McElrath and Hustad

I remember McElrath as the music director where I went to church as a child. He was very good, always enthusiastic, and the choir was large and popular at the time. We sang hymns back then, not CCM. Everyone called him Professor McElrath. I'm sorry to hear that he's crossed over, but hope to see him again.

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

 

A week ago we did a memorial for Dr. McElrath at The Big Singing at Benton, Kentucky. This is the only singing that uses The Southern Harmony compiled by William Walker in 1835. In another two weeks we will add his name to the Memorial List at the National Sacred Harp Convention in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. McElrath was a great lover of shape-note music. That is where I got to know him, but he was a good friend of my father's. He did the work at Southern that my father did at Southwestern. Now their work has been pushed to the side by lower musical standards and by trivial music. The seminaries today have sold their musical heritage for a cheap substitute that will not stand the test of time.

Tim Reynolds

 

The first time I went to Benton I met a woman who was writing her dissertation on The Big Singing. If I remember correctly, she was a student at the University of Louisville, but Dr. McElrath was her supervising professor.

I know a number of English Sacred Harp singers. They might have been to Kentucky, but Alabama and Georgia are more likely. Last September I went down to the United Sacred Harp Musical Association convention at a beautiful small country churchhouse. Three of my friends from England were staying at the same motel. In the morning when I came down for the "complimentary continental breakfast", there they were with some other singers watching a cricket match on the TV. They were explaining what was going on to the "Yanks". :laugh:

There are some Sacred Harp singings in the areas around Washington, DC. and Baltimore. If you've never been to one, you ought to go. You can find maps and directions at the FASOLA web site. But I have to warn you. Between the singing and the covered dish dinner, you might just find yourself "hooked".

Tim Reynolds