Not exactly new

...but I have not been posting here regularly for quite some time (though I did come by to read the Baptist History forum). So I thought I would reintroduce myself. I am pastor of Old Prospect, a rural Baptist Church that meets near Mt. Enterprise, Texas. My wife and I have two adult children and two grandchildren. I was ordained to the ministry in 1983, am a tent-making minister and work in the education industry. In addition to family, church and work, I am active in Sacred Harp singing and write songs in this style. I am the former editor of a Baptist newsletter styled The Baptist Waymark and a founding editor of The Trumpet (a music periodical). I have a blog called Ministry and Music - Seeking the Old Paths, and try to keep posts up there regularly. Biggest interests (Baptist Board wise) are History, Theology and Music.

 

Thanks, guys. I'll try to be a little more regular than I have been in the past.

Brother Glen, yes, Sacred Harp is one of my great loves! My family has been singing it from at least 5 generations back -- and we're trying to keep it going forward. Hoping to "infect" the grandchildren next.

 

Brother, that's fine. I answer to elder, Robert, Daddy, PawPaw and a number of other things!

I didn't know Brother Drummond, but have his book which I have enjoyed immensely. I corresponded with him a few times regarding historical information where Primitive Baptist hymn singing and Sacred Harp intersected. I think I met Brother Sonny once, but it may have been someone else in the Lowrance family. My memory slips out of joint sometimes! His fine reputation in music proceeds him everywhere he goes.

 

Brother Glen, there were some specific things that Brother Drummond mentioned that he helped me find -- like some letters to Elder Cayce's paper from a Sacred Harp singing in Texas, and replies by Elder M. W. Miracle -- who was a Sacred Harp singer and Primitive Baptist elder and edited the "Good Old Songs Department" in Elder Cayce's paper.

Elder Cayce's song book the Good Old Songs is fine example of how Sacred Harp and Primitive Baptist hymn singing intersect. They have so many tunes in common, and Elder Cayce liked the old time dispersed harmonies of the Sacred Harp style. The Old School Hymnal is a good book, but there are reharmonizations that move away from the old dispersed harmony toward more modern ideas of close harmony and part writing. There is Sacred Harp singing in California, but it is my understanding that most of the conventions are not closely connected to any Primitive Baptist churches like they often are here in the South. (Saying that, understand that singing conventions all have their own organization and officers apart from the church, so the relation is more of a symbiotic one.)

kyredneck, glad to hear of your daughters' good singing experience in the Cincinnati Church. I've met Elder Bradley and heard him preach. The Tyler Church here in Tyler, Texas sponsors him on a local radio station, and have had him there as a visiting preacher.

 

Thanks, MsGuided.