Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

See You at the Next Singing!

See You at the Next Singing!

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.

Tons of fun in California

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

Goisha-steve-all-califonia-2012

photo: Dan Harper

With your help, we'll have complete details for every 1991 Sacred Harp tune

Google-docs-icon

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!

What are you practicing at home?

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?

Oh have you ventured to the field,
Well armed with helmet, sword and shield?
And shall the world, with dread alarms,
Compel you now to ground your arms?

Tune: Lucius Chapin, 1813
Words: Charles Wesley, 1742
Meter: Long Particular Meter (8,8,8,8,8,8)
Come, Oh Thou traveler unknown,
Whom still I hold, but cannot see;
My company before is gone,
And I am left alone with Thee.
With Thee all night I mean to stay,
And wrestle till the break of day.

In vain Thou strugglest to get free,
I never will unloose my hold;
Art Thou the Man that died for me?
The secret of Thy love unfold.
Wrestling, I will not let Thee go,
Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.

Tune: William Billings, 1770
Words: Isaac Watts, 1719
Meter: Common Meter Double (8,6,8,6,8,6,8,6)
Lord, in the morning Thou shalt hear
My voice ascending high:
To Thee will I direct my prayer,
To Thee lift up mine eye;
Up to the hills where Christ is gone
To plead for all His saints,
Presenting at His Father’s throne
Our songs and our complaints.

Thou art a God before whose sight
The wicked shall not stand;
Sinners shall ne’er be Thy delight,
Nor dwell at Thy right hand,
But to Thy house will I resort,
To taste Thy mercies there;
Thy word into our minds instill;
And worship in Thy fear.

All is Well

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