“We sang a lot of the new songs. I was pleased that they sounded like Sacred Harp songs. Not those incredibly fussy things I'd heard at new-song demos I'd been to before the selection was made for the book.”
It’s almost as if many of them aren’t actually the same songs that were sung at the trial singings.
- Charity
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 11, 2026, at 11:17 AM, j frankel <ghos...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> We sang a lot of the new songs. I was pleased that they sounded like Sacred Harp songs. Not those incredibly fussy things I'd heard at new-song demos I'd been to before the selection was made for the book.
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On Mar 11, 2026, at 17:34, Matthew MacLellan <mat...@matthewmaclellan.com> wrote:
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On Mar 11, 2026, at 20:45, Robert Vaughn <rl_v...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Sing On,Peter, is the upshot of this that of 1155 songs submitted, the committee could not find some 10% that were in “the Sacred Harp style” and had to “SH-ify” most of them? Or were most of the ones in the Sacred Harp style not good enough to be used and the music editing committee lit rather on songs that were not in the Sacred Harp style and fixed them instead? Or something else?In what part of the release festivities did they detail how they worked diligently with some of the composers to fix their songs? Did they detail those to whom they sent a “take it or leave it” uncollaborated not diligently working together revision to sign off on? I seem to have missed those parts when I listened to the symposium on YouTube. I would like to find that.Thanks.Robert VaughnMount Enterprise, TXAsk for the old paths, where is the good wayFor ask now of the days that are past...Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land.
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On Mar 12, 2026, at 7:39 PM, Micah Walter <micahj...@gmail.com> wrote:
Charity, to your question about discrepant treatment: yes, I believe this was very well explained. Songs that needed no edits to fit perfectly in the new book received no edits; those that in the committee's judgment would strengthen the book more after improvements were edited. It had to do with the details of the songs and what was best for the book. (If you are implying that discrepant treatment was personal or malicious, I'm afraid you may be encountering rumors and hearsay.)I think this addresses Robert's question also:
What about all the songs that were submitted in 'SHified style' originally? Why might they have been overlooked for others not in the style that had to be rewritten?
According to my memory – apologies if I am remembering incorrectly – someone from the Revision-Music Committee said during one of the panels that about half the songs received edits to one degree or another. Some songs were stylistic as submitted, and they were approved with no edits. Others were strong contenders for the book, and had the potential to contribute to the greatness of the revision, but in the judgment of the Revision-Music Committee would benefit from improvements. It does not seem reasonable for creating the best possible revision of The Sacred Harp to be the goal, and then to disqualify excellent songs simply because edits (whether light or extensive) would be required for them to shine at their best in the context of this book.Speaking for myself – my songs were accepted with edits that were significant, but I believe the songs' essential character was certainly maintained. Hearing the recordings and going through the edits with an open mind allowed me to look past my attachment to how they had lodged themselves in my mind, acknowledge that the vast majority of the edits improved the song (at least in terms of making them more stylistic for Sacred Harp singing), and propose a small number of counter-suggestions where I felt an "edit to the edit" would improve upon what was there originally while addressing what I felt to be lacking in the first edit.Note also that edits and revisions to songs have taken place throughout the history of the book, since the first arrangements of folk hymns. As one more recent example where we can actually see the edits because successive revisions were published – WHERE CEASELESS AGES ROLL was significantly revised for the 1966 edition, and is much different than the 1960 version. (Sometimes the book is most improved by excluding a song; sometimes it is most improved by revising. Sometimes people may disagree on what is best in a given case, while still respecting this basic principle.)It's possible that composers who felt that any edits to their song whatsoever, or who thought that every element of the original song was integral to their vision, or who wished to preserve their original vision over what would be best in the context of the book and our singing community, would choose not to approve the proposed edits, or to approve most but suggest a few counter-edits in good faith. Such would be their right and I would not begrudge them. But composers' different preferences and attitudes to their own work, and hence their different reactions to the process, certainly would not constitute malicious discrepancy on the part of the committee.Micah
On Mar 12, 2026, at 11:37, Charity Vaughn <cevaugh...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Micah,From your recollection of events the rest of us do not have access to was there an explanation of why some composers were treated discrepantly?
- CharitySent from my iPhone
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Robert and All,
I find this discussion a bit confusing. No one has contended that the Revision Committee could not find ten percent of the submissions that were in “Sacred Harp style.” Joan has remarked that the songs in the test singings she attended seemed “fussy,” but that may well have been luck of the draw, as only 80-90 songs of the over 1,000 submissions were sung at each session. I participated in two of those singings, and was underwhelmed with a lot of what was on offer, so that wouldn’t be a surprise to me. Nor is there any reason to believe that the Committee bypassed the testing process for favored songs or composers.
