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Music Scripted Specially for Ceremony
by Megan Brand
Shaped notes from the past
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The musical prelude to the inauguration included festive works of varied styles and traditions, but it ended on a poignantly Appalachian note - an old "shaped note" hymn tune arranged specially for the occasion by J. Jerome Williams, Mars Hill class of 1958.
The shaped note tradition goes back to 18th Century hymnals in which the shape of the printed note, as well as its position on the staff, indicated pitch. Williams' choice, "Pisgah," from an early collection called The Sacred Harp, begins with the line, "When I can read my title clear, to mansions in the skies." The strict but syncopated rhythm and slightly minor tones would have been familiar to the Mars Hill community of 1856.
Williams was drum major at Mars Hill when it was a Junior College. After his two years here, he advanced to Eastern Carolina and then Appalachian State to earn bachelor's degrees in science and in art. He was the band and choral director of Hildebran High School in Burke County for ten years. Afterwards, he became the choral director of East Burke High School for twenty more years and was appointed to a position in the central staff of Burke. He was also teacher of the year in 1982-83.
Williams has written a number of pieces of musical literature. The most successful was "A Parting Blessing" which contains the lyrics of the Irish blessing "May the road rise to meet you…". He says that almost 200,000 copies have been sold, quite an honor in the world of choral music.
"Pisgah" is one of his favorite hymns. He wrote the choral arrangement with the Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers in mind, Mars Hill College's elite choral group.
"Mars Hill College is my home," he says. "It has always been a good place for me." He has had forty-two years of continuing contact with the college in many roles, including adjunct professor and head of the Mars Hill Choral Festival.
Another item on the music program with a special Mars Hill connection was the processional, "Personent Hodie," sung by the College Choir and the Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers combined. The theme and the Latin text date from the 15th Century, but the arrangement was done by Lara Hoggard, a retired University of North Carolina professor.
According to Music Department Chairman Joel Reed, Hoggard gave the college a manuscript version of the arrangement many years before he actually published it. It has been performed at the college on a number of festive occasions, and Hoggard himself has been a friend of the college for many years.
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