Customer Reviews

Southern Journey, Vol. 9: Harp Of A Thousand Strings - All Day Singing From The Sacred Harp

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

 

 

I found this CD listed when I was looking for something else, so this is most definitely serendipitious! Having had the good fortune to learn Sacred Harp singing from Paul Hillier when he directed our University Chorus, I have always loved the musical style. I have recordings by Boston Camerata, but good as they are, they are not the "unpolished" gems found on this CD. I learned a long time ago that in the tunes that had an alto line, the best altos were those that caused the paint to peel off the wall. Those are the voices on this recording! Talk about singing with sincerity and conviction - no fancy studio work here! If you are interested in the musical heritage of our nation, this is a "must-have"! If you have a hankering for hymns that are most definitely NOT "High Church", you will be well pleased - and who knows? You may find yourself seeking out groups that still practice this musical style - go to an all-day sing, with "dinner on the grounds!"

I happened upon this disc after becoming re-acquainted with shape note singing via the recently released "Cold Mountain" soundtrack. Wow. There is something thrilling, something visceral and yet greater than oneself, that is provoked upon listening to this wonderful and strange music. This is definitely not the Boston Camerata, so please don't buy it hoping to hear something glossy, high-church and perfectly executed. This is simply rousing, foot-stopping spiritual music sung by real god-fearing folk. Something in this music evoked a certain Proustian nostalgia in this Appalachian woman, reminding me of attending church with my elderly aunt at the tiny Baptist church in Cyrus, West Virginia as a small child--a church so small that the minister was a circuit preacher who rotated between several congregations. That congregation had something of the enthusiasm rendered on this disc-- I listened with tears streaming down my face. I highly reccommend this recording to anyone interested in musical ethnography, or in simply hearing the word of God sung with full-out enthusiasm and joy.

After hearing a few sacred harp tunes on the anthology of American folk music, I knew I had to hear more and purchased southern journey volume 10. While that disc flabbergasted me with its fantastic sound and large number of fuging tunes, I purchased more sacred harp discs and must say that I prefer volume 9. There seems to be more variation between the songs included, and it just feels like the singers really hit their stride in most of these songs. While I think both discs are extremely worthwhile, there's just something about volume 9 that makes it a bit more rewarding. I am not a Christian or a very religious person, but this music has enough conviction to imbue anyone with some sort of religious appreciation. This disc allows for a moving experience of joy and glory by proxy, and you know by listening to it that these people put their all into the performance.

Everything that was written in the other reviews is essentially correct; the songs are great and passionately sung. However, being a newcomer to Sacred Harp music, and having heard only the clean and crisp sound of the Cold Mountain soundtrack songs, I was hoping for higher quality sound on this disc. I can't say I wasn't warned by the other reviewers, but I didn't realize how distracting the sour notes and poor sound balance would be for me. If you are looking for an authentic sound, this is the cd for you; if you think you might be distracted by the imperfections, look elsewhere.

I have been teaching shape note singing to my community chorus. The CD helped them understand what the music is like and how to sing it.