The Committee did edit for “improvement.” “Improvement,” of course, is often in the eye of the beholder, but the process was a joint effort, and the Committee members have stated that they worked by consensus, which would provide a check on any personal biases (I would add that I’ve known virtually all the members for many years, and have the utmost respect for them). I don’t doubt that in a project this huge missteps were made in working with submitters, but I see no evidence of bad faith.
Finally, I’d note that *any* submission for publication (and I’ve made quite a few in my academic career) involves submission to editing. The submission may be *your* product, but the publication is *theirs.* The SHPC is primarily obligated, after all, not to those who submitted new tunes, but to maintaining the integrity of the tradition and the vitality of the singing community. By those criteria, I consider the 2025 edition a triumph.
What about all the songs that were submitted in 'SHified style' originally? Why might they have been overlooked for others not in the style that had to be rewritten?
On Mar 12, 2026, at 11:37, Charity Vaughn <cevaugh...@yahoo.com> wrote:
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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: j frankel <ghos...@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 3:07 PM
Subject: Re: [fasola-discussions] Western Mass Convention
To: Paul Robinson <ptr....@comcast.net>People have pointed out I ascribed wrong song to Reynolds. I can't reach book (I can't easily move these days) to look up right song.On Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 1:44 PM Paul Robinson <ptr....@comcast.net> wrote:You're probably thinking of a different song. Glen Wright wrote "Natick" and the parts in the book are what I remember from when he wrote it.--paulr
You're probably thinking of a different song. Glen Wright wrote "Natick" and the parts in the book are what I remember from when he wrote it.--paulr
On 03/13/2026 12:29 PM EDT j frankel <ghos...@gmail.com> wrote:
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On Mar 13, 2026, at 11:28 PM, 'Dan Thoma' via Fasola Discussions <fasola-di...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Hi Robert,
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“Primarily, I am greatly disappointed to see, what appears to be, accusations of foul play or bias on the part of the revision committee. These are all people I know and love, I’ve sung with them for years.”
As much as you feel that way there are many who felt the same and are disappointed - shocked - to see what can only be seen as bias, specifically without any real explanations forthcoming. For example, there still seems to be no explanation why some people were allowed to collaborate on their compositions and some weren’t. That is, plainly, bias. It may not be foul play but “it’s a bad look” as the kids say.
“I don’t believe anyone was treated any more or less favourably, based on conversations I’ve had with various singers and the experiences shared in this thread by multiple people.”
Do you believe it was less favorable to not be given the opportunity to collaborate on your tune, an opportunity that some people were given (as you mention in this very e-mail)?
“Each member of the revision committee was there on merit, reflecting the diversity of our community, the skills they have and experience of music and Sacred Harp Traditions.”
This actually brings up a separate but interesting point. How many traditional singers were involved in the committees, to include the primary committee and all of the sub committees?
“I have no doubt that the process was fair to every person who submitted a song and that each song was chosen for its own merit, not the whims or personal leanings of individuals on the committee.”
I would pose to you the same question I asked both Dan and Micah, based on what you heard at the symposium sessions not yet published (or from other conversations) - what was the merit of a song that required an entire rewrite? How was such a song chosen above other songs in the pile of nearly 1200?
“Changes that were made to songs was for the betterment of the singing and the tradition by the best judgment of the committee.”
Did the full committee know about the rewrites?
“We can see that in the songs that have been attributed to more than one composer.”
Unfortunately, that rather brings up more concern of bias. One composer with a fair number of tunes selected had their works published on the website of a committee member - every single song that was selected by this individual was on said website. Aside from the owner of the website two other committee members also publish songs on this website/had knowledge of these tunes. Now, I want to be very clear I don’t believe the composer was involved in any “foul play” as you term it. But it is clear that the songs were well-known to the committee before selection. Actually, a significant percentage of the new songs selected appear on this website. One of them is the song I have referenced which was rewritten but for three measures. Are we wrong to be concerned about bias?
“Even with all that, we are not party to the details of every decision made by the committee and may never be. For that I’m glad, we don’t need to know the minutia.”
Interestingly, we know a lot of minutiae from the symposium sessions we do have. Far more minute, I would argue, than at what point a song was decided to require an entire rewrite, or why some people were allowed to collaborate and others weren’t.
“Be an encourager and in this world of violence, let’s be kind.”
Where is the balance between being kind and being truthful? What of kindness to those who were not treated fairly? What of kindness to those who were victims of this apparent bias? The goal is not to be unkind, but these are real concerns. How do we avoid these same concerns in the future? Isn’t that worth a discussion?
- Charity
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