August 14th Singing and Planning for September and October

The National Weather Service has predicted an almost cool 81 degrees for Sunday afternoon and we'll still bring an extra fan to keep all the Shiloh Singers, guests and visitors cool and comfortable at our August 10th singing from 1:30 to 4:00.  I hope we have a good turnout. A couple of our regular song leaders are in route to Henderson, Texas for the 149th East Texas Convention so we'll need a good turn out to fill any gaps in the ranks.

Photo: We had two special visitors at July's singing from Alaska! Campbell Longworth, from Fairbanks, and Nolan Lind, from Anchorage, stopped by for a visit and joined right into the singing.


Alexis Walker was back leading from the tenor section.  think everyone was very pleased with the turnout and we certainly hope anyone from Alaska to Florida, or any place between, will feel welcome to visit any of our events in the General Store at the Shiloh Museum or on the road.

It's been a hectic few weeks down here on "The Rock Pile" in Mountainburg.  Katy was tired from moving rocks again as she finished her landscaping improvements down by the road and my hand finally stopped shaking after writing the check to pay for some of the other improvements this spring and summer. I'm not sure if the new foot bridge, rock walkway and the finished structure looks more like a wishing well or a Shinto shrine. But it looks very nice and given a few seasons for plants to grow around it, will be a nice addition. Whether answered prayer or a good healthy wish, Gail Cowart is out of the hospital and rehab this week and he's gaining strength back with each passing day. He didn't think he would be up to making the trip to Springdale this Sunday but it won't take long if that former Army Ranger continues to follow his therapist's directions and work on his exercises.

Please bookmark this webpage and check the Calendar section for events in September and October. There's a singing in Louisiana that may interest the singers in southern Arkansas on Sept. 3rd, there's the annual Columbia, MO, Singing on Saturday, Oct. 8rd, we'll need to post changes about moving our 2nd Sunday in October singing to the Murrell Home State Park in Park Hill, OK, on October 9th, and Alexis has found us a new venue for the October NWA Fall Singing in Springdale on Oct. 22nd. There's even more news, but I'm already past the deadline for getting the newsletter out. We'll post any further updates between now and the next newsletter on this webpage as they occur or as we've experienced this month, as soon as time permits.

Don't forget the early Sunday arrivals in Springdale are invited to share a table at AQ's Chicken House just a few blocks from the Shiloh Museum starting around 12 noon. Desserts are optional after the singings at a local Denny's near the Interstate. Just follow the local singers or ask one of the regulars at the singing.

On behalf of all the Shiloh Singers, we hope to see you on Sunday.

Shiloh Singers Reminder for August 10th

Late August Update - I got a note from Willi Goehring, one of our Shiloh Singers, who has been working with the Fayetteville Public Library and the Fayetteville Roots Festival. The library is hosting a celebration of the life of Mary Celestia Parler, one of Arkansas most important and most overlooked folklorists with a free, hugely interactive exhibit in the Fayetteville Public Library from September 28th to the 31st.

If you're within driving range on Thursday, the 28th, from 6-8, there will be an Ozark Music Listening Party, where about a dozen traditional musicians will play selections from archived recordings and generate discussion on why preservation of folk practices is so vital!

Also on the schedule, KUAR is doing a live broadcast from the Walker Community Room on Friday, Aug. 29th, and some of the singers who live further away might want to listen to the live broadcast from 12 noon until 2 P.M.

While not exactly Sacred Harp singing, many of our singers can relate to folk music and the traditional forms of singing. For more information about the library's schedule for the Fayetteville Roots Festival, visit:
http://www.faylib.org/events/fayetteville-roots-festival

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Another quick singing reminder. The Shiloh Sacred Harp Singers of NW Arkansas will be singing in the General Store on the grounds of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History on Sunday afternoon, August 10th at 1:30 to 4:00 P.M. We'll bring an extra fan and a cooler for the water. Visitors and first-time singers are always welcome. Hope to have some updates on singings and plans for the October 24th and 25th Singing School and NWA Fall Singing Convention.

At noon, we'll have a table at AQ's Chicken House in Springdale before the singing and plan to adjourn for coffee and ice cream after the singing. All are invited to these optional activities for visiting and catching up with friends and singers we only get to see once a month.

Photo - Syd Caldwell will be singing in Henderson, Texas this weekend and spreading the news about our annual NWA Fall Singing Convention in Springdale. Last month in Alabama, this month in East Texas, Syd is our goodwill ambassador wherever he travels.

