Sacred Harp Singing School

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The Historical Society Hosts Our

Second Annual Sacred Harp Singing School

Saturday,

September 18, 2010

Save This Date - Mark Your Calendars Today

What is Sacred Harp Singing?

Religious folk music which attracts singers and listeners who share community, participation, history, and expressive vocal music -

Fellowship Hall of First UMC Pasadena
Registration, Coffee and Welcome - 9am
Singing School Starts 10am- noon
Group Singing – Visitors Welcome – 1pm – 3pm
Contact us at 281.487.8787 or email fumcphistoricalsociety@yahoo.com
The participants in last year’s school traveled from Wimberley, Galveston, Alvin, Houston,
Henderson, Mount Enterprise, Wharton, and Waxahachie - and Vienna, Austria.
Plan to join us this year as a participant or guest.
Materials provided.
Singers coach newcomers.
http://www.texasfasola.org for Sacred Harp Information

HOUSTON SINGINGS
First Friday Evenings - Larry's Home, Houston Heights area of Houston, Texas, 7pm-9pm
More information and location: Crystal (832.922.5858) - 1991 Revision/Cooper Revision

First and Third Sunday Afternoons - A.D. Bruce Religion Center, University of Houston, Entrance 13 off Cullen Boulevard, Houston - More info: Crystal (832.922.5858) 1991 Revision/Cooper Revision

Online Version of the Sacred Harp Songbook

http://digital.lib.msu.edu/collections/index.cfm?action=view&TitleID=610&Format=jpg

Texas Sacred Harp Website

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Sacred Harp Singing?
Sacred Harp Singing is a community musical and social event. It emphasizes
participation, not performance. Anyone may lead and anyone may sit in the square
to sing.

2. If I attend, do I have to sing?
Of course not - You do not have to sing in order to attend, because listeners
are very important. New singingers often hesitate to sit in the square, but
it is truly the best way to learn and to join in the group experience.

Sacred Harp is religious folk music, sung with the aid of a unique shape-note
songbook - The Sacred Harp - first published in 1844. Sacred Harp singers sing
a capella producing a strangely compelling quality sound.
The singing school was first developed in the English countryside as a method to
teach those who could not read music to sing, using the unique shape note. For
example, a triangle corresponds to "fa" - a circle to "sol" - a rectangle to "la" -
and diamonds to "mi."

Singers sit in a hollow square, facing inward. The leader, standing in the middle
of the square, chooses the tune and verses. Tenors face altos, and basses
face the trebles. The goal is to build a sound and spirt for the singers to enjoy.

Singers, listeners, and supporters are all of equal importance in the Sacred Harp
community. Sacred Harp singing is loud, spirited, joyful, and wonderfully
expressive. This music is personal to those who sing it, and the raw emotion
that is heard in their singing can be more moving than the most polished
professional performance.

One of the greatest blessings of Sacred Harp Singing is that these friendships and
this music is for anyone and everyone.