community singing

2020 Maine All-Day Singing Weekend: Friday Evening Cooper Book!

February 11, 2020 by Jesse Vear

Bristol Mills Masonic Lodge — The annual Friday Night Cooper Book Singing is held as part of the Annual Maine All-Day Sacred Harp Singing Weekend at the Masonic Lodge in Bristol Mills, Maine.

2012 Cooper Edition of "The Sacred Harp" — At the Friday Night Cooper Book Singing we sing from the 2012 Cooper Edition of “The Sacred Harp.” This singing is part of the Annual Maine All-Day Sacred Harp Singing Weekend.

Join us for three days of singing! The Maine All-Day Singing Weekend begins on Friday evening in Bristol Mills with a chili supper & singing from “The Sacred Harp” (2012 Cooper edition), followed by our Maine All-Day Singing from “The Sacred Harp” (1991 Denson edition) in Union on Saturday, culminating with an All-Day Singing from “The American Vocalist” in Union on Sunday.

Friday July 24th: Cooper Book Singing
7-9pm: Singing from “The Sacred Harp” (2012 Cooper edition),
Preceded by a chili supper at 6pm
Masonic Lodge #74, 1204 Bristol Rd (Rte 130), Bristol Mills, Maine 04539
https://goo.gl/maps/xaejyvTngc82

For more information:

Chair of the Friday evening Cooper Book Singing: Chris Holley – 207-380-4911, [email protected]
Chair of the Maine All-Day Singing: Rachel Taylor– [email protected]
For more information about singings in Maine: www.maineshapenotesinging.org
To join our email list-serv: [email protected]
To join our facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/221036991368952/
Note: the Maine All-Day Singing Weekend is held annually on the 4th Sunday in July and the Friday & Saturday before.

More about Sacred Harp singing:
This is an open, participatory singing where all voices are welcome! No experience is expected or necessary – beginners and curious onlookers are warmly encouraged to join in. The tunebook we typically sing out of most often is “The Sacred Harp” 1991 Denson edition (and occasionally other tunebooks as well, including the 2012 Cooper Edition of “The Sacred Harp,” D.H. Mansfield’s “The American Vocalist,” and The Goshen Book – which are the four tunebooks we’ll be singing out of for the Maine All-Day Singing Weekend), with loaner copies of this tunebook available to use during the singing, as well as copies to purchase. First published in 1844 & periodically revised ever since, “The Sacred Harp” consists largely of early American devotional music, including hymns, fuguing tunes, anthems. This music that is written in 4-part harmony, notated in shape notes, and sung a cappella (without musical accompaniment). Also known as shape note music, Sacred Harp music comes out of a rich living tradition. Deeply rooted in the American South where it has been kept alive by generations of singing families, churches, and communities, Sacred Harp music and the love of singing it has spread across the country and around the world within the past 40 years. Come find out what it’s all about & experience the delight of singing in harmony among friends! For more information & resources about Sacred Harp music visit www.fasola.org.

2020 Maine All-Day Singing Weekend: Sunday American Vocalist

February 10, 2020 by Jesse Vear

The Old Town House in Union, Maine — The annual American Vocalist Singing is held in the Old Town House in Union, Maine. This historic building dates back to 1840.

An old original copy of DH Mansfield's"The American Vocalist" tunebook — An old original copy of DH Mansfield’s “The American Vocalist” tunebook. We sing from modern copies of “The American Vocalist” on the Sunday of the Annual Maine All-Day Sacred Harp Singing Weekend.

Join us for three days of singing! The weekend begins on Friday evening in Bristol Mills with a chili supper & singing from “The Sacred Harp” (2012 Cooper edition), followed by our Maine All-Day Singing from “The Sacred Harp” (1991 Denson edition) in Union on Saturday, culminating with an All-Day Singing from “The American Vocalist” in Union on Sunday.

