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Benton Big Sing Oral History Project

Project Summary

One of the oldest and most popular southern musical traditions is shape-note singing. Benton, Kentucky is the only known location where this style of singing is based primarily on William Walker's The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1854). Held in the Marshall County Courthouse on the fourth Sunday in May, the "Big Singing" has been an annual event since 1884. This series of interviews explores the practice of shape-note singing, its role in the lives of West Kentuckians and their descendants, and the tenuous longevity of the Big Singing.

Project Code

bbs

Project Keyword

Benton, Kentucky   The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion   William Walker   The Big Singing

Project LC Subject

Shape-note singing--Kentucky


Interviews in this Project (34 Total):

Interview Accession Number: 2021oh0281_bbs0001
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2021oh0282_bbs0002
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2021oh0283_bbs0003
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2021oh0284_bbs0004
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2021oh0285_bbs0005
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2021oh0286_bbs0006
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2021oh0287_bbs0007
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2021oh0288_bbs0008
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2021oh0289_bbs0009
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2021oh0290_bbs0010
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0670_bbs0011
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0671_bbs0012
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0672_bbs0013
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0673_bbs0014
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0674_bbs0015
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0675_bbs0016
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0676_bbs0017
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0677_bbs0018
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0678_bbs0019
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0679_bbs0020
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0680_bbs0021
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0681_bbs0022
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0682_bbs0023
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0683_bbs0024
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0684_bbs0025
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0685_bbs0026
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0686_bbs0027
Interviewer: Melissa Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0687_bbs0028
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0688_bbs0029
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0689_bbs0030
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0690_bbs0031
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0691_bbs0032
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0692_bbs0033
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access:

Interview Accession Number: 2023oh0693_bbs0034
Interviewer: Erin Fulton
Restrictions: No Restrictions
Access: