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Recent Newsletter Articles
- Introducing Vol. 6, No. 2 of the Sacred Harp Publishing Company Newsletter
- Shape-Note Singing in Mississippi: A Preliminary History
- Building Community Harmony: Thirty-Three Years of Illinois State Sacred Harp Conventions
- Remembering Toney Smith: Singer, Leader, Teacher, Organizer, Reviser, and Encourager
- B. M. Smith: A Loving, Caring Spirit and Front Bench Stalwart
- In Memory of Earlis McGraw, July 27, 1935–June 8, 2016
- What I’ve Learned from My Sacred Harp Elders
- Bound Together: What Makes an Effective Pairing of Text and Tune
- The “Stacked Fourths” Chord: A Canonical Discord in The Sacred Harp
- Notes on Repairing Songbooks
Newsletter Article Categories
- Citizen of the Month (5)
- Features (4)
- Friends Who've Gone Before (10)
- Hamrick on The Sacred Harp (8)
- Harpeth Valley News (4)
- Help Me To Sing (2)
- Introduction (13)
- Just a Minute (7)
- National Newsletter (5)
- News (20)
- Number, Measure, Weight (6)
- Of Harmony and Composition (4)
- Read the Old Paths (28)
- Sacred Harp Museum (4)
- Sightings (1)
- Singing Reports (23)
- Unto the Raptured Eye (1)
Monthly Archives: December 2013
Introducing Vol. 2, No. 3 of the Sacred Harp Publishing Company Newsletter
The fifth issue of the Sacred Harp Publishing Company Newsletter recounts the extraordinary lives and achievements of significant figures across Sacred Harp’s history and presents new insights drawn from the minutes of Sacred Harp singings. Our issue begins with Sacred Harp Publishing … Continue reading
Posted in Introduction
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Remembering Those Who’ve Gone Before: Sacred Harp Publishing Company 2013 Citation Awards
On October 11, 1969, the Sacred Harp Publishing Company began a practice that continues to this day. The Board of Directors voted to present citations to “honor and express appreciation to loyal supporters and dedicated singers for outstanding work in … Continue reading
Posted in Friends Who've Gone Before
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Uncle Tom Denson’s Last Lesson: Observations and Impressions of a Son
Introduction: Observations and Impressions of a Grandson From the earliest years of my life I have heard of my grandfather, Tom Denson. “Pappy Denson,” “Dad Thomas,” “Uncle Tom,” “Professor Denson,” T. J. Denson, Thomas Jackson Denson, and “Mr. Denson” are … Continue reading
Posted in Read the Old Paths
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“Melancholy Day”: Letters of Condolence after the Death of Thomas Jackson Denson
Editors’ Note: Sacred Harp singers from across the South wrote to Paine Denson expressing their condolences and sharing their memories after the death of his father, singing school teacher, leader, and composer Thomas Jackson Denson. T. J.’s death on September 14, … Continue reading
Posted in Read the Old Paths
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“Oh, What a Happy Time”: The NEA National Heritage Fellows Concert in Washington D.C.
What are your hobbies? What are you passionate about? I bet most of you will say sports, reading, or cooking, right? Well, for me and many others, music is a passion—but not just any music: Sacred Harp singing. This tradition … Continue reading
Posted in Singing Reports
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Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church Singing, July 4, 1997: M. B. Forbes Playing the Harmonica
Anyone browsing the 1997 minutes from the singing at Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church in Ashland, Alabama might be a bit surprised to read of this lesson: “M. B. Forbes 164, 59 (on his harmonica).” After dinner, M. B. Forbes … Continue reading
Posted in Just a Minute
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The Cold Mountain Bump: Hollywood’s Effect on Sacred Harp Songs and Singers
Almost every Sacred Harp singer has heard of the film Cold Mountain, the 2003 Academy-Award-winning motion picture which featured a pair of songs from The Sacred Harp: “I’m Going Home” (p. 282) and “Idumea” (p. 47b). The film led to an … Continue reading
Posted in Number, Measure, Weight
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“There Are More Singings Now Than Ever Before”: Hugh McGraw Addresses the Harpeth Valley Singers
Editors’ note: In 1964, Hugh McGraw, then executive secretary of the Sacred Harp Publishing Company, gave a talk on the past, present, and future of Sacred Harp singing for the Harpeth Valley, Tennessee, Sacred Harp singers. His audience included prominent … Continue reading
Posted in Read the Old Paths
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William Walker: Carolina Contributor to American Music
Introduction When it comes to the hymnody of the nineteenth century South, The Sacred Harp often comes to mind. After all, The Sacred Harp is still celebrated in singing practically every weekend across the United States. One singing school teacher … Continue reading
Posted in Read the Old Paths
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