Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, October 19

The 34th session of the New York State Convention met at the Enfield Grange on the third Sunday and Saturday before in October. The class was called to order by Ginny Huszagh leading 34b. Lynn Wilson offered the opening prayer. Dennis Leipold, last year’s chairman, led 47t.

Leaders: Candis Bailey 49b; Tarik Wareh 322; Emily Raffensberger 105; Ernest Blake 48t; Kathy Chillemi 178; Laura Densmore 228; Bob Wheeler 171; Landon Peer 86; Ginny Huszagh 189; Mary Skidmore 203; Jean Seiler 142; Nancy Tkacs 31t.

RECESS

Bob Wheeler called the class back leading 39t. Leaders: Guy Bankes 441; Lynn Wilson 68b; Jeff Shenk 87; Barbara Swetman 353; Jerusha Wheeler 107; Hal Kunkel 193; Sue Peters 77b; Seth Rutledge 47b; Dan Brown 276; Melody Johnson 475; Kass Urban-Mead 200; Sue Hengelsberg 504; Robert Manning 479; Denise Morris 58; Dev Crasta and Danielle Raymo 277.

RECESS

Dennis Leipold reconvened the class leading 145b. Leaders: Brian Collett 569b; Kathy Collett 344; Laura Densmore 486; Katie Browne 290; Harold Taddy 209; Will Doolittle 285t; Joy Pople 236. Mary Skidmore asked a blessing before the meal.

LUNCH

Tarik Wareh led 215 to bring the class together. Leaders: Jean Seiler 472; Candis Bailey 148; Dennis Leipold 84; Sue Peters 59; Kathy Chillemi 146; Emily Raffensberger 374; Laura Densmore 349; Bob Wheeler 183; Landon Peer 376; Ginny Huszagh 569t; Mary Skidmore 358; Tarik Wareh 196; Nancy Tkacs 361; Guy Banks 315; Lisa Sieverts 473; Lynn Wilson 217; Jeff Shenk 128; Barbara Swetman 216.

RECESS

Jerusha Wheeler called the class back together leading 63. Leaders: Hal Kunkel 36b; Seth Rutledge 335; Melody Johnson 490; Sue Hengelsberg 306; Kass Urban-Mead 162; Robert Manning 326; Denise Morris 184; Dev Crasta 56b; Katie Browne 40; Joy Pople 155; Jean Seiler 299; Candis Bailey 163b; Dennis Leipold 300; Sue Peters 56t; Kathy Chillemi 186; Laura Densmore 540; Bob Wheeler 452; Mary Skidmore 163t; Tarik Wareh 312b; Guy Bankes 287; Barbara Swetman 198; Jerusha Wheeler 354b; Hal Kunkel 528; Seth Rutledge 410t; Kass Urban-Mead 425; Jeff Shenk 283; Dev Crasta 282. Announcements were made.

Ginny Huszagh led 62 as the closing song. The class was dismissed with prayer offered by Lynn Wilson.

Sunday, October 20

The Sunday session of the New York State Sacred Harp Convention met again at the Enfield Valley Grange, Ithaca, New York. The class was called to order by Ginny Huszagh leading 31t. Dennis Leipold gave an opening prayer. Leaders: Jean Seiler 101t; Melody Johnson 313b; Dennis Leipold 313t; Lynn Wilson 523; Candis Bailey 34b; Sue Hengelsberg 294; Laura Densmore 370; Denise Morris 100; Mary Skidmore 52t; Tarik Wareh 278b; Sue Peters 32t; Guy Banks 28b; Barbara Swetman 35.

RECESS

Melody Johnson brought the class to order leading 270. Leaders: Hal Kunkel 142; Emily Raffensberger and Hal Kunkel 216; Seth Rutledge 481 (in memory of P. Dan Brittain).

The memorial lesson was conducted by Barbara Swetman and Tarik Wareh. Barbara, asking us to take a break to remember those to whom we are connected, led 68b for the following sick and shut-ins: Dan Hertzler, John O’Neill, Indigo Scorn, Cate Skidmore, Mary Hubbell, Eric Bean, Margaret Bornick, and Pleasance Crawford.

Tarik spoke and read the following names of the deceased: Sandra Trutt, Hollie Ruthberg, Norman MacAfee, Harry Marten, Evan Eisenhandler—New York; R. Lee Huszagh—Illinios; P. Dan Brittain—Arkansas; Tom Tucker, Daniel Wert, Donelle Raffensberger—Pennsylvania; Shirley T. Bean—California; Grace Chappell—New Jersey; Mary Ina Swetman—Alabama; Suellen Leonard—North Carolina; Ray Namie—Virginia. Tarik led 379. He opened the floor for memories of Dan Brittain. Sue Peters told about when she was new to shape note singing she stopped at a singing in Alabama on the way to fasola camp. At lunch she sat near Dan Brittain. “I love the sound”...“Did you know they leave the third of the chord out?” she enthused. “I know... I know,” he kindly agreed. At camp she bound into class only to discover to her utter embarrassment that her instructor was P. Dan Brittain. And she had been trying to instruct him with her meager knowledge! Laura Densmore remembered when Dan hosted the NY convention at the church in Cazenovia where he was choir director. Ginny Huszagh told about the time we were trying to lead tunes we didn’t know, but couldn’t find any, until someone said, does anyone know this, besides, Eric Bean and Dan Brittain? Tarik closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Jean Seiler 378t; Melody Johnson 474; Dennis Leipold 495; Lloyd Graves 510.

RECESS

Ginny Huszagh brought the class back together leading 63. Leaders: Emily Raffensberger 129; Sue Hengelsberg 288; Jerusha Wheeler 203; Denise Morris 362; Ernest Blake 84; Lynn Wilson 452; Mary Skidmore 440. Ernest Blake offered a joyful grace.

LUNCH

Eric Bean began the afternoon session by leading 106. Leaders: Hal Kunkel 146; Candis Bailey 312b; Guy Bankes 556; Barbara Swetman 383; Tarik Wareh 492; Ginny Huszagh 475; Jean Seiler 72b; Seth Rutledge 148; Dennis Leipold 61; Jerusha Wheeler 36t; Sue Peters 274b; Emily Raffensberger 479; Mary Skidmore 500; Denise Morris 503; Ernest Blake 38t; Bob Wheeler 39t.

Hal Kunkel and Jean Seiler led 42 (in memory of Tom Tucker). Hal recalled how singing Tom’s song “Wingate” with the words “All our heroes are not gone, love them before they pass on.” inspired him to write “Ten Thousand Charms”.

Leaders: Candis Bailey 274t; Guy Bankes 297; Barbara Swetman 145b; Tarik Wareh 330b; Ginny Huszagh 209; Jean Seiler, Tarik Wareh, and Mary Skidmore 192; Seth Rutledge 268.

Seth Rutledge, treasurer, reported expenses had been met and there was some money for next year. Barbara Swetman, secretary, reported one hundred forty-three (plus four more) tunes were lead by thirty-seven leaders from five states and one province. Announcements were made. Ginny Huszagh resolved the 35th session of the New York State Sacred Harp Convention would meet in the Albany, New York, area the third Sunday and Saturday before in October, 2025. She thanked those who worked to make the singing possible.

Leaders: Dennis Leipold 121; Jerusha Wheeler 448t; Mary Skidmore 76b; Ernest Blake 334.

Ginny Huszagh led 62 and we gave a parting hand. Guy Bankes offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairperson—Ginny Huszagh; Secretaries—Laura Densmore, Kass Urban-Mead, Sue Hengelsberg, Candis Bailey, Barbara Swetman, and Denise Morris