singers or fingers?

One of my joys is directing an ensemble which presents early American hymns, often in German and unison. Here's the group eight years ago at a restored meetinghouse close to Kitchener, Ontario. The name of the group is Foresingers, the Anglicizing of a German word, not in an English dictionary. The point? Someone at a future venue apologized for letting the spell checker change our esteemed name to forefingers. Funny, not?

evening singing martyr hymns

With a soft rain falling on Elizabethtown last evening, I led the Foresingers in a program at a conference on the Martyr's Mirror. After a meal we took the stage at 7:00. Around the table, clockwise starting with closest: David Sauder, Patricia Martin, Lynn Sommer, Sarah Schrock, me, and Joel Alderfer. On the stage notice other two singers: Leon Miller, third from left and Stephanie Horst, second from right.

historic singing

Sunday afternoon two of my choirs, Table Singers and Foresingers, sang at the Historical Society's 50th anniversary event along the banks of the Millstream where it crosses Rte. 30. it was too hot to require costumes, but I did wear my hat. Carl Hess and David Sauder beside me. Dennis Kauffman almost hidden. Jessica and Sarah did deck out completely for the Foresingers set. But, below, the Table Singers just tried to be comfortable in 90 degrees. Photos by Edie Hess.

1950s salute includes my group

Yesterday the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society celebrated its 50th anniversary with an outside event. Both of my choirs, Foresingers and Table Singers, presented half-hour sets. Alongside the tent was a display of 1950s autos, including an Avanti which I had never seen. Avanti was the top-of-the-line Studebaker sports toy. You see what was so worldly about the world in that Cold War era. You can see why deciding to paint your bumpers black had some traction in those days.