Alan Lomax on the Sacred Harp (1982)

Alan Lomax, with Phil Summerlin and Buell Cobb, discusses the emotional, historical, and musicological dimensions of Sacred Harp. Lomax sees shape-note singing as characteristically American, places it in a global multi-melodic choral context, and predicts its increasing popularity. Shot at the Holly Springs Sacred Harp Convention, Holly Springs, Georgia, June 6, 1982. For more information about the American Patchwork filmwork, Alan Lomax, and his collections, visit http://culturalequity.org. [03.01.06]

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sacred Harp
• shape note
• ethnomusicology
• American Patchwork
• Alan Lomax

[AKDiamond157]

Jeez there are some negative people commenting on this clip. Just be grateful for this remarkable collection of material.

[repose1983]

Lomax was an interesting guy who did epic work, but what's up w/the nerdy haircut?

[naimkarakand]

well, Java has more and older four-square songs than Northwest Europe. What does it matter?

[ejohnsonious01]

@muldoonspicnic

Yeah- this kind of thing is always the conundrum with Lomax. he found and explored and brought into American and world memory so much, but he could never get out of the way of what he found.

[BlackFriarInSC]

While this is interesting, I think it sucks the soul right out of Sacred Harp singing, something that be experienced more and analyzed less. I say this from the point of view of an avid singer who considers himself an atheist, so it is not necessarily a religious spirit that I'm talking about. Certainly, to many SH singers these songs are deeply spiritual. But for others there is a palpable power in the music, a connection with both the past and the present that stirs even heathen souls.

[muldoonspicnic]

With great respect to Alan Lomax, one might wish he had drawn out his companions and made this a conversation rather than a rambling lecture, and especially that he'd explored Phil Summerlin's interesting and prescient point about whether the in gaining greater acceptance the music will be "taken over somewhat".

Thanks for posting all this wonderful material and keep up the good work.

[cherwhit]

This looks like the cemetery at Holly Springs PBC. If so, they are sitting on the raised graves of my great grandparents. Cool.

[dswarens]

Well said! Sing On...

[ronnyjrw1]

Absolutely fascinating. What an erudite and articulate man!