Sacred Harp and Shape Note Singing: 1922-1950s

by N/A

Overview

Introduced in the 1800s, shape note singing was a popular form of choral music in the American South. In the shape note style, musical notes are printed using special shapes that help the reader identify them on the musical scale. Eschewing the more complex figures of standard musical notation, shape note singing was accessible and easily learned, and the resulting group was both primitive and powerful. The Sacred Harp, published in 1844 by Benjamin Franklin White and Elisha J. King, was a gospel tune book printed in shape notes that spawned an entire style that became known as Sacred Harp singing. This exhaustive four-disc collection from British jazz and blues label JSP features three decades' worth of wonderful field recordings from a variety of different choirs and vocal groups singing in the shape note and Sacred Harp tradition. The 81 tracks featured here are from the private collection of noted musicologist Chris King beginning in 1922 and spanning into the mid-'50s. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	07/22/2014
Label:	Jsp / Jsp Records
UPC:	0788065717520
Rank:	100631

Tracks

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-So-La Singers
6. Jesus Walks with Me  -  Fa-So-La Singers
7. Happy on the Way  -  Fa-So-La Singers
8. Weeping on the Way  -  Rosewell Sacred Harp Quartet
9. Odem  -  Rosewell 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 Harris
20. My Christian Friends in Bonds of Love  -  Elder Golden Harris

Disc 2

21. Rocky Road  -  Alabama Sacred Harp Singers
22. Present Joys  -  Alabama Sacred Harp Singers
23. Religion Is a Fortune  -  Alabama Sacred Harp Singers  - Whit Denson
24. Cuba  -  Alabama Sacred Harp Singers  - Whit Denson
25. The Happy Sailor  -  Denson's Sacred Harp Singers Of Arley
26. Protection  -  Denson's Sacred Harp Singers Of Arley
27. Ninety Fifth  -  Denson's Sacred Harp Singers Of Arley
28. The Christian Hope  -  Denson's Sacred Harp Singers Of Arley
29. Bells of Love  -  Middle Georgia Singing Convention
30. Walking with My King  -  Middle Georgia Singing Convention
31. Return Again  - W.A. Malone  -  Okeh Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers
32. Penick  - W.A. Malone  -  Okeh Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers
33. Edom  - W.A. Malone  -  Okeh Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers
34. Parting Hand  - W.A. Malone  -  Okeh Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers
35. Blooming Youth  -  Huggins & Phillips Sacred Harp Singers
36. Lovers of the Lord  -  Huggins & Phillips Sacred Harp Singers
37. The Christian's Flight  -  Wells
38. North Port  -  Wells
39. The Promised Land  -  Pioneer Sacred Harp Singers
40. Raymond  -  Pioneer Sacred Harp Singers

Disc 3

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

Disc 4

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  - Delilah Denson  - Owel W. Denson  - Oren Adolphes Parris
67. The Good Old Way  - Delilah Denson  - Owel W. Denson  - Oren Adolphes Parris
68. The Heavenly Port  - Delilah Denson  - Owel W. Denson  - Oren Adolphes Parris
69. Blooming Youth  - Delilah Denson  - Owel W. Denson  - Oren Adolphes Parris
70. Ragan  - Delilah Denson  - Owel W. Denson  - Oren Adolphes Parris
71. Raymond  - Delilah Denson  - Owel W. Denson  - Oren Adolphes Parris
72. Christian Soldier  - Nancy Brown  -  Denson Quartet  - R.E. "Bob" Denson
73. I'm on My Journey Home  - Nancy Brown  -  Denson Quartet  - R.E. "Bob" Denson
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  - Gus Boaz  - Ira Mashburn  -  Original Sacred Harp Choir
79. Canaan's Land  - Gus Boaz  - Ira Mashburn  -  Original Sacred Harp Choir
80. Pleyel's Hymn  - Gus Boaz  - Ira Mashburn  -  Original Sacred Harp Choir
81. New Britain  - Gus Boaz  - Ira Mashburn  -  Original Sacred Harp Choir

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Georgia Sacred Harp Quartet   Primary Artist
Middle Georgia Singing Convention   Primary Artist
Original Sacred Harp Choir   Primary Artist
Denson's Sacred Harp Singers Of Arley, Alabama   Primary Artist
Elder Golden Harris   Primary Artist,Vocals,Fiddle
Huggins & Phillips Sacred Harp Singers   Primary Artist
Daniels-Deason Sacred Harp Singers   Primary Artist
Okeh Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers   Primary Artist
Rosewell Sacred Harp Quartet   Primary Artist
The Denson Quartet   Primary Artist
Fa-So-La Singers   Primary Artist
Pioneer Sacred Harp Singers   Primary Artist
Bassett Quartet   Primary Artist
Moody Bible Sacred Harp Singers   Primary Artist
Allison's Sacred Harp Singers   Primary Artist
Alabama Sacred Harp Singers   Primary Artist
Lee Wells & His Jasper Alabama Scared Harp Singers   Primary Artist
Dye's Sacred Harp Singers   Primary Artist
Oren Adolphes Parris   Vocals
Whit Denson   Director
Nancy Brown   Vocals
W.A. Malone   Conductor
Delilah Denson   Vocals
Owel W. Denson   Vocals
Ira Mashburn   Guitar
Gus Boaz   Fiddle
R.E. "Bob" Denson   Tenor (Vocal)

Technical Credits

Pat Harrison   Annotation