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, May 13, from 5-7pm, at People’s Co-op.
On Sunday, May 27, at 3pm at The Kennedy School....
Woodshedding: Singing Outside the Square. Led by Katy Kanfer. Whether you are trying to find your place on the staff, become a more adept sight-reader, or unpack a tricky song, there are many motivations to sing at home! At this school we'll talk about techniques for solo and small group singing.
The school will be followed by our regular 4-6pm singing.
credit: esivesind
Ever wish you could sing with your shape note friends all day long? Well on Saturday, May 5, you can! Join us just one block off Alberta St. in a building seemingly made for full-voice a cappella: The Little Church. We start at 9:30am and sing until noon - then enjoy the biggest potluck ever - and then sing some more until 3pm.
Get all the details in this handsome flier, suitable for framing or sharing with your neighbors. See you in the hollow square!
The two-day 2012 Pacific Northwest convention on Mercer Island was a blast (rumor has it Bill Gates came by on Saturday to ask us to "please keep it down so a regular guy can get a nap on his day off").
On Saturday morning Karen, David, and Erika gave a great school on leading, and posted a Leading Lesson Booklet and three audio files that you can refer to: Segment 1, Segment 2, Segment 3.
Wow, very helpful resources, right? Best to follow that up while it's fresh in your mind with additional in-person guidance and practice: This Sunday Marie and Betsy will lead a school on leading, here in Portland at The Kennedy School, from 3-4pm, which will be followed with regular singing from 4-6pm. Whatcha gonna lead?
Here's her right-up, write-up - a valuable addition to our growing treasure trove of singing school notes, and one that I hope we'll revisit at this time next year.
Last weekend (Jan 14-15, 2012) 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!
