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FOLKLIFE FOLKLIFE
ASSOCIATION
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NOTES AND STRINGS GOSPEL QUARTET MUSICS OF ALABAMA: The song "Getting Ready to Leave This World" comes from seven shape-note gospel convention repertory, often called "Southern Gospel." The term shape-note indicates a type of musical staff notation that displays seven varied shapes, each specific to the seven tones on a typical musical scale. Published seven shape-note convention music is written vocal harmony in four parts; bass, tenor, alto and soprano (or treble), usually sung in a "convention" or "class" of singers. It is almost always accompanied by a piano. Often during conventions there is a time set aside for "special" music where a quartet is featured. (click for more similar information) Originally, book publishing companies would send auditioned quartets to local county and state conventions in the South to sing selections out of their "new book" offered each year by publishers, primarily Stamps-Baxter and Vaughn, to promote sales. For example, early members of the extended Speer Family and the Blackwood Brothers started their quartet careers singing at regional conventions for gospel music book companies. A few were hired to write gospel songs for the publishers as well. Sometime people who were avid convention singers would start their own quartet groups to perform for their church and in surrounding communities. Notes and Strings was one such group. Due to the popularity of gospel quartets of many of the songs that came from the repertory of the "new book" publications, the practice of four-part harmony singing migrated to regional gospel quartets and to secular country music as well. Some groups use a variety of instruments typical to old-time county and bluegrass music to accompany gospel singing, such as fiddle, guitar, mandolin and bass. Almost every bluegrass gathering will have gospel music interspersed within a mostly secular repertory. Often there will be songs taken from seven shape-note sources and rearranged for the band, for example, songs like "I'll Fly Away" or "Turn Your Radio On" would be featured at sometime during a day of bluegrass music. While
the group Notes and Strings is a gospel quartet they do
use a variety of musical instruments to accompany their
singing. In this example an electric organ and a acoustic
guitar are used. "Getting Ready to Leave This World" is by Luther Presley 1937 Stamps-Baxter/BMI
used by permission of Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing,
Inc. Recorded by Joyce Cauthen 1-28-1987 in Vernon, AL.
Personnel of "Notes and Strings": Lead singer,
Jack Rushing: other singers: Russell Johnson, Floyd and Patschal Bryant, (Fiddle)
J.C. Brock, (Guitar) Maurice Langley, (Electric Keyboard) Lily
Johnson Ashcraft. |
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