Swanson 216; Matthew Seifert 217; Sam Pavlekovsky 288; Eileen Ferguson 547; Susan Geil 565; Anita Shaperd 171.

Lisa Grayson continued with the singing school, and talked about shapenote singing in contemporary times.

Leaders: Sylvie Senauke and Matthew Seifert 267; Ulrike Brauneis 504; Randy Neufeld 29t; Ginny Landgraf 378b; Ruthie Holtrop and Lisa Grayson 117; Jim Helke 37b; Brady Santoro 250; Mark Dawson 236.

The floor was opened for questions from the participants, and announcements were made. The class took the parting hand while singing 347.

Chairperson—Lisa Grayson; Secretary—Mary Rogel