Ordering The Sacred Harp
Buy yourself a copy of The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition songbook:
the best collection of sacred songs, hymns, odes, and anthems ever offered the singing public for general use.
Also available from the Sacred Harp Publishing Company
Like Cords Around My Heart Audiobook
By Buell Cobb. Cobb’s acclaimed Sacred Harp memoir brings to life singers and singings of decades past with poignancy and wit. Audiobook features 6 CDs with a digital download and a booklet with preface, author notes, and photos. More info »
Original Sacred Harp: Centennial Edition
Edited by Joseph Stephen James. Centennial Edition edited by Jesse P. Karlsberg. Commemorative reprint of a much-loved 1911 historical edition of The Sacred Harp, with a new introduction on the book’s legacy and context. More info »
The Makers of the Sacred Harp
By Warren Steel with Richard Hulan. The long-awaited companion to The Sacred Harp, tracing the sources of every tune and text in our songbook, from the work of B. F. White and E. J. King to the contributions by various composers to the 1991 edition. More info »
The Legacy of the
Sacred Harp
By Chloe Webb. Curiosity about Webb’s grandmother’s tattered 1869 edition of The Sacred Harp songbook, sparked a quest to reconnect with Dumas family ancestors who composed, sang, and lived by the words of The Sacred Harp. More info »
Revision of The Sacred Harp Approved
The Board of Directors of the Sacred Harp Publishing Company unanimously approved a revision of The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition. David Ivey has agreed to serve as the chair of the Music Committee. This decision builds on discussions with members of the singing community and among the board over the last several years. We anticipate that the revision process will take 4–5 years. The board is grateful to David for agreeing to take on this role and looks forward to sharing information with the community throughout the revision process.
Read The Sacred Harp Publishing Company Newsletter
The Newsletter features reports from Sacred Harp singings around the world, biographies of Sacred Harp singers, news, and other items.
Vol. 6, No. 2
- “Introduction,” Jesse P. Karlsberg and Nathan Rees
- “Shape-Note Singing in Mississippi: A Preliminary History,” David Warren Steel
- “Building Community Harmony: Thirty-Three Years of Illinois State Sacred Harp Conventions,” Janet Fraembs
- “Remembering Toney Smith: Singer, Leader, Teacher, Organizer, Reviser, and Encourager,” David Ivey
- “B. M. Smith: A Loving, Caring Spirit and Front Bench Stalwart,” Karen Rollins
- “In Memory of Earlis McGraw, July 27, 1935–June 8, 2016,” Rebecca Over
- “What I’ve Learned from My Sacred Harp Elders,” Kathy Williams (Bowdon, GA)
- “Bound Together: What Makes an Effective Pairing of Text and Tune,” Robert T. Kelley
- “The ‘Stacked Fourths’ Chord: A Canonical Discord in The Sacred Harp,” David Wright
- “Notes on Repairing Songbooks,” Alison Brown
Online Exhibition: The United Sacred Harp Musical Association
Since its first session in Atlanta in 1905, the United Sacred Harp Musical Association, commonly known as the United Convention, has affected the form of The Sacred Harp and public consciousness of our traditions. The story of the United Convention—told here through recordings, photos, and more—offers a fascinating perspective on the history of Sacred Harp singing in the twentieth century and beyond.