The song Bidding Farewell to
Loved Ones (2012 Sacred
Harp, Revised Cooper, p. 539) combines three songs to make one. The words
are from A. J. McLendon’s A Sister’s
Farewell (James Original Sacred
Harp, p. 505; now 55 in 1991). The tune arranges The Blind Girl (J. S. James book, p. 521) with the chorus of
John A. Watson’s Passing Away in
2/4 time. The alto is "as sung by Mrs. Julia Parks." The Passing Away alto is different, at least from what is currently with that tune in the Cooper
Book. The rest of the alto mostly follows The
Blind Girl alto, but seems to take the high road on a few occasions
where the original descended to a lower road. There are a few other minor
variations in the parts.
Bidding Farewell to
Loved Ones reminds me of the tragedy in the lives of our
Sacred Harp forefathers and foremothers while making their way through a dark
and dreary land – especially when we learn some of the details behind the
scenes. According to J. S. James, Augustus J. McLendon wrote A Sister’s Farewell "in memory
of Bertha B. Brantly, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Laminack."
Bertha Brantley was a sister of McLendon's wife, Ida Viola Laminack. She died
October 5, 1904 at age 20, leaving behind a husband and a 10 month old son.
Lewis and Julia Park re-appropriated the words
of McLendon's song to fit their own loss. Bidding
Farewell to Loved Ones is “Inscribed to B. M. Wesley.” Benjamin M.
Wesley was Julia's brother who died December 4, 1913 at the age of 26, leaving
behind a 22 year old wife Pearl and 4 children under 6 years of age.
(Interestingly, Pearl later married Claude C. McLendon, who was a distant
relative of A. J. McLendon.)
The history of songs continues to tell the tale
of family tragedy, and in 1927 Wilson Rountree composes Gone to a Better World (Cooper, p. 34) in memory of little
Elizabeth Wesley, age 8, daughter of Henry Clifford Wesley and Rashell Brown.
She was Julia Park's niece.
Doubtless we have no less tragedy in 2013 than
folks in 1913. But I wonder how many now find solace in singing?
Park,
Julia Flossie Wesley (June 26, 1889—May
24, 1967) was born in Alabama, the daughter of Hiram B. Wesley and Eliza L.
Golden. She married Lewis Park (q.v.) circa 1915. This song is “Inscribed to B.
M. Wesley.” Benjamin M. Wesley was Julia's brother, who died in 1913 at the age
of 26. Elizabeth Wesley, of whom Gone
to a Better World (p. 34) is written in memory, was Julia's niece,
daughter of Henry Clifford Wesley and Rashell Brown. Julia is buried at the
Enon Cemetery in Pike County, Alabama. The alto is a variant of the original
alto, originally described “as sung by Mrs. Julia Park.”
539
Bidding
Farewell to Loved Ones (alto)
Park,
Lewis (August 14, 1882—July 20, 1967) was born
in Alabama, the son of George W. Park and Josephine Mann. He married Julia
Wesley (q.v.) circa 1915. He lived in Pike County, was a farmer and a member of
the Masonic Fraternity. He died in Phenix City in Russell County and is buried
at the Enon Cemetery in Pike County, Alabama. This arrangement is a
centonization of The Blind Girl (J.
S. James book, p. 521) and the chorus of John A. Watson’s Passing Away. The words are from A. J.
McLendon’s A Sister’s Farewell.
539
Bidding
Farewell to Loved Ones (arranged)
To read the words of this tune, select the link HERE.
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