Sunday July 26th: 10th Annual All-Day Singing from D.H. Mansfield’s “The American Vocalist”
- - 9:15am: Singing at D.H. Mansfield’s grave at Morey Cemetery
    in Hope, about a 10 min drive from the All-Day https://goo.gl/maps/56ciNxhZRVo
  - 9:15am: Goshen Book Singing at the Old Townhouse in Union
    Meanwhile, for those not attending the graveside singing,
    there will be a singing from “Sing Them Over Again to Me”
    (aka the Goshen Book) back at the Old Town House.
10:30am-3pm: All-Day Singing from “The American Vocalist,” with dinner on the grounds at 12pm
The Old Town House, 128 Town House Rd (Rte 235), Union, Maine 04862
https://goo.gl/maps/6ovxqYB2TgB2
For more information about “The American Vocalist:” https://www.facebook.com/americanvocalist/

For more information:

Chair of the Sunday All-Day Singing from the American Vocalist: Aldo Ceresa, [email protected]
Chair of the Maine All-Day Singing: Rachel Taylor – [email protected]
For more information about singings in Maine: www.maineshapenotesinging.org
To join our email list-serv: [email protected]
To join our facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/221036991368952/

Note: the Maine All-Day Singing Weekend is held annually on the 4th Sunday in July and the Friday & Saturday before.

More about Sacred Harp singing:
This is an open, participatory singing where all voices are welcome! No experience is expected or necessary – beginners and curious onlookers are warmly encouraged to join in. The tunebook we typically sing out of most often is “The Sacred Harp” 1991 Denson edition (and occasionally other tunebooks as well, including the 2012 Cooper Edition of “The Sacred Harp,” D.H. Mansfield’s “The American Vocalist,” and The Goshen Book – which are the four tunebooks we’ll be singing out of for the Maine All-Day Singing Weekend), with loaner copies of this tunebook available to use during the singing, as well as copies to purchase. First published in 1844 & periodically revised ever since, “The Sacred Harp” consists largely of early American devotional music, including hymns, fuguing tunes, anthems. This music that is written in 4-part harmony, notated in shape notes, and sung a cappella (without musical accompaniment). Also known as shape note music, Sacred Harp music comes out of a rich living tradition. Deeply rooted in the American South where it has been kept alive by generations of singing families, churches, and communities, Sacred Harp music and the love of singing it has spread across the country and around the world within the past 40 years. Come find out what it’s all about & experience the delight of singing in harmony among friends! For more information & resources about Sacred Harp music visit www.fasola.org.

2020 Maine All-Day Singing Weekend: Saturday All-Day Sacred Harp Singing!

February 10, 2020 by Jesse Vear

The cover of a copy of The Sacred Harp tunebook with a page of music (the song Pilgrim's Farewell, page 185) overlaid across it. This is the tunebook we use most frequently at this Sacred Harp singing. — The Sacred Harp tunebook (1991 Denson edition). One of the tunebooks most commonly used for Sacred Harp singing.

Join us for three days of singing! The 18th Annual Maine All-Day Sacred Harp Singing forms the centerpiece of a joyous weekend of singing amidst the splendor that is summertime in Maine. The weekend begins on Friday evening in Bristol Mills with a chili supper & singing from “The Sacred Harp” (2012 Cooper edition), followed by our Maine All-Day Singing from “The Sacred Harp” (1991 Denson edition) in Union on Saturday, culminating with an All-Day Singing from “The American Vocalist” in Union on Sunday.

Saturday July 25th: 18th Annual Maine All-Day Sacred Harp Singing
10am-3:30pm: All-Day Singing from “The Sacred Harp” (1991 edition),
with dinner on the grounds at 12pm
The Old Town House, 128 Town House Rd (Rte 235), Union, Maine 04862
https://goo.gl/maps/6ovxqYB2TgB2
Followed by a social in South Bristol at the home of Robert & Elizabeth Stoddard.

For more information:

Chair of the Maine All-Day Singing: Rachel Taylor – [email protected]
For more information about singings in Maine: www.maineshapenotesinging.org
To join our email list-serv: [email protected]org
To join our facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/221036991368952/
Note: the Maine All-Day Singing Weekend is held annually on the 4th Sunday in July and the Friday & Saturday before.

