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!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

With Christmas approaching, ten singers met at the Grafton Community Centre to celebrate and make a joyful noise.  We sang:

40      Lenox

65      Sweet Prospect

117      Babylon Is Fallen

457      Wayfaring Stranger

159      Wondrous Love

547      Granville

400      Struggle On

315      Immensity

146      Hallelujah

86      Poland

155      Northfield

After a break for Christmas cookies and suchlike, we sang:

178      Africa

225b      Christmas Anthem

461      Shining Star

165      Family Bible

282      I’m Going Home (though we weren’t done yet!)

535      Shawmut (destined to become one of our favorites)

337      Mercy’s Free

369      Send A Blessing

347      Christian’s Farewell

Happy Christmas!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Fourteen singers (two new, and one or two from quite a distance) gathered at the Grafton Community Centre to enjoy another evening of joyful singing from the Sacred Harp.  I was once again reminded of how blessed we are to have such a friendly, ever-growing group of people to gather with each month – and they are brave enough to choose unfamiliar songs now and then, too!  This time, we sang…

45t      New Britain

64      Nashville

515      Federal Street

117      Babylon Is Fallen

178      Africa

63      Coronation

86      Poland

47b      Idumea

447      Wondrous Cross (this one got a big star next to it – I guess we liked it!)

477      Lord, We Adore Thee

87      Sweet Canaan

After a break for refreshments and fellowship, we continued with:

146      Hallelujah

547      Granville

455      Soar Away

457      Wayfaring Stranger

77t      The Child of Grace

276      Bridgewater

65      Sweet Prospect

77b      Holcombe

114      Saint’s Delight

435b      Sacred Rest

282      I’m Going Home

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Singers from the Grafton, Toronto and Orangeville shape-note groups gathered at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Uxbridge, Ontario, to bring Sacred Harp singing to a new audience.  Approximately 26 people joined in the singing, including choristers from St Paul’s.  We were delighted to see such a good turnout, and we hope to sing in Uxbridge again in future.  Many thanks to Ian Marnoch and others from St Paul’s for arranging all of this!

We sang:

159      Wondrous Love

457      Wayfaring Stranger

63      Coronation

49      Mear

47      Primrose

68      Ortonville

178      Africa

172      Harmony

171      Exhortation

40      Lenox

65      Sweet Prospect

276      Bridgewater

146      Hallelujah

547      Granville

503      Lloyd

347      Christian’s Farewell

(We may have ended with 282 – I’m Going Home - but our secretarial duties were forgotten in all the enjoyment of singing, so I’m not certain!)