May 16, 2009
Mountain Gospel Music Convention, Canceled!
Please see below for replacement
Traditional Singing Convention
and Awards Ceremony
Saturday, May 16, ~ 2:00 p.m.
Courtroom at the Historic Court House
Blairsville, Georgia
A traditional singing convention will be held at 2:00 on the afternoon of May 16 in The Old Court House on the Square. There will also be special awards made in honor of pioneers of gospel singing in Union County.
Singing School Class, Union County, Georgia, 1909
The Union County Historical Society regretfully announces that the all-inclusive gospel singing originally scheduled for the week-end of May 16 and 17 has been cancelled for several logistical reasons. Instead, a traditional singing convention will be held at 2:00 on the afternoon of May 16 in The Old Courthouse on the Square. There will also be special awards made in honor of pioneers of gospel singing in Union County.
Singing schools and conventions have always been popular in churches of Union County, and a national singing convention was once held in The Old Courthouse. The Union County Historical Society wishes to focus attention on this historical part of Union County life and hopes to re-establish an annual tradition of singing conventions. Hopefully, enough interest will be generated for shaped note singing schools to once again be held in the old building.
What is a gospel convention? The key phrase is audience participation. Different singing masters, or leaders, will choose a song from one of the shaped-note songbooks and lead the congregation in the singing. The music is like any music except each note has a particular shape, and the music is performed by reading and singing the notes. Those in attendance who cannot read the shaped notes simply listen and enjoy the music.
Held in conjunction with the singing convention on May 16 will be the presentation of awards honoring the pioneers of religious music in Union County. There will not be time at the first presentation to honor all of the deserving Union Countians who have contributed to religious music, but awards will awarded annually and the honorees will have a special place in the music room of the Old Courthouse museum. Anyone who has Union County ancestors, or knows about people, who have made contributions to the religious music culture of the county should send nominations to P.O. Box 35, Blairsville, GA 30514 or call 706-745-5493.Free Admission! Donations welcome to support the mission of the Historical Society.
For lodging for this event or anytime, please click here “Lodging” . Please patronize restaurants around Blairsville.
More free music shows in downtown Blairsville!
“Friday Night Concerts,” “Mountain Marketplace & Heritage Festival,”
and the “SEBA Bluegrass Festival”
all produced by the Union County Historical Society
click here for more information!
Historic Union County Court House in Blairsville
history1@windstream.net
706.745.5493
www.visitblairsvillega.com
