WHAT TO EXPECT AT A SACRED HARP SINGING
Anyone is welcome to walk in, find a seat, and try shape-note singing. You will find a book to borrow for the singing if you do not have your own. Beginners will be encouraged to sing. However, if you prefer, you can just listen. There is no pressure, and the atmosphere will be relaxed. While some shape note books include old-fashioned gospel hymns, the music in the most widely used book, the 1991 Sacred Harp, has an unfamiliar older sound.
The note heads are shaped according to their position on the scale: fa [triangle], sol [circle], la [rectangle], and mi [diamond]. It is customary to sing the shapes before singing the words of the song. The Sacred Harp uses just these four shapes. In the late 19th century some publishers introduced 7-shape notation to represent the familiar do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do system. It is completely acceptable to sing "la-la-la" instead of the shapes for however long it takes you to learn them.
Each of the four voice parts - treble, alto, tenor, and bass - is printed on a different line. The verses are printed wherever they fit. The melody is on the third line, which is sung by the tenors. Both men and women sing the tenor part, and anyone is welcome to sing any part. It takes some adjusting to get used to singing lyrics and notes in different places, but this comes with practice.
It is customary at Sacred Harp shape note singings to give each person a chance to choose a song and to lead a song. If you are not comfortable leading a song you have chosen, you may ask someone else to lead it for you. You may want to stand up in the center while someone else leads the song so that you can experience the full effects of the Sacred Harp harmonies from the best location. However, you do not need to stand in the center if you are not comfortable.
You will notice that the person leading the song and some of the other singers will be moving their arms to the rhythm of the song. This is optional, and even experienced shape note singers do not always move their arms. Rhythm and beat are very important in shape note singing, and using the arm to keep time helps to maintain the rhythmic nature of the music.
After the singing ends, there is a time for refreshments and for socializing with other singers. This is a time to get acquainted and to ask questions. Sacred Harp singers are a friendly bunch who love to meet new singers and to talk about shape note singing. If you want to purchase your own book at this time, you can do so. You can also put your name and contact information on a sign-up sheet if you wish to receive emails about future singings.
The note heads are shaped according to their position on the scale: fa [triangle], sol [circle], la [rectangle], and mi [diamond]. It is customary to sing the shapes before singing the words of the song. The Sacred Harp uses just these four shapes. In the late 19th century some publishers introduced 7-shape notation to represent the familiar do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do system. It is completely acceptable to sing "la-la-la" instead of the shapes for however long it takes you to learn them.
Each of the four voice parts - treble, alto, tenor, and bass - is printed on a different line. The verses are printed wherever they fit. The melody is on the third line, which is sung by the tenors. Both men and women sing the tenor part, and anyone is welcome to sing any part. It takes some adjusting to get used to singing lyrics and notes in different places, but this comes with practice.
It is customary at Sacred Harp shape note singings to give each person a chance to choose a song and to lead a song. If you are not comfortable leading a song you have chosen, you may ask someone else to lead it for you. You may want to stand up in the center while someone else leads the song so that you can experience the full effects of the Sacred Harp harmonies from the best location. However, you do not need to stand in the center if you are not comfortable.
You will notice that the person leading the song and some of the other singers will be moving their arms to the rhythm of the song. This is optional, and even experienced shape note singers do not always move their arms. Rhythm and beat are very important in shape note singing, and using the arm to keep time helps to maintain the rhythmic nature of the music.
After the singing ends, there is a time for refreshments and for socializing with other singers. This is a time to get acquainted and to ask questions. Sacred Harp singers are a friendly bunch who love to meet new singers and to talk about shape note singing. If you want to purchase your own book at this time, you can do so. You can also put your name and contact information on a sign-up sheet if you wish to receive emails about future singings.
To find out more about the history of Sacred Harp music, click here.
For lots more information on shape note singing, go to fasola.org.