Fohs Hall Four Note Singing (including Southern Harmony)

Fohs Hall
Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky
Saturday, January 21, 1995

The fourth annual four-note singing was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by Chairman William Ralph Paris. He pointed out that this should have been the fifth singing; however, last year’s singing was cancelled due to snow and ice. Mr. Paris announced that the session would use two books: The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition and The Southern Harmony, 1854 facsimile, 1987 UofK reprint.

For beginning singers, he gave an explanation of where the parts are located in the square, and discussed William Walker's pendulum for setting tempos in The Southern Harmony. Mr. Paris claimed he would use the pendulum if there was any disagreement as to tempo. Among those in attendance was 98 year old Clarence Blakney of Benton, Kentucky. He is a fine shape-note singer and one of the last living veterans of World War I. He will be 99 in February.

The morning began with a one-hour session from The Southern Harmony, with the chairman calling pages 66, Pleasant Hill.
10, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?).
Leaders:
296, Newburgh - Don Waggener
80, Pisgah
266, Hebrew Children - Bob Meek
213, David's Lamentation
291, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?) - Tim Reynolds
322, Samanthra
89, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?) - Robert Chandler
5, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?) - Karen Isbell
11, Jerusalem
15, Davis - Mary Ruth Cannon
38, Resignation
283, Northfield - Charles Coulston
50, Captain Kidd - Keith MacAdam.

RECESS

Tim Reynolds called the class back to order for a one-hour session from The Sacred Harp. He led the song on page 335, Return Again.
Leaders:
35, Saints Bound for Heaven - Clayton Ezell
390, New Prospect
143, Pleyel's Hymn (First) - Kathy Hull
480, Redemption - Gordon Wilkerson
434, Fillmore
39t, Detroit - Jeanette Lowry
383, Eternal Day
178, Africa - Mary Brinkman
523, Pleyel's Hymn (Second)
236, Easter Anthem - William Paris
89, The Church's Desolation
569b, Sacred Throne - Bob Meek
196, Alabama - Keith MacAdam
128, The Promised Land (in memory of John Stevenson, president of Berea College, who passed away in December)
200, Edom - Tim Reynolds.

LUNCH

The afternoon session convened with Tim Reynolds leading from The Sacred Harp, pages 84, Amsterdam.
168, Cowper.
William Paris led page 18b (KyH), Liberty Hall, from the four-note book, The Kentucky Harmony.
Leaders:
181, Exit - Glenn Fulbright
410, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?) - Don Waggener
338, Sawyer's Exit
127, Green Fields - Robert Chandler
146, Hallelujah - Jeanette Lowry
384, Panting for Heaven - Clayton Ezell
358, Murillo's Lesson
350, Nativity - Karen Isbell
454, The Better Land
64, Nashville - Mary Ruth Cannon
29, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?)
551, Jacob's Vision - Kathy Hull
85, The Morning Trumpet
65, Sweet Prospect - Mary Brinkman
49b, Mear.

RECESS

The session, using The Southern Harmony, was called to order with William Paris leading page 192, Harwell, in memory of Jamie Hunt, and page 193, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?).
Leaders:
103, Holy Manna - Bill Hunt
162, Ballstown - Gordon Wilkerson
163, New Topia
144, O Come, Come Away - Arnold Hunt
127, True Happiness
46, Evening Shade - Charles Coulston
165, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?) - Willard Walker
16, Star in the East - Clayton Ezell
94, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?)
265, French Broad - Keith MacAdam
88, Exultation
134, Imandra - Jeanette Lowry
125, New Jerusalem
3t, Primrose - William Paris
8, ('t'op or 'b'ottom?)
166, Sweet Rivers.

Following announcements and a closing prayer, the singing was dismissed at 3:10 p.m. by singing page 334, The Christian's Farewell, from The Southern Harmony.

Chairman—William Paris; Vice Chairman—Tim Reynolds; Secretary—Karen Isbell.