Greenwich (Sacred Harp 183) shape note singing

[sflorman]

@origamimadness A lot of churches don't even have hymnal arrangements in 4-part harmony anymore, and a lot of "sacred" music was written in the 1970s and sounds better around a campfire with a guitar, or at a social justice rally. That's OK if that's your thing, but shape note music is old-time worship music at full voice from the heart, and it's very moving.

[JoeyRace01]

Shape Note singing it's just so beautiful.

[MoyerMusic]

Thank you! Your response was very helpful.

[MoyerMusic]

Nice video. Was it intentional to sing a whole-step between all the 5ths and 6ths? They are supposed to half-steps.

[PLBrayfield]

@MoyerMusic Yes, it was intentional. Many Sacred Harp songsin a 'minor mode' use the Dorian scale which raises the 6th tone of the scale by a half-step. Singers and groups of singers vary in whether they do or do not use this scale for some or all minor mode songs. Some singers always use the 'natural minor.' And I think it's safe to say that most traditional singers 'just do it' the way the older singers did it, and do not even think about music theory, much less discuss it.

[buenamb]

Sacred Harp is sung acapella in the minor, and the singers usually form a circle. Shaped note singing is usually sung with piano, using the 7-note scale. The syllables are Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti. Singing conventions are held frequently to sing the new songs from new songbooks that are published annually, some are published twice each year. Sight-singing is a must because the songbooks change so frequently. The shaped note system is perfect for sight-singing the 4-part harmony songs.

[PLBrayfield]

@buenamb Any music written in shape (or shaped) notes can be called shape note music. Sacred Harp is one type, so-called because its the name of the book we sing from; sung a capella in a 'hollow square' with leader in the center. It is written using only 4 shapes, but the same 7-tone scale we all know. And yes, the shape note system makes sight reading easier.

[PLBrayfield]

@buenamb Not all Sacred Harp songs are in a minor mode. But yes, LOT more Sacred Harp songs are minor compared to those in mainstream hymnbooks and other types of gospel or shape note singing.

[origamimadness]

@PLBrayfield This is because most hymnbooks have been selected and reharmonized to fit late-romantic-era notions about chord structure and voice leading; this makes it easier to sight read during a service, but degrades the musical diversity of the repertoire. It also makes a lot of people think they hate sacred music because they've gotten tired of the conventional hymnal writing style-- a shame, really.

[venus19000]

@buenamb Actually, Sacred Harp uses a 4 note solfege system, not a 7 note system, and there are as many songs in the major keys as in minor ones. In the major key, the scale goes: fa so la fa so la mi fa. The books don't change very frequently at all. The last re-publication of the Denson Sacred Harp was in 1991, with few changes. At most, some verses that aren't commonly sung are removed. This music was created to teach people to sight read, so sight reading ability is not at all needed.

[ams1230]

@buenamb Minor correction: the 7-note scale is used but the only solfege syllables used in shape-note are Fa, Sol, La, and Mi

[ams1230]

@buenamb great video!

[ToryAnarchist]

This sort of reminds me of the style of chant which you can hear if you look here on youtube for Ensemble Organum's Tantum Ergo (sorry, but the comment box doesn't allow me to post the link). It is also very powerful.

[andreagiuseppe]

wow i was watching this and thinking i need to find someplace around here where i can do that and then i read the description and they live in the same area as i do.

[Grisbi6]

If all church services featured this kind of singing, attendance would triple. People like me would come to church.

[PLBrayfield]

@Grisbi6 Well, at these shape note singings, virtually everyone who comes, comes on purpose to sing. I'm not sure attendance at church would triple, if people knew they would be expected to sing, not just listen to the choir! What do you think?

[wisniewz]

@Grisbi6 church or Christ is a capella 4 part harmony, like this. the only real difference is that they don't sing the note name before the lyrics.

[totalswim]

Love the sound, reaches right in - but can't quite hear the words being sung - what are they?

[PLBrayfield]

@totalswim Here are the words, by Isaac Watts (1719):

Lord, what a thoughtless wretch was I/

To mourn, and murmur and repine,/

To see the wicked placed on high/

In pride and robes of honor shine./

But oh, their end, their dreadful end,/

Thy sanctuary taught me so/

On slippery slopes I see them stand,/

And fiery billows roll below.

[totalswim]

@PLBrayfield Thanks - Isaac Watts just said it as it was didn't he!

[gomerismyhero]

@PLBrayfield

Beautiful lyrics. "Their foot shall slide in due time".

[actorben]

I've done shape note singing in a number of different theatrical productions I was in. What it lacks in pitch, it makes up for in pure POWER!!

[PLBrayfield]

@actorben Well, I would say that when done by experienced shape note singers,as here, for example, it lacks nothing in pitch. Or power, either.

[TheRealmsOfGold]

Some interesting comments here! In one of my choral conducting classes we discussed the widely-held (but not entirely correct) view that vibrato is the natural result of healthy singing. My professor contended that it comes from a properly relaxed vocal mechanism, but that you can easily turn it on and off—audible whenever a professional group sings early music. We did a lot of early music at that university, and even some modern interpretations of shape-note stuff. (Check out Abbie Betinis.)

[lquisp]

Absolutely powerful!!!

[Rcksaltnnails]

When you have such a raw, and powerful voice as this, each one building on the other, and each doing a part different from the other, you have no need for instrumentation. This is both primative & crude and amazing and complicated. Just proves taht you do not need 10k worth of instruments, 100K worth of studios, and million dollar contract singers to have moving music. I must now go and allow my goosebumps to settle!

