I'll Keep On Singing - The Southern Gospel Convention Tradition - Shape Note Singing History

All credits for this video go to Middle Tennessee State University.
I'LL KEEP ON SINGING is a comprehensive documentary of the contemporary southern gospel convention tradition, an amateur Christian music-making and educational tradition that developed in rural America following the Civil War. It was a continuation of, and eventually displaced in popularity, the four-shape-notation sacred music tradition that flourished prior to the Civil War (known by many today as the Sacred Harp tradition). Gospel convention music is written in a later, more-popular musical style, employs seven-shape notation, and uses instrumental accompaniment - in particular stride piano. The tradition’s songwriters have produced many excellent songs over the years (“I’ll Fly Away” being the best-known), and professional southern gospel developed from it in the 1950s and ‘60s as amateur activity declined.
Southern gospel convention singers today generally live in an arc running from West Virginia south and west to Texas. Most singers encounter the music in their home churches - mostly white, Protestant, evangelical Christian churches in small towns and rural areas - and then reinforce that contact with instruction at the many singing schools supported by the tradition. The documentary includes sections on convention singing, convention music, the use of this music in churches, the connections with professional southern gospel, singing schools, songwriting, convention piano, dinner-on-the-grounds, and the current state of the tradition.

[@dirdam122007]

I grew up going to singing school every year, singing conventions, gospel quartets, etc. My family enjoys singing whenever we are together. We also have a Sacred Harp Singing at our church the 1st Sunday in June each year. I am in South Alabama ❤️
I enjoyed your video.

[@uriahpeep9008]

In this video, you see Tracey Phillips (daughter of Eloise Phillips) who is the very epitome of the gospel/convention style of piano playing. Tracey was taught by her mother Eloise, who herself was a gospel/convention pianist, singer, and songwriter. Eloise was also the teacher of Stan Whitmire, who is a world-class pianist of both gospel, classical and sacred genres. This video is a showcase of the many great talents of this music genre. The subject of the decline of the gospel/convention style of music was also addressed in the video. In my opinion, the greatest contributor to this decline has been the acceptance and use of contemporary music, especially in the baptist and Pentecostal churches in the southern part of the nation.

[@doublejfarmshomestead4501]

I’m so glad you uploaded this ! Miss you bro!

[@Leamichellefan2244]

I know this is about Southern Gospel singing, but when they started talking about the scale, the Donray me, and so on is it wrong that the first thing that popped into my head was that song from the sound of music the Maria sings to the kids when she’s given them the first singing lesson oh, and I’m sorry about the dictation mistakes. I hope you can still understand what I’m asking.

[@wenty4975]

This is extremely interesting to me. I have a large collection of Stamps- Baxter song books and I really enjoy shape note singing.

[@wenty4975]

Does anyone know how to navigate the copyright laws around copying and performing songs from the old Stamps-Baxter books?

[@evanmcgurrin]

It depends on how old the books are, different books are held by different companies. There's a handy list here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamps-Baxter_Music_Company#Copyrights

[@roxygiddens9898]

Loved seeing and hearing my friend who has now gone onto Heaven, Eloise Phillips! Miss her greatly!♥️🎼🎶🎵