Harmonia Sacra / Sacred Harp

[Judas Maccabeus]

Yes, the scale repeats, but if you understand octaves it makes perfect sense. Unless I am misunderstanding your comment. Standard notation is exactly the same - E repeats every octave, so does F, G, A, etc etc.

I think what Barnhart is saying is that in the 7 note system the names don't repeat within an octave, but in the 4 note system they do.

Oh, OK. I wasn't aware of that. I assume that's what is sometimes called the Sacred Harp notation. I didn't realize this was in common use anywhere, outside of things like certain music clubs or societies. Shaped note singing as it is in many conservative Anabaptist churches of course uses the same scale as standard notation, just with shapes.

It is the 7-note (Aiken) system we use. Some sacred harp traditions use 7 notes as well. Most sacred harp singers use a four-note system. I have sung "pick up" with some primitive Baptists, and I was able to pick up their system in like 5 minutes. The difference in sound is that many of them sing 3 parts (Soprano and Tenor, Alto, Bass). They are also HORRIBLE at modulating volume. They are always double forte.

[mike]

I have sung "pick up" with some primitive Baptists, and I was able to pick up their system in like 5 minutes. The difference in sound is that many of them sing 3 parts (Soprano and Tenor, Alto, Bass). They are also HORRIBLE at modulating volume. They are always double forte.

They should be introduced to the pianoforte

[joshuabgood]

The double forte part is the part i like. It's like heavy metal acapella. and the solfege part first.

[Heirbyadoption]

I've been aiken to comment on the funky shaped notes in Harmonia Sacra. Depending on the edition you may find 3-part or 4-part arrangements, 4-shape or 7-shape notes, or even a mix to facilitate hip-hopping between them. But the most confusing part is that 606 has been renumbered 290.

I see what you did there...

[Heirbyadoption]

Most sacred harp singers use a four-note system. I have sung "pick up" with some primitive Baptists, and I was able to pick up their system in like 5 minutes. The difference in sound is that many of them sing 3 parts (Soprano and Tenor, Alto, Bass). They are also HORRIBLE at modulating volume. They are always double forte.

I used to sing with some of them down in Franklin Co VA out of their little unnoted hymnals and a couple noted ones. Maybe you can explain the system to me. I get the notation just fine (I'm a regular Sacred Harper, and I lead singing in our group with Aiken shape), but I could just never quite catch on to where they would throw in their slurs and jumps and drops on top of the original notation for the melodies. And even the lead line for the lined out stuff before the crowd would joined in never quite fit the melody...

[seinetsodumm]

A few comments on Sacred Harp Singing

I've sung from the old ones. Sacred Harp singing is pretty awesome. The two fa's thing is weird.

I agree, it is an awesome musical style. It does take some getting used to. The scale is fa so la fa so la mi. Just like the 7 note solfege, the brain adjusts and it works well.

I've never sung it with a group. If I remember correctly wasn't Funk's hymnal written with three parts, tenor/alto sharing the same line. That would distinguish it from the real sacred harp which is always four parts. It's been awhile, maybe my memory is incorrect.

Three part harmony was most common in the 19th century. It wasn't until close to the 20th century that sacred harp hymnals included alto, the fourth part. Adding alto was actually controversial in the sacred harp community. Some held to the old way of only singing three parts, though in time all books ended up adding the fourth part. There are still examples in the books though of 3 part songs. I can't remember off the top of my head if Harmonia Sacra was this way, but in sacred harp, the tenor is a mixed section that caries the melody. Treble is a harmony sang by male and females, bass by males (mostly) and alto by females. The other parts while supporting the tenor, usually have their own melody which harmonizes with the primary melody (often referred to as dispersed harmony). Hence the reason it sounds very pleasing when sang correctly, but terrible if the notes are not hit well. This is unlike tight harmony in most modern songbooks. If you look at the Church Hymnal, a Mennonite book published in the early 20th century, you will see remnants of this dispersed style of harmony.

Yes, the scale repeats, but if you understand octaves it makes perfect sense. Unless I am misunderstanding your comment. Standard notation is exactly the same - E repeats every octave, so does F, G, A, etc etc.

I think what Barnhart is saying is that in the 7 note system the names don't repeat within an octave, but in the 4 note system they do.

Yes this is right. Real Harmonia Sacra is all four shapes. Not the newer seven. Fa for example has two separate pitches in the same octave.

The Harmonia Sacra was originally written in four shaped notation, Joseph Funk was one of the pioneers in using the seven shape notation. His shapes mostly matched the Aikin shapes, with the exception of one shape. If my memory serves me correctly, his shape for ti was different.

It is the 7-note (Aiken) system we use. Some sacred harp traditions use 7 notes as well. Most sacred harp singers use a four-note system. I have sung "pick up" with some primitive Baptists, and I was able to pick up their system in like 5 minutes. The difference in sound is that many of them sing 3 parts (Soprano and Tenor, Alto, Bass). They are also HORRIBLE at modulating volume. They are always double forte.

Horrible would be a subjective assessment. Most singers take pride and joy in the forte fortissimo dynamic that Sacred Harp is sang in.

To adequately enjoy the Sacred Harp experience, my advice is don't try to compare Sacred Harp to the music we Anabaptist sing. Instead, enjoy it as its own flavor.

[barnhart]

There is a sacred harp monthly singing near me and I have thought of visiting. If only I had more time and energy.

[Grace]

Sacred Harp singing even made it into a movie, "Cold Mountian" starring Nicole Kidman.

[Heirbyadoption]

Sacred Harp singing even made it into a movie, "Cold Mountian" starring Nicole Kidman.

It also showed up in the "Lawless" move about Franklin County PA moonshiners, feebly attempting to portray a group of Dunkards/OGBBs as Sacred Harp singers (rare if so, and never in worship services).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-Al98JQSUM&t=1s

[R7ehr]

Sacred Harp singing even made it into a movie, "Cold Mountian" starring Nicole Kidman.

They didn’t care to stay there long enough to finish the song.
But I liked the segregated seating. And the singing.