The Shelter Valley Shape-Note Singers

Sunday, September 11, 2011

sheltervalleyshapenote — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:35:45 +0000

Fourteen singers - including three newcomers - gathered at the Grafton Community Centre, and sang:

40 Lenox

114 Saint’s Delight

65 Sweet Prospect

47b Idumea

209 Evening Shade

68b Ortonville

86 Poland

287 Cambridge

——–

369 Send A Blessing

64 Nashville

178 Hallelujah

477 Lord, We Adore Thee

461 Shining Star

117 Babylon Is Fallen

547 Granville (most definitely a favourite now!)

282 I’m Going Home

Special Note: Our next regular singing will not take place on the second Sunday of October, that being Thanksgiving weekend. Instead, we will be singing on Sunday, October 16 at the historic Wesleyville Church during their Harvest Festival. More details to follow.

Sunday, September 4, 2011 – The Shelter Valley Folk Festival

sheltervalleyshapenote — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:13:19 +0000

Approximately 34 singers, including many first-timers, participated in an hour of shape-note singing in the Artists’ Village at the Shelter Valley Folk Festival. It was a great success, and we hope to be able to make it an annual event. Song list coming soon!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

sheltervalleyshapenote — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:13:05 +0000

Eleven singers gathered at the Grafton Community Centre to make a joyful noise with:

328 Praise God

159 Wondrous Love

139 Elysian

171 Exhortation (First)

117 Babylon Is Fallen

119 Heaven’s My Home

155 Northfield

145t Warrenton

516 DeLong

80t Shouting Song

178 Africa

65 Sweet Prospect

After a break for refreshments and a bit of a chat, we continued with:

547 Granville

230 Converting Grace

146 Hallelujah

369 Send A Blessing

457 Wayfaring Stranger

64 Nashville

63 Coronation

47b Idumea

282 I’m Going Home

On Saturday, August 27 several members of our group will be attending the Eighth Annual Central Ontario All-Day Singing from 9:30 to 3:30 at the Detweiler Meetinghouse in North Dumfries, ON. We’d love to see you there!

We will also be leading an hour of singing at the Shelter Valley Folk Festival on Sunday, September 4 at 11:00 am in the Artists’ Village area. The more, the merrier – please come and join us to find out what shape-note singing is all about. Festival admission must be purchased to enter the site.

Our next regular singing will take place on Sunday, September 11, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Grafton Community Centre, 135 Old Danforth Road in Grafton, ON. All are welcome to join us in singing for the joy of it!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

sheltervalleyshapenote — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:04:47 +0000

Fourteen singers (including three newcomers) gathered at the Grafton Community Centre for a joyous evening of song, opening the windows to spread the sound abroad. We sang:

45t New Britain

155 Northfield

159 Wondrous Love

178 Africa

301 Greenland

405 The Marcellas

325 Soldier of the Cross

66 Jordan (First)

63 Coronation

86 Poland

We took a break for refreshments and fellowship, and then reconvened to sing:

477 Lord, We Adore Thee

457 Wayfaring Stranger

425 Golden Streets

146 Hallelujah

65 Sweet Prospect

117 Babylon Is Fallen

59 Holy Manna

40 Lenox

63 Coronation

69 Minister’s Farewell

47b Idumea

282 I’m Going Home

Please join us for our next regular singing – all are welcome! Sunday, August 14, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Grafton Community Centre (135 Old Danforth Road, Grafton, ON). Visit www.fasola.org for more information on the shape-note tradition.

Impromptu Sacred Harp Singing in Iowa – June 17, 2011

sheltervalleyshapenote — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:54:34 +0000

On the eve of a dear friend’s wedding in Iowa, having returned from the rehearsal dinner, the bridal party & co. engaged in a spontaneous Sacred Harp singing in the old Amana Colonies church that just happened to be a part of the bride’s home. There were eight of us, and we sang, as far as I can recall:

159 Wondrous Love

503b Lloyd

457 Wayfaring Stranger

…that being all we could scare up on short notice with only one copy of The Sacred Harp in our possession. We were up ’til all hours and had a marvelous time. I can hardly think of a better way to spend the eve of a wedding!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

sheltervalleyshapenote — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:33:23 +0000

