Farther Along octet sings "Greenwich" an Early American Hymn

[ThankYouStFrancis]

I love this piece. And it is awesome--so very awesome--to "see" it performed by a contemporary group of real people. Thanks very, very much!

[fedinvest1530]

is there anyone else, other than these young men, who performs this kind of singing? anyone got any suggestions as to what i could listen to here on YouTube?

[CCRunnerman5]

@fedinvest1530

I spend most of my time on youtube listening to several different a capella groups, it's great for studying. You should check out a group called "on the rocks." It's an a capella group from University of Oregon. They're not the same style but they are an a capella group of guys and they are really good.

[sacredsinger47]

@fedinvest1530 This singing is called sacred harp, its a four part harmony using shape notes. Fa Sol La and Mi. look it up its soe great stuff, its sung all over america and in england, look it up in your area and you might find some groups who sing it! And these guys do a wonderful job of portraying it!

[actorben]

The, "echo chamber," makes all the difference!

[actorben]

Hey! Not bad!

[Roc1n]

This reminds me of Past life Melodies or Psudo Yoik. By the way absolutely spell bounding work you guys.

[fedinvest1530]

Is this what they call shape note singing?

[LeslyGillian]

@fedinvest1530

Yes. It's tune 183 in the hymn book The Sacred Harp (1991 edition).

[4ujack]

you guy could blend a lot better, listen to each other and quit trying to out-do each other

[LouTheGrotesque]

Gotta love that falsetto.

[LouTheGrotesque]

That is absolutely beautiful.

[kkallebb]

I already explained my remarks to PLBrayfield. He at least had the intelligence to understand what I was saying, even if he did not completely agree with me.

[bradbavarde]

These guys do a really good job, but it should not be confused with the Sacred Harp Tradition.  This is performance of an Early American Folk Hymn. Sacred Harp is not done for performance or a pleasing sound for our ears, it is to make a joyful noise to the Creator and fellowship with other singers. This example, however well done, is removed from the original intent of the Sacred Harp Tradition.

[AmosPressley]

Why in the world would bradbavarde get TWO thumbs downs? He is right!

[alansmisclass]

Two of the guys memorized the words. They don't need no stinkin' songbooks!

[neobass66]

Excellent Boys!!!How can I found this song? can you send me that? please!

[lwiggins7]

I LOVE this Sacred Harp song...good job guys. :)

[saxofoonie]

i love it!!!

[yakyakyakyakyak]

Now I know where all the good base singers are! A problem in many in community singings! C'mon guys with deep voices, this is how it can sound if you will just come along and sing!

[curtiswiens]

Mennonites have no problem finding good basses.

[AMPeveto]

This is one of my favorite Sacred Harp pieces! I agree with apodyterion: this is the best recording on YouTube I've heard. But they should also keep in mind that this type of music isn't meant to be sung perfectly polished--it's more about feeling and joy and sorrow than perfection. But I do like being able to hear the words. :) Great job on this one!

[PLBrayfield]

Yes,AMPeveto put it well. In fact, the people you see singing together in the shape-note postings on Youtube aren't mainly music majors, trained musicians, and certainly aren't performers. Their conventions consist of whoever comes singing together all day, with dinner on the grounds. Singers at a given convention often have come from several states for the chance to sing together in this way. It's a true folk tradition- not about impressing an audience, and certainly, not about 'perfection'.

[apodyterion]

Remember that the amateur shape note singers of today have taken up the practice later in life. The "amateurs" of the 19th century were bred to it from earliest childhood. Therefore they did it far better than the amateurs of today.

[PLBrayfield]

Okay, I hear you. Let's let it rest. Singing is better for one's spirit than arguing.:)

[apodyterion]

You guys are great. You are the only sacred-harp/shape-note singers on Youtube that don't sound like a bunch of alley cats being strangled. Your performance is beautiful and very moving!

[PLBrayfield]

I love this video too, it's posted among my favorites. But these are not sacred harp/shape note singers. I am posting a video response that will show authentic sacred harp/shape note singing. Everything about it is grassroots amateur - including the way it was recorded (an ordinary digital camera.) It's only fair that whoever reads your comment have a chance to see for themselves. Everyone to his own taste!

[PLBrayfield]

If my video response doesn't appear here, it can be viewed by going to my channel and watching 'Greenwich, Sacred Harp 183' that I posted yesterday.

PS - I really like these 'Farther Along' singers. I'm sure they'd be welcome at any Sacred Harp/shape note singing, to sing along with everyone else who showed up. More power to them.

[apodyterion]

They are as much sacred harp singers as your group. As mennonites they have probably been singing since the cradle, just like the original shape note singers of the 19th century. The "amateurs" of today have taken on the practice later in life, and so are not particularly authentic. However, I listened to your video, and I thought that your group was pretty good in comparison to most of the horrible shape not groups on Youtube.

[rpmartin1886]

Not that it's really important, but have you listened to the field recordings of authentic (i.e. born and bred into it, died in the wool) shape note singers by folks like Alan Lomax? Check it out and see if they sound any better than alley cats. But as it's already been pointed out, sounding clean is not the aim of this music. For what it's worth.

[kkallebb]

Yes, I have listened to recordings of real born-and-bred shape note singers and I greatly admire the singing. What I was complaining about was the ersatz amateur shape-note singers on Youtube, almost all of whom are unlistenable: out of tune, out of time, out of synch, terrible voice production, you name it.

[abe3443]

more videos! more sacred harp!

[PLBrayfield]

search youtube with the words sacred harp/shape note. You'll find a lot!

[DonMario112358]

great job upper voices!

[tinydancer666]

This gives me tingles! absolutely amazing