Songs of Appalachia: Shape note singing

All ages and walks of life are drawn to melody and rhythm of shape note singing at Cedar Bluff Baptist Church in Knoxville. This video shows a recent monthly meeting of the East Tennessee Convention, performing songs in shape note.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Appalachia
• Tennessee
• Knoxville

[jojo216]

this type of singing is much prettier without the piano accompaniment

[chickenetti]

I agree shape note singing is much more striking without accompaniment, and if you were going for a purist/historical approach, it would be out of place, but remember all music we have today is modified, borrowed, and developed from other music, so I wouldn't be too critical if they have modified the practice to their own uses.

[piano1828]

I love it! I play a piano in church, for the church. The guy does a really good job with the piano. It makes the so music so much better to have an accompaniment. I can't say enough about the whole congregation and the way the piano is played. I could watch it over and over again.

[Christophersmith0711]

SHAPED NOTE singing and Sacred Harp singing are two COMPLETELY different things. Get your facts straight,

[Christophersmith0711]

This music is SHAPED NOTE Gospel Music. The book is the 2008 Gospel Heritage Music's book titled "Journey

[chria3886]

@chickenetti I know this as Sacred Harp Singing and I totally agree with you that it is better without accompaniment, acapella is more effective.

[owlandtree]

@erfling1 "And of course the Sacred Harp stuff was heard fist by us hipsters" What?! Okay, Rainbow gatherings are for part timers needing seed visions; those are Hippies. Hipsters are trustafarian rich kids who worship the idea of "authenticity" and "natural" while keeping up with the latest expensive trends, paid for by dope they grew with their little kit from the store. Hipsters started no music, heard nothing "first". Sacred Harp has been around since the late 1800's. What a conformist.

[erfling1]

I'm guessing if the audio setup were better, like individual singers mic'd, the piano would sound just fine. I think it's just a mixing thing. And of course the Sacred Harp stuff was heard fist by us hipsters, with our ears overtuned to "authenticity"

[Flextones]

This kind of music requires a fine sense of musicianship. Your ear and your voice have to work in perfect tune. Light instrumental accompaniment is fine but it can be overdone where it interferes with the vocal frequencies.

[Aerohog1]

I don't like the sound of the piano with the singing. Is the piano using the full chromatic scale? If so, it like instruments in one key and singers in another.

[mountainclimber78]

loose the piano accompaniment; it will sound better.

[MarthaH605]

@hotwheelsp It's a different tradition, sometimes called New Book or Little Book (i.e., Stamps-Baxter). It's as valid in its way as Sacred Harp, and as much loved by its participants.