What is Sacred Harp music ?

For those who have never experienced this type of music -

It is something anyone can do, either to sing, or just to listen.

It is sung a cappella (ie, without instrumental accompaniment), usually in four part harmony.

It uses shaped note heads to indicate intervals between notes. The four shaped heads  each have a name - fa, so, la & mi - hence also 'shaped note music' and 'fasola music'.

Major scale, using four shapes

It is participatory music, not performance music. Singers sit facing each other in a hollow square and individuals take turns leading songs.

It has a very distinctive sound: modal, open chords, octave doubling, unusual harmonies.

It is usually sung at full volume in an exuberant outpouring of sound and feeling.

Why Sacred Harp Music ?

It derives its name from the two books currently used the most by singers throughout America, and now England. It is also the oldest book of such music, in continuous use since 1844.
 

Read more   -  Shapenote Music - one perspective of the history of the development in the UK

Here is an excerpt from their website:

“Here’s director Matt Hinton’s interview that was aired on Bob Edward’s Weekend on December 8. The complete interview (40 minutes) is also available through Bob Edward’s website http://www.bobedwardsradio.com/blog/.

'Awake, My Soul' was featured in the January 28 2008 TIME Magazine. Click here to view

Copies of the DVD are available in England; please contact the email address below if you are interested. We do not, however, hold a ready sock of these digital recordings. Alternatively, they are available through the official website.

To find out more information on shape note singing and to hear some of the best, visit their site at:

http://www.awakemysoul.com/

Shape note singing takes place all over America, and since about 1990 has taken place regularly this side of the Atlantic, in England. Here are some more American examples from YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0wsdbAeqLY&feature=related