Customer Reviews

Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp [Two-Disc Special Edition]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This wonderful documentary is the first about Sacred Harp singing, a form of a cappella, shape note hymn singing. It has been sung in country churches in southern U.S. for over 200 years. Original Sacred Harp - Denson Revision 1987 Standard Melodies is a 160 year old shape note hymnal, which preserves some of the oldest songs in America. The filmmakers, Matt and Erica Hinton spent seven years making this film focusing on the "Lost Tonal Tribe".

Amazon's product review is very good, but the "AmericanaRoots" review is truly outstanding. Be sure to click on the "See all Editorial Reviews" button and read that review if you have any interest in this form of music.

The " Awake, My Soul " website provides a good sampling of the music, quite a bit of additional history, and some very moving photographs.

For myself, the sounds and the history of this form of music were entrancing. I've stolen the title of my Review from Joe Dempsey of the "Washington City Paper", who caught my reactions exactly: "Spectacular... Get enough people singing weird harmonies at the top of their voices and you start feeling a little sorry for the devil."

Robert C. Ross 2008

As an avid Shape Note singer I must say that Matt&Erica's film is

an excellent intro to this wonderful American music.I am glad and proud to

be part of the fold that is doing all it can to keep this music alive.

As a student of Appalachian Studies and Appalachian Music at Appalachian State University, Boone, N,C, (Go Mountaineers!) we study the history and observe the old recordings, videos and experience personally our history that has been preserved for over 200 years.

PBS showed this documentary a few weeks ago late one evening, and I was spell bounded and immobilized for the hour. What powerful singing. The Sacred Harp is a part of the Gregorian Chant that is sung in Catholic Churches all over. Watching this special and feeling the power of the music, as a Catholic, I wanted to shout Hallelujah!

There is power in this program, and this is the kind of music that moves and stirs the soul. To see the elderly people sing their hearts out, and tears running down their faces, you know what they are singing about. If the heavenly band of angels and all the saints sing like this in Heaven, WOW!!

It is wonderful to see a group of young generation that is interested in carrying on the Sacred Harp tradition. It is important to have our early American Heritage continued to the next generation.

If you have the chance to attend a Sacred Harp Convention Singing, you need to go. Plan to spend the whole day.You will leave a different person.

A huge thank you to Matt and Erica Hinton for this documentary on Sacred Harp Singing. I have been singing this music my whole life and it has been handed down in my family for over 150 years. Sacred Harp is not just some songs we sing, it's something we do, much like living, breathing and eating, we sing this music. Sing at weddings, funerals, family reunions, while working around the house or plowing the garden! I agree with the previous post, enjoy the DVD and a CD, but go to a sing somewhere near you to get the full effect. Sing on: Amy Lee

I teach a music class and we briefly discussed shape-note singing. I wanted to learn more and came across a youtube video of a trailer for this movie. I decided to buy the film and purchased it from Amazon.com. I was not disappointed in any way - very interesting and well done! Not only that, I found out for the first time that my mother sang from the Sacred Harp as a little girl in the 1930's!

Very happy with the film and with Amazon.com!

The Amazon review of this documentary would have you envision Sacred Harp singing as church going madrigal singing. The truth is, Sacred Harp is hang on for your life, white-knuckle, belt-it-out, sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs singing like most people never get the chance to experience. Sacred Harp singing is a transforming experience, and "Awake My Soul" does an incredible job of conveying what it is like to be part of it. It is both educational and deeply emotional. I asked Matt Hinton once at a screening at a national Sacred Harp Convention, "What led you to make this documentary?" He looked incredulous and said, "Have you HEARD this music?" His love of the music comes through so clearly in this documentary. It is worth watching, over and over.

As a dedicated Sacred Harp Singer,I heartily approve of Matt&Erica's film.Tho' I need to add this point,on any given Sunday,there

is a singing&to fully appreciate this lovely music,you need to go to a

singing.As Judy Caudle says in the film,you need to have the contact of

other singers.

I love sacred harp singing, which makes the bonus disc a great addition. Even if I didn't love the music, I think I would have still enjoyed the documentary on this nearly lost American art and those who preserve it.

This double DVD set is worth every cent. It is a great recording in documentary style. The film preserves the oral history and stories surrounding the truly American form of singing called Sacred Harp, or Shape Note singing. The film is filled with touching moments and amazing community feelings. Parts are humorous as you listen to Southerners try and describe making sense of the "rabbit food" brought to pot lucks by Northerners. The film leaves you with a deep sense of pride and an interest in preserving this uniquely American form of music and communal bonding. I could envision my own children learning this style music and was amazed at the passionate following and joy it brought to other young people who spoke or just appeared in the film clips. It left me wanting to do what I can to learn this form of communcal singing and preserve it for the next generations.

I'm a transplanted Californian, and had never heard about this music until we moved to Tennessee in 2004, and were introduced by actually attending a singing down on Lookout Mountain. We were hooked.

The documentary is wonderful! We owe Matt and Erica a tremendous debt for making it. But you will never know the power of the music, and of the community that keeps it alive, until you attend an annual singing.

Check out [...], click on Singings, and then click Annual Sacred Harp Singings -- Denson Book, and search through the monthly listings. Or, on the main page, scroll down and check out what is happening in your own state. Call the group nearest you and ask for more information about the Annual Convention -- then GO and be a part of it.

Singing Sacred Harp turned out to be the best musical experience of my life -- we go as often as we can, and although we've only been singing four years and have a lot to learn, the power of this communal praise to God in song can bring us to tears as well.