Sacred Harp shape note singing is a community musical and social activity, emphasizing participation, not performance. Everyone is invited to come and sing (or just listen), regardless of musical experience or ability. Our events have no membership requirement and no affiliation: religious, political or otherwise.
The next singing is Sunday, January 29, from 3-5pm at Peninsula Baptist Church.
Last weekend more than a dozen Portland singers and many more from the greater Northwest made the trip to San Carlos to join singers from as far away as Poland for the 24th Annual All-California convention. Our goodwill was repaid many times over with their generosity, good food, and some truly memorable singing.
I wholeheartedly recommend traveling to sing with others. Lots of opportunities are coming soon to a hollow square near you.
photo: Dan Harper
Jessica (the alto) says:
"We have again been asked to lead a Sacred Harp singing at the Portland Old Time Music Gathering on January 14."
According to their schedule, it looks like they have us in the big auditorium at Norse Hall at the Scottish Rite Center, at 1512 SW Morrison, teaching a class from 12:30-1pm, and singing as usual from 1-2:30pm.
It's always a great time!
Find out why all the cool kids (like Connie) are so excited about the Cooper book! Ring in the New Year this Sunday from 2-4pm at Waverly Heights. Here's Nettie (380t), sung in Austin, TX, with friend-of-Portland Tamara Harris in the treble section:
Portland singer Anna Stoerch has shared her pet project with the world: compiling complete details for every tune in the 1991 revision of The Sacred Harp tunebook.
Entering author, composer, time signature, and so on for every tune would take one person a long time, but with everyone's help, it'll be done before you can say "Lord Revive Us".
When the data's ready, we'll create a form that will let you search the collection to find all the minor songs...in 2/4...that were written between 1950 and 2000...that contain major chords...it'll be a Great Day indeed!
So take a couple minutes, open your book, and do some data entry for the benefit of singers everywhere - then enter your comments on sheet 2, add yourself as a contributor on sheet 3, and tell all your friends!
Some of us sang as part of the Lone Fir's annual "Tour of Untimely Demises," which raises money for the care and preservation of the cemetery.
Here are the three I've been working on:
42 Clamanda
Tune: Unknown
Words: Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1814
Meter: Long Meter Double (8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8)
Say, now ye lovely social band,
Who walk the way to Canaan’s land;
Ye who have fled from Sodom’s plain,
Say do you wish to turn again?
If you have an interest in writing shapenote tunes, or just want to eavesdrop on contemporary tunesmiths, check out the shapenote songwriters discussion group.
Portland treble Eleanor Clagett's singing self-portrait!
Fa me fa so fa me fa so la fa-so, la fa so-la fa me fa? Fa me fa so fa me fa so la fa-so la fa so-la fa me fa? La-fa so so so-la la-fa fa fa fa-la so la la so so so la so-fa me-so fa me fa so la fa so la fa so-la fa me fa!
