White Spirituals from the Sacred Harp

Alabama Sacred Harp Convention

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 8, 1992)
• Original Release Date: 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New World Records
• ASIN: B0000030F2
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #451,541 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sherburne

2. David's Lamentation

3. Melancholy Day

4. Soar Away

5. Commentary (Spoken)

6. Wondrous Love

7. Traveling On

8. New Harmony

9. Hallelujah

10. Prayer for Recess

11. Loving Jesus

12. Greenwich

13. Milford

14. Baptismal Anthem

15. Amsterdam

16. Montgomery

17. North Port

18. Memorial Service

19. Cusetta

20. Last Words of Copernicus

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Traditional Sacred Harp shaped note singer, July 7, 2000

By	M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Sacred Harp music is authenicately American. The shaped notes are intended to allow individuals who do not read music to read the Sacred Harp music. It also allows the individual pitching the music to move the music into the range of the singers rather than using a true pitch. The melody is in the tenor line which is sung by both genders. The music has an open harmony - altos may float above sopranos or below tenors for example. The beat is strictly kept and there is little variation in volume - this is not your standard choral music.

The hymn tunes used are traditional - you will recognize some of them. The words are traditional - heavy into the Isaac Watts and company hymns.

While I'd always recommend standing in the center of a singing group as an introduction to this tradition, this album is an acceptable second choice. With any luck it will make you want to sing the music as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars unbelievably beautiful, July 14, 1999

By A Customer

As strange as Eno, as powerful as Van Morrison. Impossible to describe.Add to the list of proofs for the existence of God. Whoopee!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, October 24, 1999

By	Chris Johnson (Webster Groves, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews

If you're used to regular choral singing, this will sound rather strange at first. But it will grow on you. This is a powerful album.