Shape Note Books, Recordings, and Websites

Websites · Tunebooks · Minutes Book · Recordings · Documentary · How-to guides · Museum exhibits

Websites

The major websites for shape note information are the Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association's website fasola.org and Prof. Warren Steel's Sacred Harp singing site. The latter includes Steven Sabol's resource guide, practically a site in itself.

Fasola.org hosts two e-mail lists for shape note enthusiasts. See their mailing list information page to find out how to subscribe.

Christian Harmony information can be found at christianharmony.org.

Tunebooks

The Sacred Harp was first published in 1844. Three descendants of that book are sung from regularly in Georgia: The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition (a.k.a. the Denson book), the 2000 B. F. White Sacred Harp (a.k.a. the Cooper book), and the 1911 J. L. White revision, recently reprinted. Other shape note books used in the state include the seven-shape Christian Harmony ("Alabama" Deason-Parris revision), the rare Social Harp, and the Eclectic Harmony collections. The newest book is The Georgian Harmony, a collection of work by shape-note composer Raymond Hamrick of Macon, Georgia.

For loads of information on tunebooks and how to order them, see Steven Sabol's tunebooks page. Contact John Plunkett, bildad12 -at- hotmail.com, to order the J. L. White revision or the Georgian Harmony. You can usually buy books at a singing.

The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition is published by the Sacred Harp Publishing Company in Carrollton, GA.

Minutes Book

The Sacred Harp minutes book is an annual reference which contains a worldwide directory of this year's singings, minutes of last year's singings, and names and addresses of singers. The books are paid for by the money collected at singings and are sent to the secretary of the singing for distribution. At a singing, talk to the person who is writing down leaders' names and song numbers. Chances are she or he has copies of the minutes book to give away.

The list of upcoming singings from the minutes book can be viewed easily at Warren Steele's directory. The minutes book is also downloadable from www.fasola.org/minutes/.

Recordings

For Sacred Harp CDs, see Morning Trumpet Recordings. These recordings are also available from Richard DeLong at singings.

Documentary Film

Matt and Erica Hinton recently completed "Awake, My Soul," the first feature-length documentary film about the Sacred Harp tradition. This documentary was a 7-year effort, filmed at many singings. See the website at awakemysoul.com

How-to guides

Lisa Grayson has written a booklet titled A Beginner's Guide to Shape Note Singing (click for ordering info) and has condensed it to make a downloadable flyer in PDF format titled "First Time at a Sacred Harp Singing?"

Warren Steel has posted the following how-to articles and more.

• Guide to leading Sacred Harp music by Ginnie Ely
• Leading in four beats to the measure by Ginnie Ely
• How to organize a Sacred Harp convention by Ginnie Ely
• Front-bench tenor at Sacred Harp conventions by Ginnie Ely
• A plea for participation by Ginnie Ely
• Arranging Committee Tips by Linton Ballinger

Museum exhibits in Georgia

The Sacred Harp Museum in Carrollton houses a collection of songbooks, recordings, articles, and memorabilia. It is usually open following a nearby singing. The publishing company website gives directions.

The Atlanta History Center includes shape note singing in its folklife exhibition. There is a listening chapel where you can hear a loop of recordings from about a dozen folk traditions, including one 4-shape tune (Present Joys) and one 7-shape tune. Facing the entrance to the chapel is a case displaying a photo of Hugh McGraw leading at a 1989 West Georgia singing and copies of 1911 and 1991 Sacred Harps and a Christian Harmony. (See if you can spot a Sacred Harp in the Civil War gallery, too.) Though the shape note display is small, the museum as a whole is well worth a visit.

There is a Sacred Harp display at the Okefenokee Heritage Center in Waycross. It gives the history of Sacred Harp in the area. If you are interested in visiting it, contact the Okefenokee Heritage Center.

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Last updated March 3, 2008. Additions, corrections, comments, or questions? Send us an email