Date: Tuesday, 14-Jan-97 23:30:16 GMT Server: NCSA/1.3 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/html Sacred Harp, Lexington KY

Appalachian Association of Sacred Harp Singers

Upcoming events

Who are we?

The Appalachian Association of Sacred Harp Singers is an informal group that meets to sing from the Sacred Harp shape-note tradition. We also sing from Southern Harmony. The group was formed around 1980. Our mailing list contains over 40 singers. Our monthly sings generally draw about 12 singers. Our yearly convention is attended by about 40 singers from surrounding states.

All singers, whether trained or not, whether you can read shapes or not, are always welcome. We always have extra books (which you can buy if you want) at our sings. Everyone who wants gets a chance to pick and lead songs; we provide free "on the job" training.

We have a fairly informal structure. The organizing committee currently includes Mary Brinkman (past song leader), Charles Coulston (treasurer), Raphael Finkel (song leader), Lyndra Givens, Keith MacAdam, Bob Meek, and Ron Pen. Every singing, someone is appointed by the song leader to be the convener; the convener makes sure everyone who wants has a chance to lead.

When and where do we meet?

We meet the second Sunday of every month except June, July, and August at the Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Kentucky (corner of Tates Creek and Armstrong Mill).

Our annual convention is the Saturday before the third Sunday in May. We have held the convention in the Pisgah Presbyterian Church a few miles West of Lexington since 1995.

We also present occasional concerts at local churches and art venues.

What is shape note?

Shape note is an early American form of notation for untrained church choirs. Each note is written not only on ordinary staff lines (for those who can read them) but also with a shape that indicates its position in the scale. There are 7-shape schemes. The books we sing from use a 4-shape scheme, with the notes in a major scale as follows:
fa so la fa so la mi fa

Can I see some?

You might look at Lansdowne, set to shape note by Raphael Finkel, a member of our group.

What are our favorite songs?

Follow this link to see what we sang at the 1995 Kentucky State Sacred Harp Convention.

What does it cost?

We have no dues or other fees. We raise stamp money by an occasional paid engagement. We pass the hat at the yearly convention to cover the cost of publishing our minutes.

Upcoming events

Venue: Foh's Hall Four-Note Singing, 25 January 1997, Marion, KY. Information: Bill Paris at (502) 545-3920.

Venue: Ohio Sacred Harp Convention, 14-16 February, Cleveland, OH. Information: Bob Meek

Venue: 5 April 1997, 9a - 3p, Dinner on the grounds, at Harrod's Creek Baptist Church, Brownsboro, KY. Directions: from Louisville, KY: I-71N, exit 14, left 1.5 mi; church on left. Sponsored by the Hymn Society in United States and Canada and the Vine Street Baptist Church of Louisville, KY. Information: Bob Meek (502)893-2190, Laura Chipe (502) 266-7054.

Venue: Kentucky Sacred Harp Singing Convention, 17 May 1997, 9a - 3p, Pisgah Presbyterian Church (hopefully), Lexington, KY. Directions: US 60 West of Lexington to Pisgah road, north 1 mile. Information: Keith MacAdam, at (606)268-0998.

Venue: The Big Singing, 24 May 1997, Benton, KY., Information: Don Waggener at (606)266-6550.

Regularly scheduled singings near us

Columbus, OH: First, third, fifth Sundays. (614) 291-0282.

Cincinnati, OH: Second Sundays. (513) 861-1137.

How can I learn more?

If you are interested in shape note, you should certainly visit the shapenote home page and a compilation of shape-note resources .

Various songbooks are available from various sources, generally at cost. We sell both the Sacred Harp and Southern Harmony at cost. You can get the newly revised 1994 edition of Christian Harmony from the Alabama Christian Harmony Singing Association, PO Box 535, Centreville, AL 35042. Feel free to send mail to any of our organizing committee (listed above).