More about Sacred Harp singing:
This is an open, participatory singing where all voices are welcome! No experience is expected or necessary – beginners and curious onlookers are warmly encouraged to join in. The tunebook we typically sing out of most often is “The Sacred Harp” 1991 Denson edition (and occasionally other tunebooks as well, including the 2012 Cooper Edition of “The Sacred Harp,” D.H. Mansfield’s “The American Vocalist,” and The Goshen Book – which are the four tunebooks we’ll be singing out of for the Maine All-Day Singing Weekend), with loaner copies of this tunebook available to use during the singing, as well as copies to purchase. First published in 1844 & periodically revised ever since, “The Sacred Harp” consists largely of early American devotional music, including hymns, fuguing tunes, anthems. This music that is written in 4-part harmony, notated in shape notes, and sung a cappella (without musical accompaniment). Also known as shape note music, Sacred Harp music comes out of a rich living tradition. Deeply rooted in the American South where it has been kept alive by generations of singing families, churches, and communities, Sacred Harp music and the love of singing it has spread across the country and around the world within the past 40 years. Come find out what it’s all about & experience the delight of singing in harmony among friends! For more information & resources about Sacred Harp music visit www.fasola.org.

Bath 5th Sunday Cooper Book Singing – TEMPORARILY CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19

February 10, 2020 by Jesse Vear

TEMPORARILY CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO COVID-19
We plan to resume singings as scheduled once it has been deemed safe to do so. To stay tuned for more info as things develop, please contact us at [email protected]

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Join us at the Bath 5th Sunday Cooper Book Singing on the 5th Sundays of the month from 2-5pm at The Neighborhood UCC, 798 Washington St, Bath, Maine 04530. FMI contact Liz Starr: [email protected] or Chris Holley: 207-380-4911, [email protected].

All are welcome to come sing with us on 5th Sundays at The Neighborhood in Bath! Singing will be from “The Sacred Harp,” 2012 Cooper edition (aka ‘ The Cooper Book’ and ‘the blue book’), with loaner tunebooks available to sing from during the singing. As always with Sacred Harp singings, all voices are warmly welcome, regardless of experience level (from none to a ton). Whether you’ve never sung a note in your life or you can’t keep from singing every chance you get, there’s a spot waiting for you in the hollow square!

For more about Sacred Harp singing in Maine visit www.maineshapenotesinging.org. Another great resource is www.fasola.org.

Bath 5th Sunday Cooper Book Singing – TEMPORARILY CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19

February 10, 2020 by Jesse Vear

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For more about Sacred Harp singing in Maine visit www.maineshapenotesinging.org. Another great resource is www.fasola.org.

Portland Maine Weekly Sacred Harp Singing – TEMPORARILY CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19

April 4, 2016 by Jesse Vear

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Come sing with us! Join us for the Portland Maine Weekly Sacred Harp Singing held every Tuesday from 7-9pm (pop in/out whenever you like during this time) at the 1st Parish Church, 425 Congress St, Portland, Maine. FMI: email [email protected] or call Jesse Vear at 207-632-6903.

More about singings

Sacred Harp singings are open community events where all voices are welcome to join in as we sing from the The Sacred Harp (1991 Denson edition). We always have plenty of loaner tunebooks on hand to use during the singing, or you can also purchase one if you like. Note that singings are participatory events; we don’t have auditions, performances, or audiences. Rather, we sing for one another, and for the sheer enjoyment of singing itself. Above all, don’t worry – there’s absolutely no prior musical ability or experience expected or required.

Sacred Harp singing is a form of early American devotional music that comes out of a rich living tradition. It is written and sung as a four part harmony, and is sung unaccompanied. There are no harps; rather the ‘sacred harp’ refers to the instrument that is the human voice itself. Deeply rooted in the American South where it has been kept alive by generations of singing families, churches, and communities, this music and the love of singing it has spread far and wide within the past 45 years. It is now cherished by singers from all across this country and in an ever-growing number of countries around the world.

You might also have heard this music referred to as shape note music. This is due to the fact that it is notated with shapes to facilitate learning and sight reading (it works!). First printed in 1844, The Sacred Harp is one of the oldest books in continuous publication. Over the years this tunebook has been used to teach countless thousands the art of singing and reading music, making this beautiful music accessible to successive generations of singers right up to this very day.

Come along any Tuesday evening & check it out. Whether it’s your first Sacred Harp singing or your thousandth, we look forward to singing with you! Note that while the singing is from 7-9 with a short break at 8pm, feel free to pop in and/or out whenever it works for your schedule.

For more about Sacred Harp singing in Maine visit www.maineshapenotesinging.org. Another great resource is www.fasola.org.