More Shape Note Singing

After the lecture on Thursday, a member of the audience stood up and announced there would be a singing at the Center Community Center on Saturday, so thinking we'd like to hear the authentic version, we went for an hour or so this morning.  The weather was a little scary, so the Singing was not very well attended. With so few voices there, I was persuaded to participate.  Norris got a couple of videos - this short clip shows us sitting in the traditional square.  The woman to the left is singing the high-soprano part, while those with their backs to us are singing the tenor, melody line.  Cheryl is singing alto - happily between two very strong and knowledgeable singers.

That was just a short clip to set the stage.  This next hymn went a little more smoothly overall so it's a longer clip from a different angle. The man visible over the singer in the blanket's shoulder is Don Wiley who stood up at the lecture and invited everyone to come to the singing.

Singing in this style was brand new to me and very challenging. It has been many years since I tried to sing, other than the occasional hymn or Christmas Carol.  It was hard work!