The East Texas Sacred Harp Singing Convention was organized in 1855 and records show a continuous history since 1868. If you live in the southern half of Arkansas, within driving distance and have an open Saturday or Sunday, the singing is held in the Henderson Civic Center at 1005 Hwy 64 W. Singing starts at 9:30 A.M. on both Aug 9th and 10th using the Cooper Book. Texans always have a spirited singing.

That's about all the news at the moment.
Hope to see everyone in Springdale on Sunday.

Update: Winter storm may hamper travel for January singing.

Updated: 1/12/13 7:30 P.M. - The Shiloh Singers of NW Arkansas will be singing in the Country Store on the ground of the Shiloh Museum this Sunday, January 13th, at 1:30 P.M. weather permitting. As of early Saturday evening, the much closer look at the weather headed out of Canada has been less optimistic. The 6:00 P.M. weather reports are calling for a "Winter Weather Advisory" with freezing rain Saturday evening with sleet or freezing drizzle after midnight. A low of around 25 degrees and north winds of 10 to 15 mph are expected in Fayetteville and Springdale. Total nighttime ice accumulations of 0.1 to 0.3 of an inch are possible. Decreasing clouds "should" start to clear off during the morning turning sunny before mid-day with a high of 33 degrees. Even so, there's still a possibility of ice on roads and bridges that are not frequently salted and some spots could be slick.

Earlier this week, the long-range wild-guess for Sunday's weather in the Fayetteville - Springdale area was for partly cloudy and colder temperatures but no severe weather (like snow or ice) was expected. The expected highs are in the upper 30's. We planned to fire up a second coffee pot to also have plenty of hot water for tea or hot chocolate. 

No excuses needed with weather alerts and I think caution is warranted particularly if you're using less traveled roads. Katy and I will test the roads on the way to early church in Alma. Then I'm going to load up and then make the final decision about 10:45 Sunday morning. I-540 is usually salted if any snow or ice is found. I just hate not to be there to welcome anyone who shows up... but we'll be careful.
 
As usual, we'll head for AQ's Chicken House in Springdale for lunch if the weather has improved. (Hot chicken and dumplings really go well with a cool day!)

One of the important topics we wanted to discuss was planning for the annual Missouri State Sacred Harp Singing Convention that's held in St. John's United Church of Christ in Pinckney, MO northwest of Washington, MO. The event, hosted each year by the St. Louis Shape Note Singers, is held on the 2nd Sunday in March and the Saturday before, which will be March 9 and 10, 2013, Last year, nine Shiloh Singers were able to join an estimated 140 singers from as far away as Wisconsin, Ohio, Alabama and Georgia.

Photo: 2012 Missouri Convention - "It's always fun to sing with a church full of good singers!"

There's no better way to learn to sing Sacred Harp songs than to sing with the supporting voices of over a hundred dedicated singers from all over the region. Or you can follow my example by sitting next to an experienced singer and trying to follow their lead as closely as you can. They'll figure out that you're trying to learn. After two days of singing, you'll return home a little hoarse but a much more experienced Sacred Harp singer. Hopefully, we'll have some extra car space to share for those who are new singers or who don't want to drive that distance. I'll send out more detailed information on the schedule and accommodations as soon as it's received.

Syd Caldwell asked that I remind everyone that Texas will host two Sacred Harp Conventions in January and February.
29th Annual William J Reynolds Singing
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Cowden Hall, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1809 West Broadus, Fort Worth, Texas.
Contact: Dan Brittain for more details or email: Timothy Studstill, or the School of Church Music, (817) 923-1921, ext. 3100. (1991 Revision/Dutch Treat)

The Texas Sacred Harp Convention
Saturday and Sunday, February 23 and 24, 2013
Coker United Methodist Church, San Antonio, TX
231 E. North Loop Road, off Highway 281, north of the airport.
Info: http://hollowsquare.org/theflyertable/texasstateconvention.html

If you're in the Springdale area on Saturday, January 12, 2013, from 10 A.M. until 2 P.M. the Shiloh Museum is sponsoring their annual Cabin Fever Reliever. The event features "Collectors Edition" displays by local NW Arkansas collectors. While you're there, check out the "Single Pens, Saddlebags and Dogtrots" exhibit featuring photos of log buildings in the Arkansas Ozarks.

Photo: Learning about collecting bird carvings at the 2012 Cabin Fever Reliever.

We certainly hope you'll be singing with us this year and hope to see you Sunday afternoon if the weather clears. We'll warm up the Country Store with good songs and good fellowship.