Plan and Prep for a "Southern Harmony" Compline on March 28, 2026 at 9 p.m.

At 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2026, a “Southern Harmony Compline Service” will be offered in the candlelit nave of Christ Church Anglican (CCA). This 30-minute observance will combine scripture readings and music from the shapenote tradition.  Visiting singers are welcome to participate in the choir or just enjoy the music and the ambience.

The Compline Choir at CCA offers a weekly service at 8 p.m. every Sunday. Members of the Compline Choir will be learning the service. Experienced sacred harp singers are welcome to join the choir for the songs that are from the Denson and Cooper books. (See the designation “SHAPENOTE CHOIR GUESTS MAY JOIN”)

Please kindly note that, unlike standard shape note singing, in the compline services dynamics and diction are matters of emphasis and solidarity (i.e. if you would like to join the choir, please be willing to match the volume and pronunciations of the CCA Compline Choir. :))

If you would like to join the Compline Choir in singing this service, please report to the 37th Street entrance of the CCA Nave at 7 p.m. on that Saturday evening (March 28th) for practice/rehearsal. If you live nearby, we will be having one other rehearsal session prior to the night of the service. The date and time of that rehearsal is to be announced.

Here is the musical plan for the service:

Pre-Introit - I Will Arise and Go to Jesus (Alice Parker and Robert Shaw Arrangement) 

Introit - I Hear the Harps Eternal (Alice Parker Arrangement) 

Confession - Set to Idumea 47b - Two verses (SHAPENOTE CHOIR GUESTS MAY JOIN)

Part Recordings: https://sacredharpbremen.org/47b-idumea/

The Preces - Set to Sometimes I Feel (Alice Parker and Robert Shaw Arrangement

Psalm - Portions of Psalm 84 set to Not Made With Hands 571 in Cooper Book (SHAPENOTE CHOIR GUESTS MAY JOIN)

Office Hymn - Captain Kidd aka God is Seen (Alice Parker Arrangement)

Nunc Dimittis - Set to Gospel Trumpet 99 in Denson (SHAPENOTE CHOIR GUESTS MAY JOIN)

Part Recordings: https://sacredharpbremen.org/99-gospel-trumpet/

Lords Prayer - Set to Old One Hundred 49t in Denson (SHAPENOTE CHOIR GUESTS MAY JOIN)

Part Recordings: https://sacredharpbremen.org/49t-old-hundred/

Anthem - Evening Shade 209 in Denson (SHAPENOTE CHOIR GUESTS MAY JOIN)

Part Recordings: https://sacredharpbremen.org/209-evening-shade/

Final Preces - Set to Hallelujah 146 in Denson (SHAPENOTE CHOIR GUESTS MAY JOIN), concluding 146 with verse 4 from the hymn ALL SING FINAL VERSE!!!

Part Recordings: https://sacredharpbremen.org/146-hallelujah/

After the service, there will be pie and coffee in the church parlor along with a folk art installation.

Fr. Jonathan Jameson's Musical Journey from stages to the alter.

Father Jonathan Jameson takes us on a musical journey starting with the evangelical youth culture in Southern California, to stints in hardcore and emo rock, through a great run as a bassist in Delta Spirit, to family life and his call to the priesthood at St. John's Episcopal Church in Savannah, Georgia.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2A52xsHhfUQaD87HAeIEj4?si=g7gPcqIVSi-XcF4H-ZyY1Q

"Burntpot Island": Lyrics to a Future Shape Note Hymn

Burntpot Island (Shape Note Lyrics)

by Brian Dennison 

Though the earth be moved;

men’s shields burnt down by fire.

Through raging waters, swelling tides

Our Savior walks astride.  

Chorus 

Lo’ He comes! 

Descending from the skies. 

All kings and nations at His feet, 

Behold His flaming eyes. 

Behold! behold! 

Behold his flaming eyes!

All kings and nations at His feet. 

Behold His flaming eyes! 

Our bellies cling to ground,

Our souls bow tw’ard dust.

Yet Christ kneels with a servant’s heart

Washing our feet he must.

Chorus

Bones broken in the pit,

Where jackals wait their hour.

He smites the sting of sin and death

Hell’s harrow'd by his pow’r.

Chorus

God n’er forgets,

His children bound in chains. 

Rise up and venture to our help,

Come kingdom and Your reign.

Chorus

The nations rage and cry;

Tyrants melt away.

Our horse and rider stakes his claim. 

The Ancient of Days.

Chorus

Burntpot Island, Georgia (Original manipulated image sourced from Savannah Morning News)

Burntpot Island, Georgia (Original manipulated image sourced from Savannah Morning News)

Country Music

Here are two reflections on Country music that are worth sharing.

The first comes from Savannahian Brent Beaumount:

https://thehabershamschool.org/everything-my-father-taught-me/

The second comes from Malcolm Gladwell whose number one all-time podcast from his show Revisionist History entitled “King of Tears” is about the special penchant of Country musicians to write truly sad songs:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/revisionist-revisited-the-king-of-tears/id1119389968?i=1000478160644

Makes you want to listen to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkzQR_zjZQQ

From Wikipedia (in the public domain)

From Wikipedia (in the public domain)

Georgia State Choral Professor Dr. Deanna Joseph Debuts New Recording

A new recording from conductor Dr. Deanna Joseph, Associate Professor, Director of Choral Activities and the Georgia State University Singers is refreshing five lesser-known Shaker tunes for new audiences on “Heavenly Display.” The Shakers, also known as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Coming, were prolific composers, writing more than 10,000 songs meant only for the human voice. For more visit here:

https://news.gsu.edu/2020/02/17/heavenly-display-recording/

The album is available on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/1aDLIDdXNwlok9zFen4rG5