Various Artists - Sacred Harp & Shape Note Singing / Various (CD)

The Sacred Harp singing style is unique to America, treasured today both for it's hauntingly attractive harmonies and it's links to a seemingly lost rural past. Evolving from church singing-school organizations of the 18th century, it was and remains a community movement, with all-day singing conventions as much a social as a musical gathering, these days concentrated mainly in the Deep South. The main source for material is still B. F. White & E. J. King's 'The Sacred Harp' - first published in 1844. The term 'shape note' comes from the book's system of musical notation - symbols being used rather than the more familiar 'staff' method. Here, from it's heartlands of Georgia and Alabama - but also from locations as far-flung as New York and Indiana, is a singular music for too long thrust to the sidelines.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Amazing Grace - Dye's Sacred Harp Singers
2. How Firm a Foundation - Dye's Sacred Harp Singers
3. Soar Away - Denson Quartet
4. Sabbath Morning - Denson Quartet
5. Rejoicing on the Way - Fa Sol la Singers
6. Jesus Walks with Me - Fa Sol la Singers
7. Happy on the Way - Fa Sol la Singers
8. Weeping Mary - Roswell Sacred Harp Quartet
9. Odem - Roswell Sacred Harp Quartet
10. Bound for Canaan - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
11. Antioch - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
12. Sweet Prospect - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
13. The Old Ship of Zion - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
14. Sweet Canaan - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
15. Exhilaration - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
16. Long Sought Home - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
17. Weeping Pilgrim - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
18. The Loved Ones - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
19. My God the Spring of All My Joys - Elder Golden P Harris
20. My Christian Friends in Bonds of Love - Elder Golden P Harris
21. Rocky Road - Alabama Sacred Heart Singers
22. Present Joys - Alabama Sacred Heart Singers
23. Religion Is a Fortune - Alabama Sacred Heart Singers
24. Cuba - Alabama Sacred Heart Singers
25. The Happy Sailor - Denson's Sacred Heart Singers of Arley, Alabama
26. Protection - Denson's Sacred Heart Singers of Arley, Alabama
27. Ninety Fifth - Denson's Sacred Heart Singers of Arley, Alabama
28. The Christian Hope - Denson's Sacred Heart Singers of Arley, Alabama
29. Bells of Love - Middle Georgia Singing Convention No
30. Walking with My King - Middle Georgia Singing Convention No
31. Return Again - Okehatlanta Sacred Harp Singers
32. Penick - Okeh-Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers
33. Edom - Okeh-Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers
34. Parting Hand - Okeh-Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers
35. Blooming Youth - Huggins ; Philips Sacred Harp Singers
36. Lovers of the Lord - Huggins ; Philips Sacred Harp Singers
37. The Christian's Flight - Lee Wells ; His Jasper Alabama Sacred Harp Singers
38. North Port - Lee Wells ; His Jasper Alabama Sacred Harp Singers
39. The Promised Land - Pioneer Sacred Harp Singers
40. Raymond - Pioneer Sacred Harp Singers
41. The Heavenly Port - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
42. Hallelujah - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
43. The Golden Harp - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
44. Heaven's My Home - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
45. I'm a Long Time Travelling Away from Home - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
46. I Belong to This Band - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
47. Sharpsburg - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
48. Murillo's Lesson - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
49. Jewett - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
50. Pisgah - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
51. Primrose Hill - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
52. Weeping Mary - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
53. Penick - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
54. Sweet Morning - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
55. Esther - Allison's Sacred Harp Singers
56. Pryel's Hymn - Daniels-Deason Sacred Harp Singers
57. Hallelujah - Daniels-Deason Sacred Harp Singers
58. Primrose Hill - Daniels-Deason Sacred Harp Singers
59. Coronation - Daniels-Deason Sacred Harp Singers
60. Jubilee - Bassett Quartet
61. I'm Not Ashamed of Jesus - Bassett Quartet
62. Land of Beulah - Dye's Sacred Harp Singers
63. Calvary - Dye's Sacred Harp Singers
64. Victoria - Dye's Sacred Harp Singers
65. Bethel - Dye's Sacred Harp Singers
66. Conversion - Denson-Parris Sacred Harp Singers
67. The Good Old Way - Denson-Parris Sacred Harp Singers
68. The Heavenly Port - Denson-Parris Sacred Harp Singers
69. Blooming Youth - Denson-Parris Sacred Harp Singers
70. Ragan - Denson-Parris Sacred Harp Singers
71. Raymond - Denson-Parris Sacred Harp Singers
72. Christian Soldier - Denson Quartet
73. I'm on My Journey Home - Denson Quartet
74. Wondrous Love - Georgia Sacred Harp Quartet
75. Windham - Georgia Sacred Harp Quartet
76. Liberty - Moody Bible Sacred Harp Singers
77. In That Morning - Moody Bible Sacred Harp Singers
78. Soft Music - Original Sacred Harp Choir
79. Canaans Land - Original Sacred Harp Choir
80. Pleyel's Hymn - Original Sacred Harp Choir
81. New Britain - Original Sacred Harp Choir