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| The four-shape system used in The Sacred Harp and many other tune books dates from the early
19th century. Shaped noteheads correspond to syllables which give clues to relative pitch. This American tradition died out in the
North while remaining strong in the South. A great revival began in the 1960s among members of the Folklore Society of Greater
Washington and quickly spread to the rest of the country, notably to the Shenandoah Valley.
Find extensive information on Sacred Harp Singing. The Shenandoah Valley has its own tradition of shapenote music. See the entire book on line: Harmonia Sacra. A list of Harmonia Sacra singings is maintained on line. A Mennonite tradition, this hymn book, which employs one of several different seven-shape notation systems, has been preserved continuously in the Valley since 1832, when the first edition of Harmonia Sacra was published (as Genuine Church Music) by Joseph Funk. Singers Glen, near Harrisonburg, was first settled in 1809 by Joseph Funk and other descendants of German Anabaptists. Recently a new book has been compiled: The Shenandoah Harmony, whose core is a collection of songs published by Ananias Davisson from 1815 to 1825 in the Shenandoah Valley. More information on the book and how to purchase it is available, along with downloadable tunes, at shenandoahharmony.com. Rising Dove Bookstore stocks several tune books and CDs for sale. The Sacred Harp: 1991 Edition $22.50 each. Make checks payable to Miriam A. Kilmer. By ordering multiple copies, I am able to sell individual books for less than the cost of one book with shipping and handling directly from the publisher; arrange to pick up your copy at a local singing. Proceeds are used to buy more copies for distribution at singings. Order The Sacred Harp: 1991 Edition directly from the publisher. An American Christmas Harp $20.00 each. All Christmas songs from a number of tune books, this book compiled by Karen Willard is readily available on the internet. An American Christmas Harp An Eclectic Harmony $25.75 each. This wonderful book, first published in 1999, is out of print, but I have access to a number of copies, and I'm willing to sell them at the original price adjusted for inflation. An Eclectic Harmony II $24.22 each. I have just a few copies left. This is the original price adjusted for inflation. Smithsonian in your Classroom: "A Shape-Notes Singing Lesson," October 2000 $5.00 each. These delightful little magazines are out of print. Many of the graphics and photographs are the work of Miriam A. Kilmer. The child on the cover and the young teen leading barefoot are both Berryville shots. You may download a free copy here: smithsonianeducation.org Present Joys, Blessings Past: The 1998 Potomac River Sacred Harp Singing Convention $15.00 each (set of 2 CDs). This double CD of Sacred Harp Singing from the Potomac River Convention is a steal at $15.00. Many of the singers on this recording live in the Shenandoah Valley. Proceeds benefit Sacred Harp Singing through the Folklore Society of Greater Washington. Please order here: Present Joys, Blessings Past If you are ordering books or CDs from Rising Dove Bookstore, please add $5.00 shipping and handling for each item, or email me for bulk discounts. You may also avoid shipping and handling charges by arranging to pick up your goods at a Potomac River Singing. After reserving your item by email, send your check to: Miriam A. Kilmer 4503 Hazeltine CT APT J Alexandria VA 22312 My email address and my PayPal ID: miriam (at) risingdove (dot) com More information on shapenote tunebooks and how to acquire them: Shapenote Resources Purchase through Amazon.com: Rising Dove Bookstore: Shapenotes |
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