Singing School ~ Shape Note Music
Saturday, March 7th, 11:00 am, Milne Library
Shape Note Music, sometimes known as Sacred Harp Music, is an indigenous school of choral composition which dates originally from the late colonial/early federal era in our country. Singing masters, such as Justin Morgan, or William Billings (see photo on left), would travel the countryside teaching parishioners to read music to improve their singing of the hymns on Sunday. Come hear more about this unique type of music!
Singing School is a group of local amateur singers which can vary in number from four to a great unwieldy choir, but usually includes a core comprised of Deborah Burns, Karen Swann, Doug Paisley, Andy Burr, Jared Polens, Paul McFarland, and Amrita Lash. All are enthusiastic singers of the early American music. A popular example of a hymn which started in the Shape Note tradition is Amazing Grace. If you have never heard shape note music, this performance will show you that it is fun, uplifting, morbid, spooky, and loud – often all at once!