We just called it "lining it out". The song leader would line out the song as explained by the others posting. Thank you for posting this. Sadly, this style of singing is almost gone. There are churches who still sing this way, but mostly this plaintive sound is gone.
This most definitely is Ralph Stanley on lead vocals. I was born in Hazard, Ky and spent many childhood days in and around that area. Perry County and Leslie County. Bluegrass Gospel is etched in my soul.
I first heard this sung by Andreas Scholl in a more classical arrangement. I didn't even realize it was a spiritual. His is beautiful, this is beautiful! Great music. I love discovering music that sounds so amazing in very different styles.
I apologize for the broadness of my statement about line singing. I realize my statement, "This form of singing was formed because back in those days most people in the congregation could not read." was too broad of a statement and that some old regular and primitive baptist churches in those days could read. How ever, this statement is true in which the churches my family grew up in, in KY and WV. I should have explained this when commenting on the video and apologize.
This type of singing is called "line singing". It is very common in Old Regular (hard shell) and Primitive Baptist to hear line singing in their churches, for they do not allow musical instruments in there church. This form of singing was formed because back in those days most people in the congregation could not read. One person who could read would recite a "line" of lyrics and the congregation would repeat the song leader.
P.S. This is most defiantly not Dr. Ralph Stanley.
@pickingmybajno I don't know how accurate this statement is, "This form of singing was formed because back in those days most people in the congregation could not read." Do you have a source for that? It is my understanding that most folks could read their Bibles, and many would even attend Shape Note singing schools at around that same time. I don't believe your statement is correct, I could be wrong, but I'd like to see a source posted for your info.
@pickingmybanjo It is more likely the congregations had one or only a few hymnals to read from. The leader would sing the first verse and the others would repeat it.
@pickingmybajno no sir it was not because most of the congregation could not read... it was more common to only have one songbook in the entire church... i have done my research... my source is the history of the salem primitive baptist church in texas
@TheDuckii318 Your research is from 1 church. My resource came from several churches that my parents and grandparents grew up in while in the hills of Kentucky and West Virginia. Who all say it was because most of the people in the congregation could not read very well. Although your statement about not having very many hymnals is true, mine is as well ;)
P.S. The basic foundation of line singing actually originated from Gaelic Psalm singing from the Scottish Highlands.
A beautiful song!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has alot of meaning!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD gave this old regular baptist singer the spiritual voice to sing this song!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it.
@relilly007 Sorry folks for not posting the source. This song was found on the Indian Bottom Association Of The Old Regular Baptist Church website. You can google for more tunes. I asked permission before using. It does sound a lot like Stanley.
We just called it "lining it out". The song leader would line out the song as explained by the others posting. Thank you for posting this. Sadly, this style of singing is almost gone. There are churches who still sing this way, but mostly this plaintive sound is gone.
mountainspring1703 1 day ago
This most definitely is Ralph Stanley on lead vocals. I was born in Hazard, Ky and spent many childhood days in and around that area. Perry County and Leslie County. Bluegrass Gospel is etched in my soul.
hazardwithlove 2 months ago
I first heard this sung by Andreas Scholl in a more classical arrangement. I didn't even realize it was a spiritual. His is beautiful, this is beautiful! Great music. I love discovering music that sounds so amazing in very different styles.
aarond53 2 months ago
I apologize for the broadness of my statement about line singing. I realize my statement, "This form of singing was formed because back in those days most people in the congregation could not read." was too broad of a statement and that some old regular and primitive baptist churches in those days could read. How ever, this statement is true in which the churches my family grew up in, in KY and WV. I should have explained this when commenting on the video and apologize.
pickingmybajno 4 months ago
fabulous ! i'm onboard.
lampton88 7 months ago
This type of singing is called "line singing". It is very common in Old Regular (hard shell) and Primitive Baptist to hear line singing in their churches, for they do not allow musical instruments in there church. This form of singing was formed because back in those days most people in the congregation could not read. One person who could read would recite a "line" of lyrics and the congregation would repeat the song leader.
P.S. This is most defiantly not Dr. Ralph Stanley.
pickingmybajno 8 months ago
@pickingmybajno I don't know how accurate this statement is, "This form of singing was formed because back in those days most people in the congregation could not read." Do you have a source for that? It is my understanding that most folks could read their Bibles, and many would even attend Shape Note singing schools at around that same time. I don't believe your statement is correct, I could be wrong, but I'd like to see a source posted for your info.
oldsoulify 8 months ago
@pickingmybanjo It is more likely the congregations had one or only a few hymnals to read from. The leader would sing the first verse and the others would repeat it.
oldsoulify 8 months ago
@pickingmybajno no sir it was not because most of the congregation could not read... it was more common to only have one songbook in the entire church... i have done my research... my source is the history of the salem primitive baptist church in texas
TheDuckii318 5 months ago
@TheDuckii318 Your research is from 1 church. My resource came from several churches that my parents and grandparents grew up in while in the hills of Kentucky and West Virginia. Who all say it was because most of the people in the congregation could not read very well. Although your statement about not having very many hymnals is true, mine is as well ;)
P.S. The basic foundation of line singing actually originated from Gaelic Psalm singing from the Scottish Highlands.
pickingmybajno 4 months ago
I doubt it was Stanely he is Primitive Baptist(Absoluter) not Old Regular, but both do sound pretty similar
jskavanagh1 9 months ago
A beautiful song!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has alot of meaning!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD gave this old regular baptist singer the spiritual voice to sing this song!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it.
TheKatie2463 9 months ago
This awsome its favorite spiritual around Appalachia. I love this version.
jazz31162 10 months ago
i dont know where it was recorded, but i think it might be Ralph Stanley on lead vocals.
relilly007 1 year ago
@relilly007 Sorry folks for not posting the source. This song was found on the Indian Bottom Association Of The Old Regular Baptist Church website. You can google for more tunes. I asked permission before using. It does sound a lot like Stanley.
oldsoulify 1 year ago
Way down deep.
amac1010 1 year ago
Beautiful singing. Do you by chance know where this song was recorded?
electricman1951 1 year ago