@@samuelbarham8483 Mostly in Appalachia, not in more “civilized” churches with an organ or piano. The movie “Cold Mountain” begins with a heart stopping rendition of “Idumea”.
@@steveharvester2780 Oh sure, by the mid- to late-19th century, definitely less common outside of Appalachia -- if not completely extirpated. But before Lowell Mason's "Better Music Movement," shape note singing like this was not uncommon in many states, both northern and southern. In fact, as far as I can remember from when I was studying the historiography of shape note singing, the American form of the style was brought to the colonies from Britain via New England originally, not via the South.
I was listening to a collection of medieval music a few weeks ago, and lo and behold a familiar tune came on in the middle of the album. I said to myself "I know that tune! That's Jefferson from the Sacred Harp!" Sure enough. It is not identical but it is clearly a variant of the same tune, no way to mistake it. I had no idea this was such an old tune, I need to go and relocate that video.
I have never heard of this type music before tonight. My uncle was reminiscing about his days of youth at a church he attended in a rural area here in the state of Mississippi, USA.. He called it Scared Harp Music and now I have heard it.I will take this video to him and let him hear it. I think it is awesome! Thanks to all who were there singing!
You are welcome, but I officially invite you to come and join us at one of our dozens....hundreds....of local meetings or conventions. No charge to get in, free food, everyone is welcome whether you want to sing or just listen (although singing is preferred, no matter if you know how to or not). If you need a place to sleep for the night, contact the coordinators and they will be more than happy to find you a place to sleep and give you directions on how to get there, etc. If you need a ride, it may be possible to find one for you. We really like to get people to come to our sings. You can find a complete list and contact info at fasola.org, and we have sings in every state except New Hampshire, IIRC, at least annually, often numerous different conventions, especially if you're still in the South, with local, weekly or monthly sings all over the place. They sound is far better in real life, and if it sticks on you, it becomes a lifelong habit, kind of a big part of what makes youinto a full person. I also have to note that there are many different types of songs; if this is the only one you listened to, it's an excellent one (one of the very best), but there are other songs that are just as good but sound very different. Idumea 47, Detroit 39t, 504 Wood Street, etc. And of course ones you probalby already recognize like New Britain 45 ("Amazing Grace"), Plenary 162 ("Auld Lang Syne"), Wonderous Love 159 (same name) and Wayfaring Stranger 457 (also popular as a bluegrass song). All of these can be found on UA-cam. Sorry, I get worked up at the prospect of introcducing someone else into the blessing that is Sacred Harp. I know that sounds weird, but I really feel like this music (and the singing community) changed my life.
@@hbmartin64 go to 'fasola.org and pick the link for 'Singings' on the left, then choose either 'Annual Sacred Harp Singings' for a list of all-day sings throughout the year or scroll down and pick a state (or country) to find 'practice singings' (that generally go for 2 or 3 hours).
My grandmother was an Ulster Scots, Presbyterian. She sang in her Church and used this style of singing. I found here old music books and can place this sacred harp singing as late as the 1940s in Ulster. This song is very beautiful.
Sacred harp in general can be traced all the way back to the medieval ages, specifically among scholastics trying to capture “the music of the spheres” I can understand why :)
It's truly beautiful. I believe that churches were originally built for the human voice. Organs are hideous, and their occupancy in churches suggests to me an infiltration of dark energy. They sound hideous and isnt there a verse in the Bible which links Lucifer with 'piped' music? 🤔
Glorious things of Thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God! He whose word can ne’er be broken, Formed thee for His own abode. Chorus: On the Rock of Ages founded, Who can shake thy sure repose? With salvation’s walls surrounded, Thou mayst smile at all thy foes. ’Round her habitation hov’ring, See the cloud and fire appear, For a glory and a cov’ring, Showing that the Lord is near.
I wonder if the tune we sing it to is also SH. That version doesn't have a chorus. the words shown above as the chorus are just the first half of another verse. The SH version in the video was definitely beautiful.
How do I get any work done at the computer with such distractions? I first heard this style at Whitby Folk week in Yorkshire a few years ago, addicted ever since. I just wish I could sing!
Morris! You can absolutely learn to sing this music. I say this because I managed to learn myself--and I thought myself hopeless. The shapes are like a cheat sheet for non-musical types. And the great thing about this style: it's not a performance, it's a celebration. Every place I've gone to sing, people are hugely welcoming. So: go! Sing it!
