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FOLKLIFE FOLKLIFE
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DONALD SMITH-LINING HYMN MUSICS OF ALABAMA:
The hymn "Grace a Charming Sound" is "lined" out by Elder Smith and sung by members of the Deason family who were present in 1994 at the annual Deason family reunion. The tradition of "lining" a hymn is centuries old. It is achieved by a leader speaking or chanting a line of text which is then sung by the congregation. The history behind lining hymns goes back as early as 17th century England were church pastors were required to recite the text of a hymn line by line due to lack of literacy in their congregations. Notable hymnist Isaac Watts decried the fact that hymn singing in church was "horrendous and lamentable." To improve this condition he began composing hymns in basic poetic meters that allows them to be sung to familiar tunes. Thus, it was up to the pastor to recite the text of a hymn line by line and the congregation to sing it to a tune that was either suggested in the hymn book or agreed upon beforehand. As is stated at the beginning of the musical example, Elder Smith remembers his grand-father Wiley Deason reciting and singing the same hymn in a similar fashion. Reference to this hymn can be found titled "Ninety-Third Psalm" on page 31 of the Cooper edition of The B. F. White Sacred Harp, and on page 26 in Christian Harmony, titled "Ninety-Third."
Elder Donald Smith is an avid conveyor of traditional Christian hymnody in Alabama. Traditional tunes used for this text only edition of Benjamin Lloyd's The Primitive Hymns, Spiritual Songs, and Sacred Poems are held in the memories of Primitive Baptist adherents. Many of the traditional tunes are closely connected to those found in B. F. White's Sacred Harp and other Christian tune-books including Christian Harmony. Elder Smith is deeply-rooted in the tradition of Christian Harmony (a publication of seven shape-note music), as well as the four shape-note Sacred Harp. The Christian Harmony publication is closely associated with the Deason family. Elder Smith's mother Clara is a Deason. John Deason (Donald Smith's uncle) and O. A. Parris published the 1958 revision of Christian Harmony. Art Deason and Donald Smith served on the committee that revised the 1994 edition.
"Grace a Charming Sound" The text is from Benjamin Lloyd's Primitive Tunes #5. The melody is traditional. Recorded by Anne Kimzey 10-1-94 at the Deason Family reunion Little Hope Baptist Church, Eoline, Alabama. Thanks to Tish Crocker for information about her family. S. M. Grace a charming sound. GRACE, 'tis a
charming sound, Grace first
contrived the way Grace first
inscribed my name Grace led my
roving feet Grace all the
work shall crown,
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