C major scale in shape notes, four-shape system
of the Sacred Harp. (From Wikipedia)
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C major scale in shape notes, four-shape system
of the Sacred Harp. (From Wikipedia)
|
 |
Sacred Harp "Rudiments" from 1911 edition of
the Original Sacred Harp.
Image courtesy of Emory University Pitts Theology Library. |
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What gives Sacred Harp singing its haunting,
ancient sound?
In Sacred Harp music, the tenor part may carry
the melody, but each of the other parts (bass, alto, treble) have
important roles. Composers also make use of parallel fifths, in
which an
interval
of a fifth is employed consecutively, and Sacred Harp composers
consider two notes, often fifths, sufficient for a chord. Sacred
Harp music includes unique performance practices. For example,
all
songs are sung loudly. Participants sing virtually at the top of
their voices, though the falling and rising of the leader's arm
can indicate where accents should be placed. Music composed in
this
style may feature dispersed harmony, in which the parts cross over
each other rather than running parallel. Both the tenor and treble sections include men and women, creating the effect of a six-part, rather than a four-part, harmony. Sacred Harp music frequently includes fuging tunes, which incorporate a technique similar to singing in rounds. The different parts enter at different intervals as they repeat a line. The Wootten family sings "Northfield" (1:10 min.) RealMedia | Windows Media | QuickTime |