Welcome friend. Glad to have you interested. But you don't really need to be able to sing, and it's easy to learn enough to join in. These are not professional singers by any means (most of them aren't anyway). Sacred Harp is literally the best thing that ever happened to me. I can't really sing either, and it makes me kind of self conscious at sings sometimes, but I listen to the others and I realize there are plenty of other people who can't sing very well in the crowd as well. No one will judge you. And of course you're more than welcome to just come and listen (although I'd suggest at least pretending to sing, just to be a little more participatory). One can always just come and sit and listen if they want; as good as it sounds on a speaker, it's twice as good in real life (especially when all you have is crappy little laptop speakers). Listing of singings at _fasola.org_, including a number in the UK. No experience needed, no book needed (there are loaners and you can usually buy one). If you can read music you can read shape notes, and if you can't read music, you can follow along as best you can, and figure it out eventually. I'm getting decent at it after 4 years.
Glorious things of Thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God! He whose word can ne’er be broken, Formed thee for His own abode. Chorus: On the Rock of Ages founded, Who can shake thy sure repose? With salvation’s walls surrounded, Thou mayst smile at all thy foes. ’Round her habitation hov’ring, See the cloud and fire appear, For a glory and a cov’ring, Showing that the Lord is near. (Chorus)
Is Sacred Harp connected to a/some particular christian dénomination(s) or is it a kind of singing that is/was practiced by every american/celto-anglo-saxon no matter is they are/were catholic, protestant, baptist, anabaptist, etc ? As a french catholic, this music moves me as much as gregorian chants. I find Sacred Harp music hugely beautiful and you can feel something deeply powerful & spiritual, as much as a kind of primitivity/authenticity, that set your heart/soul on fire and make it closer to God. I wish we had some kind of similar musical tradition.
In St. Louis, the singers - a strong and active group for 30+ years - are from every flavor imaginable. Me? Catholic. Our main pitch man was in a Catholic seminary for 8 or more years. There are atheists, agnostics, Protestants of every stripe, Jews, an Episcopal minister, a Primitive Baptist preacher who lives, works and share within an Amish community, buddhists, vegans, heathens, herbalists ... the unifying force is the love of the music and singing it out
It is originally protestant, but I wouldn't be surprised if some Catholics somewhere have picked it up. Protestants in general have always placed more emphasis on collective singing from the whole congregation; and I believe the original purpose of this kind of singing was allow inexperienced singers to pick up complex vocal harmonies very quickly.
Glorious things of thee are spoken Zion, city of our God He, whose word cannot be broken Formed thee for His own abode On the Rock of Ages founded What can shake thy sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded Thou may'st smile at all thy foes See, the streams of living waters Springing from eternal love Well supply thy sons and daughters And all fear of want remove Who can faint, while such a river Ever flows their thirst to assuage? Grace which, like the Lord, the giver Never fails from age to age Blest inhabitants of Zion Purchased by the Savior's blood Jesus, whom their souls rely on Makes them kings and priests to God While in love his Saints he raises With himself to reign as King All, as priests, his solemn praises For thank-off'rings freely bring Savior, if in Zion's city I, through grace, a member am Let the world deride or pity I will glory in Thy name Fading is the sinner's pleasure All his boasted pomp and show Solid joys and lasting treasure None but Zion's children know
I wonder if they have a braille edition of the hymnal they are using, or if there is somewhere to get all the lyrics at least. I have always wanted to go to a Sacred Harp singing, but I would look like an idiot going "doodoodoo" when I can't figure out the words. I do really good with learning notes by ear...but not so much with lyrics, particularly when they are using Shakespearian English.
Funny you should ask. My twins are opposite-handed (although not mirror image nor identical) and we learned quickly to put them with their leading hands on the outside when they practiced leading in singing school. lol It's hard enough to stand before a group and try to lead singing when you're around five years old, but when your hand bashes against the other leader's, it doesn't help at all.
i have wrist pain a lot bc of my job and i tend to often switch the hand i beat time with to give them both a rest from time to time and avoid damage from overuse
The Sacred Harp was an early American collection of music. Some of the tunes are not credited, but there were strong Irish, Scottish, and English folk influences in many of the tunes. But these singers are in Ireland.
