Baylor Center for Christian Music Studies Presents Annual Sacred Harp Sing Event

February 11, 2016
Sacred Harp Sing

Photo courtesy of the Baylor Center for Christian Music Studies.

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Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (Feb. 11, 2016) – The Baylor University Center for Christian Music Studies will host Sacred Harp Sing from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Great Hall of George W. Truett Theological Seminary.
Sacred Harp is religious folk music, performed a cappella and distinguished by its use of the minor key and unusual four-part harmony. Developed in the early 1800s by William Smith and William Little, the approach uses a shape-note method of writing syllables, with four shapes representing “fa,” “sol,” “la” and “mi.” Using shape-notes and the “fasola” technique, singing masters were able to teach people who could not read music how to sing.
“The Baylor Sacred Harp sing provides an opportunity for students and others to experience an interesting and vital part of our American musical heritage,” said David Music, D.M.A., professor of church music in the Baylor School of Music.
The style of singing is named after the shape-note hymnal book “Sacred Harp” by B.F. White and E.J. King. The book consists of folk hymns passed down orally for many years before being written down. Familiar songs included are “Amazing Grace,” “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship” and “What Wondrous Love is This.”
“For many students, this is their first exposure to singing from shape-notes, and they are always fascinated by the sights and sounds generated by the full-throated participation of the singers in attendance,” Music said.
This event is free and open to the public. George W. Truett Theological Seminary is located at 1100 S. Third St.
by Bethany Harper, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC
The Baylor University School of Music provides transformational experiences that prepare students for careers in music. Our students thrive in a Christian environment characterized by a nurturing resident faculty, an unwavering pursuit of musical excellence, a global perspective, dedication to service, and devotion to faith. They investigate the rich musical and cultural heritage of the past, develop superior musical skills and knowledge in the present, and explore and create new modes of musical expression for the future. While preparing for future leadership roles, the students join with School of Music faculty in enhancing the quality of community life, enriching the larger culture, and making Baylor a place in which heart, mind and soul coalesce. The School of Music of Baylor University is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the Texas Association of Music Schools. Degree programs leading to the bachelor of music education degree conform to certification requirements of the Texas Education Agency.