Traditional Singing Convention
and
Pioneers of Union County Religious Music
Awards Ceremony
Blairsville, Georgia
Mr. Grady Rogers used this roll-up chalkboard in his teaching
Note the lines for writing scales.
Shaped Note music uses seven notes, the same as round-note
except each note has a different shape.
The notes are usually song before the words are sung.
Sacred Harp music only uses four shapes for notes.
There are no indications that Sacred Harp was ever sung in this area of the North Georgia mountains.
For more on Shape Note singing, click here!
Singing schools and conventions have always been popular in churches of Union County, and a national singing convention was once held in the historic Court House. 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 Singing 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 was the presentation of awards honoring the pioneers of religious music in Union County. Awards were given to the honoree or their descendants. 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 be awarded annually and the honorees will have a special place in the music room of the Old Court House museum.
Pioneers of Union County Religious Music
The people who were honored in 2010 for being Music Pioneers in Union County for their contributions to the development of singing schools and Shaped Note music were:
Bunker Hill Quartet
Rev. John Cook
Frank Dyer
Floyd Foster
Cecil Nelson
Grayson Parham
Luther Reed
Rich Family Singers
Bryson Turner
The people who were honored in 2009 for being Music Pioneers in Union County for their contributions to the development of singing schools and Shaped Note music were:
Lilly Vee Gibson Adams
Asberry Brackett
Monroe and Dessie Burnett
John Clay Carroll
Frank Davenport
Paul Gibson
Hansel Hunter
Rev. Jim Hood
Sarah Ledford Kelley
Jewel and Myrtle Mason
Jack Parker
Beaulah Mae Patterson, Pettet
J.W. Payne
Barbara Mason Poole
Fred Rich
Jewell Rich
Grady Rogers
Guy B. Turner
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.
