The little Lieder Sammlung (Song Collection) was a well used and loved songbook. Unlike most other Amish communities who used it mostly for the youth Sunday evening hymn singings, our community also used them as their church songbooks, and our schools used them once a week on our German days.
I got my first one when I was seven and beginning to be able to read German.
I got a new one around my 16th birthday and the time I started attending the Sunday hymn singings. As was tradition in some communities, I added a little more than just my name inside the front cover. Sad how time makes the colors of the artwork fade while at the same time yellows the pages.
Every hymn singing started off with the song on page 227 and after two hours of singing it would end with one of the boys announcing page 312.
After the song was over the boys would tuck their songbooks into a pocket in their vest and head outside to hitch their horses to the buggies, while the girls visited for a little while before heading outside to wait for their ride to drive up. It was a bit challenging to be able to tell all the horse and buggies apart in the dark, but I was one of the lucky girls who managed to always make it onto the right buggy.
The days of transporting it in the pocket of my dress on the way to and from the singings are over, but the memories remain, and every once in a while I'll sing the songs again.
Your illustration is beautiful. :) You're a very talented lady. :) Have a great weekend and God bless. :)
ReplyDeleteThank-you! Hope you have a very nice weekend as well.
DeleteYour illustration is beautiful. :) You're a very talented lady. :) Have a great weekend and God bless. :)
ReplyDeleteThe songs of my youth group days come back to me now and again. I always loved singing and for a time, sang with a small group of teens and young adults from our church. We managed to "book" a couple of Vacation Bible Schools and our own congregation listened to us as well. We were good, not great.. but we (as you) sang for God's glory, not our own and were blessed for it!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like fun! I have always loved singing.
DeleteBeautiful songbook and sweet memories. Singing with others always brings me great joy.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
I love singing too!
DeleteI wish I could go back for a visit and sit in on the Sunday evening singing.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't you? We've been to a singing since we left, at LV's parents.
DeleteFaded colors and yellowed pages means vintage...special in its own way. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteI attended an Amish School Christmas program last year. At song time every one pulled a songbook out of their pocket, the women must have deep pockets in their dresses which is smart. I thought then, and you reminded me to think now how great it would be for all clothes, for all people, to have a pocket with a song book. Then the heart could be nourished in any circumstance. I'll take time to sing today. Thanks.
I haven't been to an Amish school program in a long time! I had forgotten how we used to take songbooks along to sing afterwards.
DeleteYour photo is beautifully done but it can't top the artwork inside the book. Oh my is that beautiful. Your talent is amazing!
ReplyDeleteWell, thank-you!
DeleteI have to agree, your artwork is beautiful! But, although I do have many favorite hymns, I can't imagine singing the same one for two hours! I'd think even God Himself would get tired of listening.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine singing the same song for two hours either. :) Every singing started with the same song every time, and likewise ended with the same one, but there were many songs between those two.
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