Twelve singers gathered at the Grafton Community Centre, and sang:

45t New Britain

457 Wayfaring Stranger

40 Lenox

146 Hallelujah

64 Nashville

118 Stockwood

148 Jefferson

117 Babylon Is Fallen

32b Distress

86 Poland

We took a break for refreshments and fellowship, and then continued with:

155 Northfield

369 Send A Blessing

145t Warrenton

47b Idumea

503b Lloyd, in memory of Richard Homme

178 Africa

573 Harpeth Valley

65 Sweet Prospect

282 I’m Going Home

Sunday, March 13, 2011

sheltervalleyshapenote — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:28:23 +0000

Spring is almost here!

Eleven cheerful singers gathered at the Grafton Community Centre this month to sing:

45t New Britain

457 Wayfaring Stranger

31t Ninety-Third Psalm

447 Wondrous Cross

178 Africa

86 Poland

65 Sweet Prospect

Here we took a break for banana bread, apple cider, and a chance to chat…

369 Send a Blessing

64 Nashville

87 Sweet Canaan

328 Praise God

155 Northfield

47b Idumea

117 Babylon Is Fallen

282 I’m Going Home

Please join us for our next singing, in celebration of the 4th Anniversary of the Shelter Valley Shape-Note Singers: Sunday, April 10, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Grafton Community Centre (135 Old Danforth Road, Grafton). All are welcome!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

sheltervalleyshapenote — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:50:08 +0000

14 singers gathered at the Grafton Community Centre to enjoy two hours of singing and some Valentine treats. We sang:

45t New Britain

196 Alabama

65 Sweet Prospect

369 Send A Blessing

178 Africa

159 Wondrous Love

59 Holy Manna

457 Wayfaring Stranger

400 Struggle On

299 Providence

146 Hallelujah

47b Idumea

566 Hebron

352 Swanton

117 Babylon Is Fallen

282 I’m Going Home

Please join us at our next singing – Sunday, March 13, 2011 – 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Grafton Community Centre (135 Old Danforth Road in the village of Grafton, ON).

Sunday, January 9, 2011

sheltervalleyshapenote — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:12:40 +0000

Happy New Year!

Eleven singers gathered at the Grafton Community Centre to ring in a New Year of shape-note singing. We sang:

457 Wayfaring Stranger

152 Shepherds Rejoice

65 Sweet Prospect

98 Dull Care

220 Mount Zion

45t New Britain

178 Africa

66 Jordan (First)

After a break for juice and cookies, we continued:

543 Thou Art God

198 Green Street

155 Northfield

159 Wondrous Love

369 Send A Blessing

65 Sweet Prospect (again, because the words are so nice)

47b Idumea

282 I’m Going Home

Our next regular singing will take place Sunday, February 13, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Grafton Community Centre (135 Old Danforth Road). Please come and join us!

Lyn saves the day! Sunday, December 12, 2010

sheltervalleyshapenote — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:15:57 +0000

What an interesting evening! Due to a key-related mishap, we found (at the last moment) that we could not get into the Grafton Community Centre. As a result, eight undaunted singers made their way to Lyn’s nearby home, which was kindly offered as an alternative location. Thank you, Lyn!

Once we got ourselves settled there (with the two tenors sitting in lovely armchairs), we sang:

45t New Britain

117 Babylon Is Fallen

47b Idumea

178 Africa

159 Wondrous Love

325 Soldier of the Cross

457 Wayfaring Stranger

299 New Jerusalem

Here we stopped for gingerbread, oatmeal cookies (thank you, George!), cranberry juice, chocolate, and conversation.

Then:

105 Jewett

176t Ragan

65 Sweet Prospect

400 Struggle On

111t Journey Home

31t Ninety-Third Psalm

81b Cookham

146 Hallelujah

282 I’m Going Home

We are so fortunate to have such a friendly, caring and enthusiastic group of people singing with us here in Grafton. I wish all of you a very merry Christmas, and look forward to our next gathering in the New Year. It is a joy to sing with all of you!

Our next regular singing will take place Sunday, January 9, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Grafton Community Centre (135 Old Danforth Road). All are welcome!