Sacred Harp singing in Guelph, Ontario

I happened to be in Guelph last night and had the privilege of going with my sister to the Guelph monthly shape-note singing.  It was a pleasure to join this lovely group of people, which included several familiar faces from other singings here and there – and I discovered that the Grafton group’s use of 282 (I’m Going Home) as a closing song has gained some notoriety!  We sang it just before finishing up for the night, with lots of foot-stomping in the right places.  Great fun!

The Guelph shape-note group usually meets on the third Friday of each month from 7 – 9 pm at St James Anglican Church.  Contact Sue Woodward for confirmation and details:  bill.sue.woodward@sympatico.ca

And don’t forget that the Toronto shape-note group meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 7:30 – 9:30 pm in the Music Room at Bloor Street United Church (between Huron & Spadina).  For more information:  http://torontoshapenote.org .

Keep singing!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Ten singers (including one new voice from our Uxbridge singing in October) met at the Grafton Community Centre, and sang:

457      Granville

47b      Idumea

328      Praise God

159      Wondrous Love

45t      New Britain

59      Holy Manna

85      The Morning Trumpet (all the verses!)

411      Morning Prayer

112      The Last Words of Copernicus

63      Coronation

After a break for refreshments (during which half the group remained in their seats poring over their songbooks, apparently unwilling to stop), we continued with:

86      Poland

452      Martin

171      Exhortation (First)

178      Africa

87      Sweet Canaan

165      Family Bible

535      Shawmut

313      Concord

40      Lenox

146      Hallelujah

282      I’m Going Home

Please join us for our next regular Grafton singing, taking place on Sunday, March 11, 2012 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Grafton Community Centre (135 Old Danforth Road in Grafton, Ontario).  All are welcome, and extra songbooks are always available for the use of visiting singers.  For more information on the shape-note tradition, visit http://www.fasola.org .

Sunday, January 8, 2012

A new year.  Fourteen singers gathered at the Grafton Community Centre to ring in 2012 with some joyous singing from the Sacred Harp.  We sang:

40      Lenox

64      Nashville

65      Sweet Prospect

268      David’s Lamentation

164      Duane Street

159      Wondrous Love

63      Coronation

167      Pray, Brethren, Pray

154      Rest for the Weary

155      Northfield

84      Amsterdam

After a short break, we sang:

165      Family Bible

45t      New Britain

146      Hallelujah

86      Poland

457      Wayfaring Stranger

178      Africa

66      Jordan (First)

117      Babylon Is Fallen

535b      Shawmut

282      I’m Going Home

We are looking forward to this new year of singing, in which the Shelter Valley Shape-Note Singers will celebrate their 5th anniversary as a group!