Singers defy cold weather for January 13th singing

The roads dried and the sky cleared over Springdale around noon on Sunday, Ten singers braved the weather to sing on January 13th and six were first time visitors. Thanks to everyone who joined us in spite of the cold and winter conditions. I certainly hope everyone enjoyed the singing.

Actually, we started seeing blue sky along the western edge of Arkansas before noon. The temperature was 27 when we left Mountainburg and 27 when we got home late in the afternoon, but in between, it actually turned sunny and warmer in Springdale. The small electric floor heater that I use to warm up the garage or garden shed in winter supplemented the country store's heating and we were warm and comfortable for the singing. One of things I'm learning about Arkansas weather is that no matter what the prediction, stay around for a while and it will change.

There's a new "Contact" section beneath the calendar. You can use that email address for more information about events or to subscribe (or unsubscribe) to the newsletter.  

For those who wanted to know more about the Missouri State Sacred Harp Singing Convention on March 9tn and 10th. the St. Louis Shape Note Singers' homepage already has direct links to information about this event.
    Saint Louis Shape Note Singers homepage
    Map and Directions to St. John's United Church of Christ
    Google Map to Area Motels (w/ addresses and phone numbers)
Bring a friend, share a room and share a ride to the Missouri State Convention.

We can talk more about that in February when we'll look forward better weather. Hope to see you next month.

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.

Our second "2nd Sunday" Singing yields increase...

It hardly seems like it's been a whole month, but the Shiloh Singers' December singing had a good group of 13 singers on Sunday afternoon, December 9th.  As usual, we were in the Country Store on the grounds of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale. This was the second month on our new schedule of singing on the 2nd Sunday of each month. 

We were also honored to have a visiting singer from Tallahassee, FL at our Sunday's singing. Angela Mele, a biological illustrator, is working with a professor at the Univ. of Arkansas for several days. Angela also attended the recent Florida State Singing Convention in Panama City, FL and she helped our group in several different sections during the afternoon.

Credit: Robert Chambless  via Google+

Photo: Shannon Seyler,  a former Shiloh Singer, sang at the Florida State Singing Convention, adding her fine voice to the Alto Section at the two-day event in early December. First, Syd Caldwell found a picture of Shannon for the newsletter, then Shannon wrote that while singing, she thought about all the Arkansas singers and even met someone who knew Syd from his trips to sing in Alabama and Georgia. I'll let Shannon take over in her own words:

"The convention was held at a Holiday Inn. I booked a room, and it was fantastic to just get up and go downstairs to the singing. It was really convenient. A brand new version of the Cooper Book has just been released, and I got a copy while I was at the convention.

"I sang Sacred Harp recently at a little Baptist college in Graceville. It was a public demo. A lot of people came and listened. After that, a dulcimer group played. I've contacted them about having a look at a dulcimer that my father made for me. I don't really know much about dulcimers, so maybe they can help me out."

Shannon added that she's also singing with a church choir that's performing Handel's Messiah for Christmas Eve, which involves singing and playing the hand bells at the same time. Those of us in Arkansas appreciated Shannon's musical talents for some time. Florida has gained a very fine singer this past year.

At our November 12th singing, Syd Caldwell brought several DVD's from the United Convention in Henagar in September and the Memorial Singing Convention in Oneonta in October. Several singers requested copies which were distributed at the December singing this past Sunday. Additional copies will be sent to those who were not able to attend on Sunday due to illness or schedule conflicts.

Special thanks to the cooks who baked cookies to go with the coffee and soft drinks during the break. Dan Brittain, pitched a "double-header" on Sunday, first performing in a Christmas band concert and then arriving at the Shiloh singing shortly after the break to sing in the second half of our event.

On November 27th, Katy and I had a chance to visit with Anita and Don Buswell in Mountain Home. While Don requires oxygen now, he was moving around the house with a walker when we arrived. Don said he was feeling stronger and Anita added that Don does better and seems to get stronger at home. She also said that she and Don miss our monthly singings and we certainly miss them both as well.

The next regular singing of the Shiloh Sacred Harp Singers will be on January 13, 2013 at 1:30 P.M. in the Shiloh Museum's Country Store in Springdale. Syd is still working to arrange a possible "get-together and singing" with Cheri Hardy from Massachusetts who will be visiting our area over the Christmas holidays - Dec. 22 to Jan. 2. Several singers said they would try to attend if their schedules permitted. We'll use the email list to get the word out as soon as details can be worked out.

And as a final word, thanks to all who have contributed to the Shiloh Singers in so many different ways during the past year. It would take all afternoon to list everything and even then, I'm afraid that with my fading memory I'd leave someone out. Still, thanks are due for adding your voice to our group and for your support to continue the tradition of Sacred Harp singing in the Ozarks. Please add my personal thanks for the emails and pictures which during the year found their way into portions of the newsletter and website. With that, it's time to say...