What Is Sacred Harp Singing?
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Sacred Harp singing is an American style of a cappella singing — or singing without instruments — that has its roots in early New England hymnody and West Gallery music. It is also known as shape-note singing because the notes in the music are printed in special shapes (fa, sol, la, and mi) to help singers learn the pitches of the notes. The Sacred Harp is a book of hymns and anthems arranged for four-part harmony and sung by a group of people in a square formation, with the melody in the middle and the other three parts arranged around it. The singing is usually loud and vigorous and the music is usually characterized by its syncopated rhythms and close harmonies.