Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The Hamburg All-Day New Year’s Singing was held at the Ökumenisches Forum HafenCity, Hamburg, on the first Saturday in January, organised by the Hamburg Sacred Harp Group. The class was called to order at 10:30 a.m. by Janna Itter leading 162. Janna gave the opening introduction, welcoming singers from across Germany and from other countries. Tobias Saalmann offered the opening prayer. In the first two sessions song selections were from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition and the following three sessions song selections were from The Christian Harmony.

Leaders: Marcos Sullivan 49t; Chloë Spreadborough 372; Maria Neumann-Fraune 171; Caro Stamm-Reusch 30t; Sebastian Borckenhagen 410t; Paul Kolenbrander 39t; Rike Fischer 29b; Marielle Minutella 178; Caitlin Jay 61; Mara McPartland 112; Inga Buckland 378t; Lucia Ferguson 379; Tobias Saalmann 26; Derek Buckland 123b; Marcos Sullivan 142.

RECESS

Caitlin Jay brought the second session to order leading 284. Leaders: Bertolt Hering 503; Fynn Titford-Mock 300; Gerben Vos 411; Ulrike Tietjen 423; Maria Neumann-Fraune 528; Caro Stamm-Reusch 397; Sebastian Borckenhagen 70b; Paul Kolenbrander 299; Marielle Minutella 223; Chloë Spreadborough 442; Maria Neumann-Fraune 547; Inga Buckland 570; Rike Fischer 448t; Lucia Ferguson 65; Tobias Saalmann 173; Janna Itter 424.

RECESS

Marcos Sullivan brought the third session to order leading 109 (CH). Leaders: Fynn Titford-Mock 15 (CH); Chloë Spreadborough 50 (CH); Gerben Vos 61t (CH); Marielle Minutella 87 (CH); Ulrike Tietjen 155 (CH).

The memorial lesson was conducted by Derek Buckland who reflected on the safe haven and support that the Sacred Harp singing community can provide to people experiencing troubles. He commented on the way small acts of kindness can have a real impact, and the way we can support each other as a caring community. Chloë Spreadborough read the following names of the sick and housebound: Cäcilia Mann, Dominik Fraune, Rojana Wings, and Julia Sievert.

Inga Buckland read the following list of names of the deceased: Dan Burk, Jeff Begley, Uschi Nolte, Henry Guthery, Chloë Webb, Volker Tietjen, Georg Balkenhol, and Irene Peters. There was then a period of silence remembering all those people. Derek Buckland closed the lesson by leading 86t (CH).

Leaders: Caro Stamm-Reusch 417b (CH); Paul Kolenbrander 91 (CH); Sebastian Borckenhagen 207t (CH); Inga Buckland 51 (CH); Tobias Saalmann 473 (CH); Marcos Sullivan 332 (CH); Janna Itter 346 (CH). Marcos Sullivan gave thanks before the lunch break.

LUNCH

The post-lunch session began with Derek Buckland leading 184 (CH). Leaders: Gerben Vos 453t (CH); Sara Hellström 145b (CH); Fynn Titford-Mock 167 (CH); Marielle Minutella 86b (CH); Marcos Sullivan 13 (CH); Chloë Spreadborough 36b (CH); Ulrike Tietjen 215 (CH); Caro Stamm-Reusch 1 (CH); Paul Kolenbrander 70b (CH); Sebastian Borckenhagen 165 (CH); Inga Buckland 481 (CH); Tobias Saalmann 49 (CH); Derek Buckland 143 (CH); Sara Hellström 262 (CH); Fynn Titford-Mock 438 (CH); Gerben Vos 261 (CH); Marielle Minutella 537 (CH); Chloë Spreadborough 534 (CH); Caro Stamm-Reusch 55t (CH); Marcos Sullivan 410b (CH).

RECESS

Chloë Spreadborough began the final session of the day leading 121t (CH). Leaders: Marcos Sullivan 121b (CH); Tobias Saalmann 299 (CH); Paul Kolenbrander 146b (CH); Mara McPartland 393b (CH); Sebastian Borckenhagen 55b (CH); Inga Buckland 261b (CH); Fynn Titford-Mock 180 (CH); Sara Hellström 276 (CH); Gerben Vos 457b (CH); Marielle Minutella 492t (CH); Caro Stamm-Reusch 507t (CH).

Janna Itter thanked everyone for an excellent day of singing and community. Lucia Ferguson gave the Treasurer’s report, announcing that all expenses had been met. Announcements were made. The Secretary reported that eighty-one songs had been sung by twenty-nine singers, with twenty people leading, from five registered countries (Germany, the Netherlands, USA, Sweden, Norway).

As the closing song, Janna Itter led 97 (CH). Inga Buckland offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Janna Itter; Secretary—Chloë Spreadborough