UPDATED!
August 10 and 11, 2013, the 158th session of the East Texas Sacred Harp Convention called together die-hard singers, transitory singers, annual pilgrims and the just plain curious for a wonderful weekend of what one reporter identified as "an a cappella symphony of sound." 335* people "returned again" from 10 U.S. states and 1 other country (UK) to attend the East Texas Sacred Harp Convention. 83 different leaders persevered through this vale of sorrow and led 159 songs of what wondrous love!
The Longview News Journal captured images of three of our visitors leading -- Karen Willard, Tim Jones, and Stanley Smith -- and the Henderson Daily News has an excellent close-up of Judy Caudle leading (but I think you must have a subscription to see the Henderson Paper).
You know who are the two kinds of singers -- some who can't be restrained and others who go when the mood strikes -- as well as the curious who show up to check us out. We also have two sorts of "annual pilgrims" -- those who have Sacred Harp in their backgrounds and travel to the "ancestral home" of sound to indulge their memories, and those who have discovered Sacred Harp and have made us a yearly part of their lives. Some of this second group began as the "just plain curious" and now return regularly. The first group will smile and reminisce of Grandpa or Grandma or Aunt So-and-So who sang the old Sacred Harp way back when. While I could wish we could convert them to either part-time or full-time singers, I understand them well -- remembering how I, for example, take great pride in my paternal grandfather being a master syrup-maker, even though I know little more about syrup than how to eat it! The feeling is real.
We appreciate the committee who brought a fine memorial lesson. Chair Tom Owen talked about how the deceased singers leave "holes" in our singings and our lives, which others must step up and fill in the ways they can. The older I get the more I think about the holes left in our East Texas Convention. Though I'm not a real old guy, I feel a sense of loss that so many of our younger singers never knew even the ones I remember.
On Saturday night we had a social -- food, fellowship and MORE singing. Thanks to Linda Booker who brought photocopies of two old songs, and to Tammy Powell who brought the Harp of Ages song books.
From first to last singers seemed to give it their best. THANK YOU to all who attended. Please accept our undying gratitude for the gifts of your time, talent, and support. Please extend your grace to cover the mistakes we made and your hopes & prayers that we will do better next time. And come back next year!
We think we had a great convention and a wonderful singing. Hope everyone else went away thinking the same thing! The Longview news reporter talked to one of my favorites, Mr. Leo Stanley, who has been attending this convention since the 1930s. “You can’t sing and not be happy,” Leo said. Amen, and in the words of Mike Hinton -- LET'S SING ON (and be happy).
* Note: the finally tally found 336 registrants
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