Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

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Louisville Folk School Shape-Note Singing School

Woodbine Chamber, Louisville, Kentucky

Sun, May 18, ’25

The singing school, held in Louisville, Kentucky, at Chapel of St Philip and taught by Tom George was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Tim Morton. Dave Howard, Founder and Director of Louisville Folk school who sponsored the event welcomed all.

Tom George spoke about his personal history in shape note singing and talked of the tradition. He then referred to the Rudiments as found in The Sacred Harp book. Examples of songs and group singing of tenor parts interspersed the day for examples of specific Rudiments.

RECESS

Tom continued with Rudiments and instructed on keeping time as well as some elements of voice leading, major and minor modes. He talked of the different types of songs in the book and suggested good times to lead them, how to engage people, and so on.

LUNCH

Tom called upon his wife, Sarah, to demonstrate various aspects of song leading, working with front row tenors, body language, and gestures that suggest such things as repeats, fermatas, how to set a tempo, suggested tempos for some types of songs, and time signatures.

RECESS

Leaders: Tim Morton 63; Inga Buckland 300; Kelly Toon 318; Mark Jones 87; Kathy Sweeten and Tim Morton 47b; Barrett Patton 131b; Sarah George and Peter Trumbore 448t; Barbara Lehr, Adrian Eldridge, and Leslie Clements 178; Nicholas Thompson 192; Thomas Koehnline 285t; Derek Buckland 56b; Michele Cull 29t; Alex Forsyth 276; Adrian Eldridge 277; Tim Morton and Ivy Jackson 445; Levi Trumbore and Sarah George 186; Inga Buckland 124; Shannon Tibbs 42; Emily Stutzman 376; Randy Webber 236; Barrett Patton and Alex Forsyth 101t; Joy Dunn and Tom George 543.

There were over sixty people in attendance from seven states and Germany. Fifty-two were paying registrants, all others were volunteers, guests, teachers, and assistants, as well as unregistered drop-ins to the open call singing session.

Tim Morton opened the floor to announcements, stating the relevance of traveling to enjoy and support other singings. Tim Morton led 146 as a closing song as requested by Leesa Eason. Three class attendees joined for the first time standing in the hollow square. The class was dismissed with prayer by Randy Webber.

Chairman—Tim Morton; Secretaries—Randy Webber and Tom Morton