Indeed, Dayton was a center of shape note singing. My grandfather Robert R.
Kerns learned it in the 1890s when he was a student at Shenandoah Collegiate
Institute in Dayton (now Shenandoah University in Winchester). He later
taught it to his students. We used to spend every New Years Day at Weaver's
Mennonite Church for an all-day singing of shape note music (1930s and
1940s). The church was always packed-- standing room only. I still have my
copy of the Harmonia Sacra hymnal. Wonderful vocal music-- no instruments.
In 1988, I checked with Weaver's to see if the singings were still held. The
answer was NO, but was told of a small group that still meets on New Year's
Day in Rockingham County.

Wilmer L. Kerns

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Randy Cabell
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 10:45 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Shaped Notes

Belief it or not, the Valley of Virginia was about as close as you can come
to the Shape Note Capital of the World.  Dayton.  I have some of the old
books.

The method was intended as a learning aid to people who were uncshooled in
music.  And I guess worked since it was all so popular.  There is a local
group who sings a lot, and I think there is an active national organization.

The music has a very strong regular beat to it.  Purists do not use any
tuning devices to give the pitch, and no accompaniment.  The person who
leads hums a note, then typically everybody sings through the song on the
Italian names of the notes.  e.g.  If they were singing My Country Tis of
Thee, they would start of as:

DO DO RA TI DO RA

Randy

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