Shape Note singing, shaped note, Sacred Harp, NC Sacred Harp Singing Convention, Cary NC, Awake my soul, PBS
I don’t remember when I first heard shape note singing, but it’s haunting harmony sounds first grabbed my attention on NC public tv years ago. It is on my must hear list for live music. I don’t know that much about shape note music, also referred to as shaped note and sacred harp music, but apparently it’s roots go back hundreds of years in american religious music.
The North Carolina Sacred Harp Singing Convention will be held at the Page-Walker Art and History Center in Cary NC on March 1 2008. The event is free from 9:30 AM – 4 PM. They have regular meetings and you can learn more about them at:
Here is a description of shape note singing taken from their website:
“What is Shape Note Music?
It is something anyone can do.
It is sung a cappella (without instrumental accompaniment) in three or four parts.
It uses shaped note heads to indicate intervals between notes.
It is participatory music, not performance music. Singers face each other in a hollow square and take turns leading songs.
It has a distinctive sound: modal, open chords, octave doubling, unusual harmonies.
It is usually sung at full volume in an exuberant outpouring of sound and feeling.”
A great documentary about shape note music has been produced. Here is an excerpt from their website:
“Here’s director Matt Hinton’s interview that aired on Bob Edward’s Weekend on December 8. The complete interview (40 minutes) is also available through Bob Edward’s website http://www.bobedwardsradio.com/blog/.
Awake, My Soul is featured in the January 28 2008 TIME
Magazine. Click here to view
We’re happy to announce that “Awake, My Soul” will be airing across the country on PBS stations starting in late November. If you want to see it, please contact your local PBS station and request that they air it. http://www.pbs.org/stationfinder. Make it known to the programming department that it is available through APT. The following are the air dates we know about so far:”
To find out more information on shape note singing and to hear some of the best, visit their site at:
Shape note singing is being performed all over the US. Here are some more examples from YouTube:
