The Tradition

There is a wealth of information about the shape note tradition on the internet. There is no need to try to duplicate all that.

The "Links" page will be a start for accessing this information, as will search engines, such as Google. There is some basic information in the flyer on the Natural Tunnel page.

I will say a word about the book from which we sing. "The Christian Harmony" was published in 1866 by William Walker and revised in 1873. The book we use is the 1994 reprint of the 1873 revision, and it has four songs added in the back. Scroll down to see a picture of  the front cover.

Mr. Walker had previously published "The Southern Harmony" in 1835. It is a four shape book. When he compiled the "Christian Harmony" he chose to do it with seven shapes, one unique shape for each tone of the scale.

The book is an "end-opener." It's oblong, approximately ten inches wide and seven inches tall. Other shape note books also are oblong. I was told by Hugh McGraw that  the reason for this is so that mothers holding their baby could lay the open book in their lap and it would not fall in the floor.

Mr. McGraw is recognized for his devotion to the preservation and expansion of the Sacred Harp Tradition.

"Sacred Harp" which is a four shape book, is much more widely sung. The seven shape tradition is pretty much confined to Appalachia and in the Southeast; (except for "gospel singing, which is a descendant tradition). This makes it even more important for us to preserve this part of our culture and heritage and carry it forth to those who will help to preserve it by joining in community.

You'll need one of these

The "Alabama" revision

To be added.

History of the Old Fields Singers

As short history it is; so, well it is to recount it now.

There had been an annual singing at Rocky Mount. However, there was not one scheduled in 2007 because the organizer expected that she might be relocating. I decided that I would try my hand at putting one together.

I first contacted my singing friends in North Carolina, both to get blessing and to see if I could count on some of them to come over here. I set a tentative date. I then contacted Randy Sanders at the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at East Tennessee State University, to ask him if they would be interested in being involved with a shape note event.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive an immediate and enthusiatic, "Yes! We are very interested!" Randy had just recently been asked by the Director if he thought that the Center might do "something" around shape notes and here was "something."

After going through the approval process from the department and the university, we began planning and publicity. They were "old hands" at this, and I was the beneficiary of their expertise. Notice was sent to the university community, a beautiful poster was created by graphics students, and press, radio and television outlets were contacted. We did an interview with radio station WJCW (it can be heard on the "sight and sounds" page). I got the word out to the singing community.

On November 3, 2007,  we had around seventy  people attend the singing. Here is a video of one of the songs from the day. Minutes

We began monthly workshop meetings at Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church in downtown Johnson City. In April of 2008, we moved the to current location at Sycamore Shoals in Elizabethton.

Pictures on the wall

We sang in the Reece Museum, which was hosting a travelling exhibit of photographs of Tennessee survivors of the Nazi Holocaust. The small squares next to the portraits are brief biographies of these people.

To say the least, it was a unique setting.

They carried the tradition and passed it on

I did not know Quay Smathers. I do know people who knew him and who have carried the tradition to me.

I did know Larry Olszewski. He  welcomed Julianne and me to our first singing  at Headrick’s Chapel, almost twenty years ago. (The chapel has undergone extensive renovations, begun by Larry and completed after his untimely passing.) Memory eternal, brother. We will always remember you, especially when we sing.

There are others who need to be recognized and remembered. Tell me your stories and I will share them here.