+Frank Zimmerman I had read that when E.O. Geurrant,a Presbyterian missionary in Kentucky, after traipsing through the hills, wrote that the people there still held to the Highlander identity and spoke with the King's English, it is true, I remember hearing my great-grandparents use words and phrases from that time. It was not difficult for me to understand the KJV and I grew up with it, but my great-grandparents grew up isolated and didn't even get out of Kentucky until my mother was a baby in Ohio after my grandmother moved there during the great Hillbilly Migration north. I can still remember sitting on the couch listening to my great-grandmother preach in an English I barely understood as a child. That was in 1972. Now that I am older, I appreciate what I had. It is a wonderful heritage. The closest accent I find to my grandmother is Ralph Stanley. That is exactly how she spoke. I can still remember the way my great-grandmother would speak of a better place. As the sun ball sunk down twixt the hills and the shadder spread its icy hands through the holler, yonder in the East the Lord would come. He's ta come, He's ta come. Thee need not afear, He's ta come. And that's how I remember it.
i just accidentally found sacred harp music yesterday. i must say this is some of most beautiful music i have ever heard
Sean Mcmullen After the Pandemic is over and we can go back to singing, find a singing and go. The sound in the Square sounds wonderful.
There are no accidents 🙃😂
Can you imagine walking into almost any low Church congregation in early 19th century America and hearing this? It sends chills down my spine.
@@samuelbarham8483 Mostly in Appalachia, not in more “civilized” churches with an organ or piano. The movie “Cold Mountain” begins with a heart stopping rendition of “Idumea”.
@@steveharvester2780 Oh sure, by the mid- to late-19th century, definitely less common outside of Appalachia -- if not completely extirpated. But before Lowell Mason's "Better Music Movement," shape note singing like this was not uncommon in many states, both northern and southern. In fact, as far as I can remember from when I was studying the historiography of shape note singing, the American form of the style was brought to the colonies from Britain via New England originally, not via the South.
I was listening to a collection of medieval music a few weeks ago, and lo and behold a familiar tune came on in the middle of the album. I said to myself "I know that tune! That's Jefferson from the Sacred Harp!" Sure enough. It is not identical but it is clearly a variant of the same tune, no way to mistake it. I had no idea this was such an old tune, I need to go and relocate that video.
I have never heard of this type music before tonight. My uncle was reminiscing about his days of youth at a church he attended in a rural area here in the state of Mississippi, USA.. He called it Scared Harp Music and now I have heard it.I will take this video to him and let him hear it. I think it is awesome! Thanks to all who were there singing!
You are welcome, but I officially invite you to come and join us at one of our dozens....hundreds....of local meetings or conventions. No charge to get in, free food, everyone is welcome whether you want to sing or just listen (although singing is preferred, no matter if you know how to or not). If you need a place to sleep for the night, contact the coordinators and they will be more than happy to find you a place to sleep and give you directions on how to get there, etc. If you need a ride, it may be possible to find one for you. We really like to get people to come to our sings. You can find a complete list and contact info at fasola.org, and we have sings in every state except New Hampshire, IIRC, at least annually, often numerous different conventions, especially if you're still in the South, with local, weekly or monthly sings all over the place. They sound is far better in real life, and if it sticks on you, it becomes a lifelong habit, kind of a big part of what makes youinto a full person. I also have to note that there are many different types of songs; if this is the only one you listened to, it's an excellent one (one of the very best), but there are other songs that are just as good but sound very different. Idumea 47, Detroit 39t, 504 Wood Street, etc. And of course ones you probalby already recognize like New Britain 45 ("Amazing Grace"), Plenary 162 ("Auld Lang Syne"), Wonderous Love 159 (same name) and Wayfaring Stranger 457 (also popular as a bluegrass song). All of these can be found on UA-cam.
Sorry, I get worked up at the prospect of introcducing someone else into the blessing that is Sacred Harp. I know that sounds weird, but I really feel like this music (and the singing community) changed my life.
@@justforever96 How would we find out locations/times, etc.? What's the name of this type of group you're talking about?
@@hbmartin64 go to 'fasola.org and pick the link for 'Singings' on the left, then choose either 'Annual Sacred Harp Singings' for a list of all-day sings throughout the year or scroll down and pick a state (or country) to find 'practice singings' (that generally go for 2 or 3 hours).
My grandmother was an Ulster Scots, Presbyterian. She sang in her Church and used this style of singing. I found here old music books and can place this sacred harp singing as late as the 1940s in Ulster. This song is very beautiful.
