Sounds of the Holiday: Shape Note Singers Usher in December with a Shout
Posted by April Baer at December 4, 2006 07:53 AM
Today OPB begins an occasional December series of music for the holidays! We're traveling to places where Oregonians are making music--for the sheer joy of it.
Today begins with a visit to a Shape Note Sing.
Shape Note singing has a long and storied tradition in American music. Once you've heard it, you'll never forget it. Singers practice an alternate form of sight reading, and deliver in a vigorous, fervent style that values devotion over note-perfect precision. OPB's April Baer checked in with a Portland sing, and sends this audio postcard.
Hear the story (MP3, about 5 mins).
Want to find a sing in the Portland area? Click here!
For more information about Shape Note and the Sacred Hard tradition, try
this link.
Comments
Posted by: David Zaworski at December 4, 2006 09:11 AM
Just so no one is misled by the comment that shape-note singers value "devotion" -- the song texts come from a particular religious traditon, but the singers come from a full cross-section of beliefs. Buddhist, agnostic, Christian, Moslem, Wiccan ... For some the words are very meaningful and for others less so or maybe not at all.
But we do value devotion -- devotion to singing as a community practice that welcomes and values all people.
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Posted by: Jessica Beer at December 4, 2006 12:28 PM
For anyone interested in participating in shapenote singing in Portland, the local Sacred Harp group is offering an informal, one hour tutorial before our Second Sunday singing this month. Sunday, December 10th from 1:00 to 2:00pm at Waverly Heights UCC (3300 SE Woodward) in SE Portland, followed by a regular singing from 2:00 to 4:00pm. Come with questions, or just general interest ... and stay to sing! For more info, write to me at tunefulpower@gmail.com.