CULTURAL EVENTS IN MARSHALL COUNTY

BIG SINGING  

Big Singing is held on the last Sunday in April of each year in the courtroom of the Court House. It is an all day event with singing beginning in the morning and continuing after the lunch break. This type of music dates back to the Elizabethan period and is now unique to Benton, Kentucky. It is based on an 1835 songbook authored by William Walker for use in his "singing school". Each note is characterized by a distinctive geometric shape--triangle, circle, square, and diamond sometimes known as fa, sol, la and me. The singers take turns directing the singing.