[singer7308]

In my college choir, we just received a piece like this, and we still can't manage to sound as unrefined as we need to. This really does sound amazing!

[PLBrayfield]

Just goes to show how musical training ruins your ability to sing ;). Well, I mean, makes it hard to sound like an authentic shape-note singer. It helps if you go to a few singings and sing with the people who sing this way. Really, a liberating experience! You just throw yourself into it and the song takes over.

[colibri232003]

Lose the vibrato.

[PLBrayfield]

True, Sacred Harp singing is traditionally 'sans vibrato.' Never having cultivated a vibrato myself, I have no idea whether it's hard to 'lose' once you've 'gained it'! However, if you attend one of these singings, no one will screen you in or out on basis of vibrato or any other basis. Being among more authentic singers may help the vibrato-challenged to shed this for the time being and get back to 'raw.' I know some singers who can sing both ways.

[amadeo800]

i missed Greenwich...back in Greece now...:(

[hedleyclive]

Wonderfull stuff. Does'nt it remind of Russian music or even African, anything that comes from deep within the human heart & spirit? Surely music is the greatest of all the Arts?

[violadefacto]

Thank you for posting this video. This is such a powerful form of music; I can't hear it without getting chills.

[kosimpson]

my sentiments exactly

[Arky83mi]

Boston Camerata did a GREAT version of this hymn...truly haunting to hear!

[PLBrayfield]

Fine. But in my book, nothing can surpass the old-fashioned, unvarnished sound of authentic Sacred Harp singing by ordinary folk singing not for an audience, but for love of the communal/spiritual experience.

[writer47]

For those who have not experienced this first-hand, it is astonishing.

[kcnccarolina]

Shape note, lost here, have to do research, taking voice lessons, would this help on normal karaoke songs? Saw mention of this on Jack White's Wayfaring Stranger, where he does sound sort of monotone or mountain like.

[alyr]

who is leading?

[PLBrayfield]

Sorry - I don't know. I was focused on the songs and the social context, not the names of individuals. Perhaps someone who views this will be able to give you this information.

[alyr]

totally understandable- but he's quite dynamic! thanks for sharing, by the way!

[mudws]

This is John Fink of Kalamazoo, who was introduced to the Sacred Harp in Ann Arbor during the 1970s. A very spirited leader, who usually leads Mear at Goshen.

[PeaceChaser]

Kalamazoo?! Can you find sacred harp in Michigan?? I MUST attend one.

[prolifegal]

This is so beautiful! Raw, truly human music that will live till the end of the world. I'm going to try to find a CD of shape note or Sacred Harp music on amazon or something.

[PLBrayfield]

I couldn't agree with you more about this music. Several CD's are available from local groups of singers. You can find this kind of information on the national website, fasola dot org where it also lists where all-day singings take place, contact information, historical background and other good stuff. Check it out! You may find what you want.

[Fanofrealtalent]

Please excuse my ignorance of the music as I have just dicovered it. Please tell me more!!!

[PLBrayfield]

Gladly! First, look at the youtube posting, Awake My Soul. This gives a little background on this traditional shape note singing, its history as an American folk tradition. The Sacred Harp is a book of shape note songs first published in 1844. Some say the 'sacred harp' means the human voice. This type of group singing was common on the frontier in the early 1800's; the tradition has continued unbroken in parts of the south.

[PLBrayfield]

To continue: Currently there are Sacred Harp singers nationwide. Many groups hold singing conventions every year, and often people travel long distances to be part. This video was made at the 20th annual convention at Goshen Indiana. In addition to Indiana and Michigan, singers from Illinois, Alabama, Texas, California, and Canada were there, all singing together all day! (More)

[PLBrayfield]

Songs are in 3 or 4-part harmony; singers sit in a 'hollow square' with one part to each side and leader in the center. They are not a choir nor are they singing for a audience. All who wish to call a song are given a turn to stand in the center and 'lead,' which most commonly means simply beating the time. everyone invited to share. Many singers have no formal musical training. They read the songs by the shape note method. This is a 'grassroots' folk tradition.

[PLBrayfield]

I have posted several videos from shape note singings I have participated in this year. Given the almost random make-up of the group at any one singing (and my inexpensive camera) the quality of the sound in my videos varies from poor to much better ;) You can search youtube using search terms shape note and Sacred Harp if you want to see more.

[PFTrumbore]

Thanks for posting these.  My daughter and I were at both Goshen and Kalamazoo this year and are looking forward to the singing in London, Ontario this weekend. Perhaps we will see you there.

[jpksilversand]

This is a beautiful rendition of 183, with the minor sound characteristic of Sacred Harp singing, with its elevated sixth scale degree pefectly evident -- though I certainly wouldn't describe the leader's dramatic movements as 'authentic.'

[PLBrayfield]

You're probably right about that. Most of the leaders I have seen are pretty restrained, though I have seen a few leaders from the south (presumably 'authentic') walk around or even seem to do a little dance-like step in place as they lead. (Authentic or not, this is powerful for me.)

[jpksilversand]

Yes. This is definitely a powerful lesson.

[bangwezl]

Some folks get 'the walks' when they are preaching, testifying, or singing. I would imagine it helps keep time, and believe it or not, helps focus your mind.