Sacred harp in general can be traced all the way back to the medieval ages, specifically among scholastics trying to capture “the music of the spheres” I can understand why :)
You'll find an authentic continuing tradition form the Hebrides at: ua-cam.com/video/k3MzZgPBL3Q/v-deo.html
It's truly beautiful. I believe that churches were originally built for the human voice. Organs are hideous, and their occupancy in churches suggests to me an infiltration of dark energy. They sound hideous and isnt there a verse in the Bible which links Lucifer with 'piped' music? 🤔
Where are you from? I was born and raised in County Antrim, moved to Poland a few moments ago, I love hearing stories of my Ulster Scots heritage
@therabman_5606 Tryone 👍
Glorious things of Thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He whose word can ne’er be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode.
Chorus:
On the Rock of Ages founded,
Who can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
’Round her habitation hov’ring,
See the cloud and fire appear,
For a glory and a cov’ring,
Showing that the Lord is near.
Amen!
I wonder if the tune we sing it to is also SH. That version doesn't have a chorus. the words shown above as the chorus are just the first half of another verse. The SH version in the video was definitely beautiful.
I am sure the Lord Himself will not ignore or remain unmoved by such as a sound...
I was introduced to this music by Tim Eriksen.
The old folks remembered these hymns when I (now 59) was a boy, in the churches of Christ. And that was in California!
This is one that never fails to put a smile on the singer's faces. Even if the other songs hadn't done that already.
How do I get any work done at the computer with such distractions? I first heard this style at Whitby Folk week in Yorkshire a few years ago, addicted ever since. I just wish I could sing!
Morris! You can absolutely learn to sing this music. I say this because I managed to learn myself--and I thought myself hopeless. The shapes are like a cheat sheet for non-musical types. And the great thing about this style: it's not a performance, it's a celebration. Every place I've gone to sing, people are hugely welcoming. So: go! Sing it!
Welcome friend. Glad to have you interested. But you don't really need to be able to sing, and it's easy to learn enough to join in. These are not professional singers by any means (most of them aren't anyway). Sacred Harp is literally the best thing that ever happened to me. I can't really sing either, and it makes me kind of self conscious at sings sometimes, but I listen to the others and I realize there are plenty of other people who can't sing very well in the crowd as well. No one will judge you. And of course you're more than welcome to just come and listen (although I'd suggest at least pretending to sing, just to be a little more participatory). One can always just come and sit and listen if they want; as good as it sounds on a speaker, it's twice as good in real life (especially when all you have is crappy little laptop speakers). Listing of singings at _fasola.org_, including a number in the UK. No experience needed, no book needed (there are loaners and you can usually buy one). If you can read music you can read shape notes, and if you can't read music, you can follow along as best you can, and figure it out eventually. I'm getting decent at it after 4 years.
As long as it sings of God the Father God the Son God the Holy Spirit and no matter who sings of God their voice is always beautiful to God.
Glorious music and great voices.
Love the tempo, faster than I’m used to, gives wonderful energy.
This is amazing music. Ozarks kind of music for sure!
Absolutely amazing.
Glorious things of Thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He whose word can ne’er be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode.
Chorus:
On the Rock of Ages founded,
Who can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
’Round her habitation hov’ring,
See the cloud and fire appear,
For a glory and a cov’ring,
Showing that the Lord is near.
(Chorus)
I find so much Peace here.Miss o'flynn.the peace in you,heaven sent.
Is Sacred Harp connected to a/some particular christian dénomination(s) or is it a kind of singing that is/was practiced by every american/celto-anglo-saxon no matter is they are/were catholic, protestant, baptist, anabaptist, etc ? As a french catholic, this music moves me as much as gregorian chants. I find Sacred Harp music hugely beautiful and you can feel something deeply powerful & spiritual, as much as a kind of primitivity/authenticity, that set your heart/soul on fire and make it closer to God. I wish we had some kind of similar musical tradition.
I've only known it to be in the Protestant faith in the south. Mostly Baptist and Methodist.
@@tamichappell8969 OK, thank you very much for your answer !
In St. Louis, the singers - a strong and active group for 30+ years - are from every flavor imaginable. Me? Catholic. Our main pitch man was in a Catholic seminary for 8 or more years. There are atheists, agnostics, Protestants of every stripe, Jews, an Episcopal minister, a Primitive Baptist preacher who lives, works and share within an Amish community, buddhists, vegans, heathens, herbalists ... the unifying force is the love of the music and singing it out
It is originally protestant, but I wouldn't be surprised if some Catholics somewhere have picked it up.
Protestants in general have always placed more emphasis on collective singing from the whole congregation; and I believe the original purpose of this kind of singing was allow inexperienced singers to pick up complex vocal harmonies very quickly.
