Sacred Harp

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.