Shape Note Music: Audio
 
Books
 
Shape Note Christmas Music at Amazon.com
Sacred Harp MP3
at Amazon.com
 
       The following (more-or-less) alphabetical list is intended as a companion to Steven Sabols' Sacred Harp and Related Shape-Note Music: Resources, where you will find reviews for most of them. At Berkley Moore's searchable Shape Note Recording Index, you can find tune-lists for many recording titles, and you can search by a tune name to discover which recordings include it. Berkley Moore has an updated list (January 2009) with many more recordings at Recordings Index. Remember to check my search page also; new listings appear frequently, especially among used recordings.


A-B   C-D   E-G   H-K   L-N   O-P   Q-S   T-Z

 

 
All Hayle to the Days; Celia Harper Conducting Harper's Hamper   Cala-United   Audio CD
 
American Christmas: Shapenote Carols from New England and Appalachia; Anonymous, William Billings, Edward French, R. Herron, Jeremiah Ingalls, John Massengale, John G. McCurry, Daniel Read, Joseph Stephenson, Timothy Swan, William Harvey Jr. Swan, Christmas Traditional, Composers   Wesley Rogers (Performer)   Loft Recordings (August 5, 2003) Audio CD
       Amazon.com
 
American Christmas; Anonymous, George Frederick Handel, John Jacob Niles, American Traditional, Christmas Traditional, John Francis Wade (Composers)   Frederick Jodry, Joel Cohen (Conductors)   Boston Camerata (Performer)   Erato (September 7, 1993) Audio CD
 
Some of the tracks are Shape-note hymns.
 
1. I. Prepare The Way: Watchman Of Zion [of the Mennonite shape-note tradition, according to M. J. Smith, review at Amazon.]
 
2. I. Prepare The Way: Kingsbridge [in
The American Harmony. Performed with instruments, rather than women's voices; Cohen states that this reflects what we know about early practice in English country churches.] Kingsbridge was incoporated into The Sacred Harp.]
 
3. I. Prepare The Way: Bozrah [in several shape note tune books, including
The Sacred Harp, where the tune name is "The Traveler".]
 
4. I. Prepare The Way: Baptismal Anthem ["Baptismal Anthem is from
the Original Sacred Harp with the addition of the alto line but no shapes." - M. J. Smith, review at Amazon.]
 
5. II. A Virgin Unspotted: A Christmas Hymn (Stephenson) [in
Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music Part Second, 1813]
 
6. II. A Virgin Unspotted: A Virgin Most Pure - A Virgin Unspotted
 
7. II. A Virgin Unspotted: Boston
[in The Sacred Harp tune name is "Boston."]
 
8. III. Lo, The Bridegroom: The Heavenly Courtier
 
9. III. Lo, The Bridegroom: Pretty Home
 
10. III. Lo, The Bridegroom: The Midnight Cry [19th c., American; it is in
The Sacred Harp.]
 
11. IV. I Wonder As I Wander: Wayfaring Stranger [flute solo]
[it's in The Sacred Harp]
 
12. IV. I Wonder As I Wander: Slow Traveller
 
13. IV. I Wonder As I Wander: I Wonder As I Wander
 
14. IV. I Wonder As I Wander: Lullay, Thou Tiny Little Child
 
15. V. Shepherds Rejoice: Lovely Vine
[in The Christian Harmony North Carolina and Alabama)."]
 
16. V. Shepherds Rejoice: Adeste Fideles
[in The Sacred Harp tune name is "Portuguese Hymn"]
 
17. V. Shepherds Rejoice: Still Water
 
18. V. Shepherds Rejoice: While Shepherds Watched (Folksong)
 
19. V. Shepherds Rejoice: Sherburne [in The Sacred Harp
 
20. V. Shepherds Rejoice: Shepherds Rejoice
[The Sacred Harp tune name is "Plenary".]
 
21. VI. Light Of The World: Fulfilment [The Sacred Harp spelling of the tune name is "Fulfillment".]
 
22. VI. Light Of The World: Fulfilment
 
23. VI. Light Of The World: Hush My Babe, Lie Still And Slumber
[in The Sacred Harp tune name is "Charlestown".]
 
24. VI. Light Of The World: Jesus The Light Of The World
 
25. VI. Light Of The World: Joy To The World [in
The Continental Harmony, "Father" Kemp [R. C. Kemp], 1857.]
 
       Amazon.com        Amazon Dealers - New        Amazon Dealers - Used

 
The American Vocalist ~ Spirituals, 1850-1870; William Billings, Daniel Read, et al., Composers.   (October 20, 1992)   Audio CD
Joel Cohen conducting the Boston Camerata, Schola Cantorum Boston, et al.
       Amazon.com

 
An American Idyll; Daniel McCabe, et al.   Fleur De Son - #57924, June 24, 1997   Audio CD
       Amazon.com

 
Christmas in Early America; Columbus Consort   Audio CD/MP3
       Amazon.com
 
Desire For Piety / Wiregrass Sacred Harp Singers; Benjamin Franklin White, Henry G. Mann, et al., Composers.   New World Records (June 10, 1997)   Audio CD
       Amazon.com
 