There is a group in Paris, if that's near you! facebook.com/groups/48053961708/
So beautiful. Love the history of shape note music. Nothing like it, maybe closest to a Psalm. I think it makes Jesus smile!
Glorious things of thee are spoken
Zion, city of our God
He, whose word cannot be broken
Formed thee for His own abode
On the Rock of Ages founded
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes
See, the streams of living waters
Springing from eternal love
Well supply thy sons and daughters
And all fear of want remove
Who can faint, while such a river
Ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the giver
Never fails from age to age
Blest inhabitants of Zion
Purchased by the Savior's blood
Jesus, whom their souls rely on
Makes them kings and priests to God
While in love his Saints he raises
With himself to reign as King
All, as priests, his solemn praises
For thank-off'rings freely bring
Savior, if in Zion's city
I, through grace, a member am
Let the world deride or pity
I will glory in Thy name
Fading is the sinner's pleasure
All his boasted pomp and show
Solid joys and lasting treasure
None but Zion's children know
Thank you! I was trying to sing along, but didn't know all the words.
Shape singing is just amazing.
Beautifully sung.
I love the music and Sadbhb O’Flynn is one red headed beauty!
Great tune. Sounds to me a little like Shaker music.
I wonder if they have a braille edition of the hymnal they are using, or if there is somewhere to get all the lyrics at least. I have always wanted to go to a Sacred Harp singing, but I would look like an idiot going "doodoodoo" when I can't figure out the words. I do really good with learning notes by ear...but not so much with lyrics, particularly when they are using Shakespearian English.
who is the beautiful woman leading this singing???
The one with the red tie?
I never heard of this before.
Interesting. It sounds similar to Hebrew religious songs.
Good shtuff, I'm part of the Ancient Irish Catholic ways ... God nebless Chomcille! , One of our warrior bishops ;!!
Sublime.
Claire Hogan and Sadhbh O'Flynn---------- two main reasons boys join glee clubs
Who's the red haired girl?
Чем-то напоминает песню Аун-Броненжи. :)
Great tune all the same.
Hand out the butter beer!! 🤣
The only thing more beautiful than the singing is that stunning red head leading.....
Amen! :)
No, the singing is still more beautiful. She's still just a mortal, after all.
I have to agree - the singing is wonderful!
Yes. The music was written by man. She was made by God.
Sad that this beauty, like this music, will soon vanish forever. And no one will be left who will even be able appreciate what has been lost.
Is anybody left-handed there ?
Funny you should ask. My twins are opposite-handed (although not mirror image nor identical) and we learned quickly to put them with their leading hands on the outside when they practiced leading in singing school. lol
It's hard enough to stand before a group and try to lead singing when you're around five years old, but when your hand bashes against the other leader's, it doesn't help at all.
i have wrist pain a lot bc of my job and i tend to often switch the hand i beat time with to give them both a rest from time to time and avoid damage from overuse
Is this Celtic ?
According to the Celtic belt buckles of the quite read head ,it must be.
Also it sounds Jewish.
The Sacred Harp was an early American collection of music. Some of the tunes are not credited, but there were strong Irish, Scottish, and English folk influences in many of the tunes. But these singers are in Ireland.
+Frank Zimmerman I had read that when E.O. Geurrant,a Presbyterian missionary in Kentucky, after traipsing through the hills, wrote that the people there still held to the Highlander identity and spoke with the King's English, it is true, I remember hearing my great-grandparents use words and phrases from that time. It was not difficult for me to understand the KJV and I grew up with it, but my great-grandparents grew up isolated and didn't even get out of Kentucky until my mother was a baby in Ohio after my grandmother moved there during the great Hillbilly Migration north.
I can still remember sitting on the couch listening to my great-grandmother preach in an English I barely understood as a child. That was in 1972.
Now that I am older, I appreciate what I had. It is a wonderful heritage. The closest accent I find to my grandmother is Ralph Stanley. That is exactly how she spoke.
I can still remember the way my great-grandmother would speak of a better place. As the sun ball sunk down twixt the hills and the shadder spread its icy hands through the holler, yonder in the East the Lord would come. He's ta come, He's ta come. Thee need not afear, He's ta come.
And that's how I remember it.
Fascinating!
Thats a great Mantra.
Just listen to your Heart.
Red tie cant take his eye of the book. Red hair doesnt need it.
Yellow scarf is in love with red hair. lol maybe
Is this a Zionist /Irish/ Cuban/Communist/Sect ?
How can i join ?
I like your message.
Che lives on !
You have to be a troll