UNITED SACRED HARP MUSICAL ASSOCIATION: In Sweetest Union Join

United Sacred Harp Musical Association

In Sweetest Union Join

© 2000 Community Music School (634479805226)

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A live field recording of shape note singing at the 96th session of the United Sacred Harp Convention in Henagar, Alabama.

tracks

1 Morning Prayer, Tom Owen
2 Exhortation
3 Welcome, Linton Ballinger
4 Bear Creek
5 The Last Words of Copernicus
6 Gospel Trumpet
7 Detroit
8 Ocean
9 Showers of Blessing
10 White
11 Redemption
12 Delight
13 Save, Lord, Or We Perish
14 Holy Manna
15 Commentary, Richard DeLong
16 Sherburne
17 Saints Bound for Heaven
18 Harmony
19 Morning Sun
20 Mount Pleasant
21 Announcement, David Ivey
22 The Hill of Zion
23 Fillmore
24 I'm On My Journey Home
25 King of Peace
26 Confidence
27 Travelling Pilgrim
28 Sardis
29 The Golden Harp
30 A Thankful Heart
31 Logan
32 I Want To Go To Heaven
33 Peace And Joy
34 Stratfield
35 Present Joys
36 Jerusalem
37 Announcement, David Ivey
38 Morning Prayer, Louis Hughes, Sr
39 Canaan's Land
40 Kelley
41 Passing Away
42 Eternal Day
43 The Better Land
44 Panting For Heaven
45 Christian Soldier
46 Schenectady
47 Travelling On
48 Lloyd
49 Return Again
50 Primrose
51 Sabbath Morning
52 Sawyer's Exit
53 Memorial Lesson, Marcia Johnson
54 Ortonville
55 Bridgewater
56 The Resurrection Day
57 A Glad New Song
58 Liberty
59 Idumea
60 Windham
61 Jasper
62 Desire For Piety
63 Arbacoochee
64 Villulia
65 I'll Seek His Blessings
66 Alabama
67 The Young Convert
68 Heavenly Port
69 Parting Hand
70 Closing Prayer, B. J. Harris

notes

This double CD field recording of the 1999 United Sacred Harp Convention comes as close as possible to capturing the awesome energy, intense feeling and powerful harmonies of live shape note singing. Over 200 singers were present, many of them lifelong singers in the tradition.

Recording was done at Liberty Baptist Church in Henagar, Alabama, where the two shape note songs found on the soundtrack of the major motion picture "Cold Mountain"
were also recorded.

The album commemorates the 40th anniversary of the 1959 United Sacred Harp Convention (held in nearby Fyffe, Alabama) famously recorded by Alan Lomax, legendary music collector and archivist for the Library of Congress. The 1959 recording sparked nationwide interest in this music for the first time. Amazingly, more than 20 singers recorded in 1959 were still singing in 1999! This CD contains a beautiful full-color booklet that tells their story. Rare historic photos included.

reviews

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  • A wonderful presentation of "Shaped Note" singing.
    author: John Walters

    I have wanted a good album of this "early" hymn singing for some time. This is exactly what I was looking for!!!

  • astounding
    author: Ariel

    i am VERY happy with this album. i purchased it after hearing the songs on the cold mountain soundtrack. my groom and i will be using "morning sun" as the recessional at our wedding next week. there is so much joy and power in these songs. thank you very much.

  • Spiritually invigorating!
    author: Teresa

    I am still a novice at singing in the Sacred Harp tradition. This superb recording is just what I needed to feed my enthusiasm for this soul touching and historically rich music.

  • Awesome blend of beautiful harmony and old time music sung from the heart.
    author: Don Lewis

    This compilation of Sacred Harp songs is a blend of beautiful harmony and old time music obviously sung from the heart. It brings back wonderful memories of attending my grandparents church in the hills of eastern Kentucky. Bravo to the singers for their love and dedication to this type of American traditional singing.

  • I agree with everyone else
    author: Kris

    I agree with everyone else here. GREAT Sacred Harp CD. Nice crisp and clear recording. A couple people tend to stick out, but hey- That's Sacred Harp! Great CD.

  • Great set of 2 discs, prompt delivery
    author: Jane Rehmke

    My church choir is singing an anthem that has a bit of "King of Peace" in it, and since I am the only one in the group familiar with and interested in Sacred Harp style singing, I tracked down this recording. It is probably the best I've heard, raw and spiritual, but musical enough for us classically trained musicians. (I already had some of the old Lomax field recordings from the Smithsonian, and they are interesting history, but this set is one I will listen to over and over.

  • Two stunning discs of raw, high energy, singing. Unforgettable
    author: Clive Lamdin

    I write from New Zealand, where I've never heard anything like it before. I came to the CD via 'Cold Mountain'. I can only re-iterate what all the other reviewers have said. The music and the singing are absolutely stunning. Energy and soul to the nth degree. I couldn't guarantee that everyone will love it as much as I do, but if you don't, then I'd say you just haven't got a soul! (and I'm a classical 'nut'). A fantastic CD. Don't miss it.

  • a must have for traditional music lovers
    author: Patricia Welch

    I had the great privilege of recently attending a Sacred Harp singing school in San Francisco taught by David Ivey, one of the folks in the making of this incredible 2 disc CD. This is a recording of a 1999 convention, in which singers from all over the country gathered to practice their craft and enjoy each other's company, as well as eat lots of good food. As a recent recruit to Sacred Harp singing, I find recordings essential for practice on my own in between meeting with my local group. This is the best--sharpest--clearest I've heard. I highly recommend this CD to anyone interested in old-time or traditional American music. Thanks CD Baby!!!

  • Restores your faith in humanity
    author: Jonas Laberg

    Wow! The intensity, the feeling. If you're ever depressed and have lost faith in humanity, put this on, put on your headset, close your eyes etc, and let these guys convince you that there is Good in the world. They mean what they do!This CD will give you continual shivers down your spine - for your weekly emotional fix.

  • This is one of the top Sacred Harp (FaSoLa) Recordings
    author: Richard Mauldin

    This is a 2 day Sacred Harp singing convention that was attended by FaSoLa singers from all across the country. The music is so professionally recorded and edited that you can close you eyes and think you are at the singing. A number of personal observations about past events at this location add to the enjoyment. It is a must for people who wish to experience this unique form of music being sung by many people that have sung this all their life and whose families have sung FaSoLa for 3+ generations. One correction, this is not the recording that the Cold Mountain music came from but it is the location. There was a special singing session held at this church one evening in June of 2003 from which 2 songs were selected for the movie - 47b, Idumea (Big Battle Scene) & 282, I'm Going Home (Church Scene).

  • Loved this CD
    author: Morgan

    I had never heard of Sacred Harp singing until I saw the movie "Cold Mountian" and was blown away with the singing in the church scene. I did web research until I found this CD and ordered it. I have thoroughly enjoyed the CD and am so happy to have a new form of music in my life!

  • Breathtaking
    author: Chad

    These sessions are the ones that the tracks on the Cold Mountain Soundtrack were taken from. The singing here is gorgeous, and the harmonies have a haunting quality that is unlike anything else I've ever heard. Even if you don't care for gospel, these tracks will take your breath away.

  • Absolutely transporting! Almost other-worldly.
    author: Joan

    As someone who not only studies history as a hobby, but enjoys new knowledge, experience, and life of other times and societal practice, I find this CD to be a dose of elective Time-Travel. Haunting, yet enigmatic, it is a true picture of the human desire to touch the spirit.

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