Tenth Annual Sacred Harp Sing To Be Held Feb. 5

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The 10th annual Sacred Harp Sing will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, in the Great Hall of George W. Truett Theological Seminary on the Baylor University campus.

The event, presented by the Baylor Center for Christian Music Studies, is free and open for anyone to participate or observe. It will be preceded by a brief singing school at 9:30 a.m., and lunch will be provided.

Sacred Harp singing is a 166-year-old Southern folk hymn tradition named after the shape-note tunebook "Sacred Harp," published by B. F. White and E. J. King in 1844. The Baylor sing, held the Saturday before the second Sunday in February each year, uses the 1991 edition of the book.

"Sacred Harp singing is an important part of the American musical heritage," said Dr. David W. Music, professor of church music at Baylor and Sacred Harp Sing director. "From this tradition have come many of the hymn tunes we sing today, such as those of 'Amazing Grace,' 'How Firm a Foundation,' 'Brethren We Have Met to Worship' and 'Wondrous Love.'"

In 2000, the Sacred Harp Sing began at Baylor when several veteran Sacred Harp singers decided to bring a sing event to campus. The following year, the Baylor Center for Christian Music Studies took over sponsorship. Music has been the director for the past eight years.

"We feel that it is important for our Baylor students and others to be exposed to the traditions of Sacred Harp singing as a means of keeping in touch with the Southern roots from which it sprang," Music said.

George W. Truett Theological Seminary is at 1100 S. Third St.

For more information, contact Music at 254-710-2060 or email him at David_Music@baylor.edu

by Katy McDowall, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805