The 36th Annual Kentucky State Sacred Harp Singing (with Southern Harmony)

Pisgah Presbyterian Church
Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky
Saturday, May 20, 2017

The 36th annual Kentucky State Sacred Harp Singing, hosted by the Appalachian Association of Sacred Harp Singers (AASHS), was called to order at 9:03 a.m. by Ron Pen. Ron made a few announcements about the singing, schedule, and facilities. The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition and The Southern Harmony, 1854 facsimile, 1987 UofK reprint were the books used throughout the day. Jim Thobaben offered the morning prayer.

Leaders:
73b, Arlington - Ron Pen
39t, Detroit - Shawn Fenton
40, Lenox - Joy R. Dunn
299, New Jerusalem - Charles Coulston
209, Evening Shade - Tom Morton
89t (SoH), Dove of Peace - Tim Morton
216, Delight - Amritpal Singh
58, Pisgah - Don Waggener
276b (SoH), China - Ginny Landgraf
128, The Promised Land - Randy Webber
31t, Ninety-Third Psalm - Stephen Huffman
502, A Charge to Keep - Judy Taylor
524, The Twenty-Third Psalm - Ed Walton and Randy Webber
186, Sherburne - Mary Huffman
145t, Warrenton - Ray Rechenberg
49b, Mear - John Huffman
528, Showers of Blessings - Erin Fulton.

RECESS

Ron Pen called the class back together.
Leaders:
105, Jewett - Josh Walton
535, Shawmut - Rafi Finkel
504, Wood Street - Mary Brinkman
   “Cincinnati” - Randy Webber
455, Soar Away - Ron Pen
47b, Idumea - Donna Kwon
496, The Rock That is Higher Than I - Bob French
454, The Better Land - Pearl Marshall
548, Wootten - Erik Schwab
440, North Salem - Alana Boltz
441, Raymond - Michele Cull
155, Northfield - Annaliza Cull
38 (SoH), Resignation - Shawn Fenton
183, Greenwich - Joy R. Dunn.

RECESS

Randy Webber conducted the memorial lesson. He read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Melanie Hauff, Michael Appert, Darrell Swarens, Hugh McGraw, and Evi Melberg.

Ron Pen memorialized Keith MacAdam, who loved music and singing, and had been a member of the AASHS since its inception. Keith, a Kentuckian, died very suddenly in the fall of 2016, which was a major shock to everyone who knew him, and has left a considerable void in our shape note group. He had taught in the Physics and Astronomy Department at UK before retiring, created the MacAdam Observatory in 2008, and established two major endowments for the Niles Center for American Music, where our group holds their regular monthly singings. Ron led 85, The Morning Trumpet, in memory of Keith.

Jack Meiners, Sr. died in May of 2017 and was from Illinois. He was the father/father-in-law of Jim and Marcelyn Thobaben, and loved singing shape note music and sea shanties. Randy Webber led 53, Jerusalem, in memory of Jack.

John Bayer, from Ohio, died in 2016. Randy commented that he had learned a lot about pitching from John, and that John had composed numerous shape note songs. Ray Rechenberg shared that John was a melon farmer. Randy led 29t, Fairfield.

Erin Fulton remembered her “Auntie” Heather Wiegert, a Kansan who died in 2017. Auntie Heather was one of the first people Erin sang shape notes with. Erin led 39 (SoH), ('t'op or 'b'ottom?).

Janelle Davis, from Illinois, was remembered by Ginny Landgraf. Ginny first met Janelle at the 2013 Illinois State Sacred Harp Convention. The last all-day singing Janelle attended was the Mid-Michigan singing in 2016. She died from cancer in July, 2016. Ginny led 480, Redemption.

Erik Schwab memorialized his father, Gerhart Schwab of Ohio, who died in 2017. He had immigrated to Ohio from Germany and had a great love for music. Erik led 523, Pleyel's Hymn (Second).

Charles Coulston led 497, Natick, for his father, Gael Coulston, an Indianan who died in 2016.

Norma Yost memorialized Dr. Wayne H. Bell who had died in 2017. When he was the minister of Vine Street Christian Church in Nashville, he performed the marriage ceremony of Norma Yost and Ron Pen. When he moved back to Lexington, he became President of the Lexington Theological Seminary. Norma and Ron led 92b (SoH), Prospect, for Dr. Bell.

Anna Stone's father, James Bedsole, died in 2017. Music, praise, and worship were a large part of his life. Anna led 276, Bridgewater, for him.

Randy Webber concluded the memorial lesson by recognizing the contributions of those who have gone before us, and then offered the lunch blessing.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called to order by Rafi Finkel leading 269, Bear Creek.
Leaders:
282, I'm Going Home - Pearl Marshall
38b, Windham - Bob French
45t, New Britain - Joseph Wrightson and Ron Pen
146, Hallelujah - Tom Morton
49 (SoH), The Good Physician - Erin Fulton
236, Easter Anthem - Ron Pen
556, Portland - Josh Walton
254 (SoH), Something New - Tim Morton
143, Pleyel's Hymn (First) - Ed Walton
112, The Last Words of Copernicus - Amritpal Singh
362, Norwich - Mary Huffman
147t, Boylston - Mary Brinkman
256 (SoH), The Lone Pilgrim - Don Waggener
265 (SoH), French Broad - Randy Webber
474, Mount Desert - Shawn Fenton
564, Zion - Ray Rechenberg
503, Lloyd - John Huffman and Kay Huffman.

RECESS

Announcements were made, after which Rafi Finkel led 159b (SoH), New Haven.
Leaders:
66, Jordan (First) - Joy R. Dunn
448t, Consecration - Laura Earles
507, Sermon on the Mount - Ginny Landgraf (in memory of Janelle Davis and for Darrell Swarens)
68b, Ortonville - Erik Schwab
278t, Love Shall Never Die - Alana Boltz
569b, Sacred Throne - Charles Coulston
171, Exhortation (First) - Michele Cull (for her ancestors who had helped start Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Keene, Ky., which is still going strong)
16 (SoH), Star in the East - Randy Webber (for Jim Thobaben)
515, Federal Street - Doug Trent and Brenda Waters
313b, Cobb - Annaliza Cull
198, Green Street - John Huffman and Mary Huffman and Stephen Huffman and Gary Huffman and Marilyn Huffman
479, Chester - Judy Taylor
117, Babylon is Fallen - Rob Coulston.

Rafi Finkel led 267, Parting Friends (First), as the closing song, while all who wished shared the parting hand, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman and Treasurer—Charles H. Coulston; Secretary—Mary Brinkman.