Folk Music U.S.A.: Vol. 1; MP3
       Rocky Road: Shape-Note Singing

 
Glory Shone Around: A Christmas Collection; Northampton Harmony, Tony Trischka et al.   Rounder Records, 1995
Includes "Sherburne" ("Glory Shone Around")     Sound Samples Available
       Cassette   Amazon.com
       Audio CD   Amazon.com

 
In the Spirit: Alabama's Sacred Music Traditions; Henry Willett, editor   Black Belt Press   Paperback & Audio CD   *OP
       Amazon.com
       Search for it at Alibris.comicon

 
Joe Beasley Memorial Sacred Harp Album
Underwritten by the Joe Beasley Memorial Foundation. This 2-CD or 2-tape set, each with a 28-page booklet, has tunes that Joe recorded in 1954 at an Old Flatwoods (Nauvoo, AL) night singing, in 1976 and 1977 at Concord (Winfield, AL), and in 1978 at the Shady Grove (Double Springs, AL) Dutch Treat Singing.
       Alternate

 
Kisses Sweeter Than Wine; The Weavers.   Omega Classics (February 14, 1994)   Audio CD Set (2)
This Two-CD Set includes one track entitled "Two Shape Note Hymns" - (previously unreleased). One of the two hymns is "Evening Shade." They sing it very fast!
       Amazon.com

 
A Land of Pure Delight: William Billings: Anthems; William Billings.   Paul Hillier conducting His Majesties Clerkes.   Harmonia Mundi (Fra) - #907048 (March 2, 1992)   Audio CD
       Amazon.com

 
Liberty Tree; Joel Cohen, Boston Camerata.   Wea/Atlantic/Erato - #21668, August 18, 1998   Audio CD
       Amazon.com

 
Music of the American Revolution; Milnes, McCoy, et al.   New World Records - #80276 (May 29, 1996)   Audio CD
This is not Shape Note Music per se; however, Neely Bruce is one of the Conductors. "Of interest to shape-note singers are four choral pieces by composers Billings ("Lamentation Over Boston"and "Independence") and Wood ("Warren" and "A Hymn on Peace")." - from Steven Sabol's description
       Amazon.com

 
Present Joys, Blessings Past; The 1998 Potomac River Sacred Harp Singing Convention
Two-CD Set Field Recording: Singing from The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition, The B. F. White Sacred Harp, 1992 Cooper Edition, and "New Traditions" (songs recently composed in the Sacred Harp Tradition). Underwritten by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington through the Susan Wantland Memorial Fund for Shape-Note Singing. This recording is dedicated to her memory.
       order information

 
Rivers Of Delight; Word Of Mouth Chorus   Wea/Atlantic/Nonesuch - #71360, July 25, 1989.   Audio CD
       Amazon.com

 
Sacred Harp Singing; Alabama Sacred Harp Singing Convention of August 1942   (January 13, 1998)   Audio CD
See Warren Steel's Review
       
"Alabama Singing Convention" Sound Samples Available
       Amazon.com

 
The Shapenote Album; Loft Recordings - #1042 (August 7, 2001)   Audio CD
Composers: Justin Morgan, Daniel Read, et al.
       Amazon.com

 
Showers of Blessings
      From the 1995 Garden State Sacred Harp Convention - more than 30 songs from this strong and joyous singing. An excellent learning and sing-along recording. Cassette $12. Now also available on CD, $17. (Both prices include postage.)
       Alternate

 
The Sound of the Dove: Singing in Appalachian Primitive Baptist Churches (Music in American Life); Beverly Bush Patterson.   University of Illinois Press (Pro Ref, March 1995)   Audio CD
Steven Sabol's Review of the recording
       Amazon.com

 
Southern Harmony; Book & CD; see Books
 
Southern Harmony; William / Gregg Smith Duckworth Singers, 1996   Audio CD
       Amazon.com

 
Southern Journey, Vol. 9: Harp Of A Thousand Strings - All Day Singing From The Sacred Harp; Alan Lomax Collection (Rounder Series), Southern Journey (Rounder Series), Alabama Sacred Harp Singers.   (August 10, 1998)   Audio CD
       Amazon.com

 
Southern Journey, Vol. 10: And Glory Shone Around - More All Day Singing From The Sacred Harp; Alan Lomax Collection (Rounder Series), Southern Journey (Rounder Series), Alabama Sacred Harp Singers.   (August 10, 1998)   Audio CD
       Amazon.com

 
The Colored Sacred Harp; Wiregrass Sacred Harp Singers.
See Warren Steel's Review
       Audio CD     Sound Samples Available
       Amazon.com

 
The Social Harp ~ Early American Shape-Note Songs; sung by traditional singers led by Hugh McGraw (Rounder 0094, August 2, 1994)   Audio CD
       Amazon.com

 
White Spirituals From The Sacred Harp; Alabama Sacred Harp Convention.   Audio CD
       Amazon.com
Includes "Sherburne" MP3

       Amazon.com (While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks)

 
Southern Journey, V. 9: Harp of a Thousand Strings ~ All Day Singing From the Sacred Harp;
       Amazon.com
       Includes these Christmas selections:
           Christmas Anthem
           Oxford
           Milford

 
Western Massachusetts Sacred Harp Convention;   MP3
       Amazon.com
       57 songs, including "Present Joys"
       Amazon.com
Audio       Books