The "Harp" refers to the instrument afforded each of us, our voice.

               1991 Revision
          of The Sacred Harp

  
   

As stated in the introduction:

DEDICATED TO all lovers of Sacred Harp Music, and to the memory of the illustrious and venerable patriarchs who established the Traditional Style of Sacred Harp singing and admonished their followers to "seek the old paths and walk therein".


Watch some examples of
Sacred Harp singing!

Bridgett Hill Kennedy leads
Bridgewater
276

Violet Thomason leads Montgomery
189

Callback, New England Sacred Harp Convention, 2007- Norwich 362

W
atch the trailer for the Sacred Harp
documentary film "Awake, My Soul"

Interview with Raymond Hamrick

Some other good links:

Shout and Sing the Good Old Way:
A Sacred Harp Story

(typo note: it's Isaac Watts, not Warrs)

GOOD LINKS:

Fasola.org -  The most complete resource!

Sacred Harp on Wikipedia

Portland Sacred Harp

Pacfic Northwest Sacred Harp Singers


 

 

Since you may be
wondering what this is...

please start by clicking here to watch a video about Sacred Harp singing, where it comes from and what it sounds like.

There are now regular weekly gatherings to sing the Sacred Harp in Salem, Oregon. These are community singings, open to the public and free of charge. Guests are welcome to visit and join in, or just listen. All voices and all levels of experience are welcome. All it takes is a desire to sing.

As Sacred Harp singers we are not practicing for a performance. These are not rehearsals. We gather to sing purely for the enjoyment of the music, for ourselves, for each other and to be uplifted.
 


fasola


The music for the songs is all written in shaped notes, each shape representing a tone interval, or note, on the scale. This system was developed as a way to teach people to sing who do not know anything about music.

The songs are easy to learn four-part choral pieces for men's and women's voices. In keeping with tradition, Sacred Harp is always sung unaccompanied and in full voice, or loud, although to sing loudly is never a requirement for participation.

The songs we sing are all found in a book titled "The Sacred Harp". This collection of over 500 venerable religious songs and folk tunes was first published in 1844 and has been in use continuously ever since. Many of the songs in this collection date back to the 18th century in America.

Sacred Harp song books are available to borrow for the duration of the singing and may be purchased there for twenty dollars ($20), our cost.

We are looking forward to having this wonderful American tradition grow in Salem.

Come join the song!

email Salem Sacred Harp

We sing every Monday of the year including holidays

Regular singings are from 7pm to 9pm

JANUARY 2012

1st Monday
Jan. 2nd
First Congregational UCC
2nd Monday
Jan. 9th
First Congregational UCC
3rd Monday
Jan. 16th
First Congregational UCC
4th Monday Jan. 23rd First Congregational UCC
5th Monday
Jan. 30th
The Dye House, Mission Mill

          UCC

     First Congregational UCC  (map)
     700 Marion Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301
            (corner of Marion and Cottage)

                


Special - 5th Mondays:

     

 In the Dye House at the Mission Mill
     1313 Mill Street SE
     Salem, OR 97301-6307
(map)

(go around the front building to the right)



Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill:
The Thomas Kay Woolen Mill - designated an American Treasure by the National Park Service - which produced wool products from 1889 to 1962 and represents one of Oregon’s earliest and strongest industries.

The museum’s history is shared with visitors through individual and group tours, interpretation, speakers, living history, children’s programs, hands-on activities, special events, the museum store and rental facilities.

We strongly recommend that you visit
this historic site!


Updated 01/11/2012

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