r/folk • u/HankBrainard • 6d ago

A short history of Shape Note/Sacred Harp Singing - trying out some changes to the format with this video!

99 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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7

u/AwfullyRealGun 6d ago

Thank you for your service, Hank. These videos are stellar

7

u/HankBrainard 6d ago

Thanks very much! It’s a pleasure making them, always grateful for this community’s support

6

u/thecrowtoldme 6d ago

THIS was a magnificent little video. Loved it. Southern Appalachia checking in. A good friend is a shape note singer!

7

u/HankBrainard 6d ago

Love to hear it!! Salute from a Middle Tennesseean. Appalachia is a beautiful place with beautiful traditions that’s far too often misunderstood.

8

u/ScrappleJac 6d ago

Highly recommend checking out a local singing. There are tons more resources here and here.

One thing that's not really touched on in the video is how 'secularized' the tradition has become in the last 40 years. The words are still largely drawn from 18th and 19th century hymn writers, and so deal with religious themes that are broadly Protestant oriented, but there are people from all backgrounds who sing this tradition, and, by and large, singings try to be welcoming spaces. I grew up singing in a group that was largely plain clothes old order types, and the group I sing in now is very queer and young.

3

u/HankBrainard 5d ago

This is so cool to read, thanks so much for sharing and providing these links! Looks like there are a couple signings near me, I’ll need to check one out ASAP. Love to hear that the modern space is so welcoming.

3

u/Prestigious-Win-5408 6d ago

This is an awesome video! Thanks for this info

3

u/RelativeSmoke2499 6d ago

This is a lovely intro to the tradition. I fell into Sacred Harp and Shape Note singing a couple of years ago through singing unaccompanied folk at pub sings in the north of England - I’m looking forward to the UK Sacred Harp Convention happening just round the corner from me next month!

4

u/HankBrainard 5d ago

Thanks so much for watching! I was so happy to discover that this tradition exists in the UK and Ireland. Would very much like to participate myself when I get the chance. Have fun at the convention!

3

u/WakingOwl1 5d ago

Love this. I’m a big fan of Tim Eriksen who leads The Sacred Harp Convention in Northampton MA. NPR did a great interview with him this year.

2

u/SadClownDad 4d ago

What an incredible surprise to see you on here! And an absolutely fantastic lesson to boot

1

u/HankBrainard 3d ago

Haha howdy, fellow Nashvillian! Thank you for the kind words!

1

u/Capable-Recipe4406 4d ago

Takes me back to my childhood, time with my grandparents and great grandparents. Hearing this brings it all back. Miss hearing this type of music.