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

 

Watch some examples of
Sacred Harp singing:

Bridgett Hill leads Bridgewater 276

Violet Thomason leads Montgomery
189

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

Some other good links:

Portland Sacred Harp web site

Fasola.org The complete resource


S
acred Harp on Wikipedia


The 1991 Denson 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".

Since you may be wondering
what this is...

start by clicking here to watch a video from OPB's "Oregon Art Beat" featuring Sacred Harp singing in Portland, OR.

Good news!! Now there are 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. No experience is required, 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 shape notes. The songs are easy to learn, and are four-part choral pieces for men's and women's voices. They are meant to be sung unaccompanied and in full voice, or loud, although to sing loud is never a requirement for participation.

The songs we sing are from 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. It has since been revised and is now referred to as the 1991 Denson Revision. 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, our cost.

We are looking forward to having this wonderful American tradition take off in Salem. Please join us and help us to sing!

SALEM AREA SINGINGS
Newcomers welcome!
No experience necessary - really!
Feel free to sing or just listen!

Regularly scheduled singings:

Monday evenings, 7:00pm to 9:00 pm

1st and 2nd Mondays (Feb 1 & 8)
First Congregational UCC
700 Marion St. NE, Salem, OR



3rd and 4th Mondays (Feb 15 & 22)
Willamette Lutheran Homes Chapel
7693 Wheatland Road N, Keizer
, OR
  
Email me here with questions.

In the event of changes, this site have the most
up-to-date information including any special events.

Thank you!
Come and join the song!

 

 


Site design by Ouch Studios | Photographs by Melissa Stephenson / Last updated 02/08/2010 Hit Counters