Sacred Harp
Geoff Grainger
Geoff Grainger
Last updated: 05.11.23
This webpage is not intended to inform about Sacred Harp and Shapenote Singing, this subject is dealt with exhaustively in full detail on the Sacred Harp Singing domain at fasola.org. Here I would like to record my personal history of involvement in this fascinating genre which has taken me to places I have never heard of, never expected to go to and to return to places I had never ever expected to visit again.
As mentioned on the Tyneside webpage, I first heard shapenote singing as sung by Sarah Hill, Josephine Ellis, Matthew Ord and Phil Tyler at the monthly Cumberland Arms Come All Ye session in December, 2011.
And so I was invited to my very first singing, a round table affair, at the Gateshead home of the Barber family where, still enchanted, I bought my personal The Sacred Harp (1991). The first inklings of the global aspect arose from my fellow singers talking about "conventions" and "all-day singings". At that time my commitments to The North East Recorder Orchestra prevented me from discovering for myself what they were talking about but finally in September 2012, I resigned from the orchestra and was able to go to Cork Sacred Harp for their annual All-Day Singing. Wow - what an experience! I was hooked and thereafter I have traveled as much as I could around the globe to as many shapenote events possible (just check my log book).
Journeys to Poway, California for the 28th California State Convention in 2016 and to Hoboken, Georgia in 2017 for their annual All-day singing marked in one sense the end of a voyage of discovery. There, entirely amongst Americans who had been shapenote singing for generations and was a cornerstone in their whole lives, I felt even though there was still much to learn, that I had got to the essence of this genre. Community, Love, Fellowship and Harmony.
Through Shapenote singing I have a new hobby that is to attend as many 1st All-Day Singings as possible thereby traveling to new venues and making new friends.
As mentioned on the Tyneside webpage, I first heard shapenote singing as sung by Sarah Hill, Josephine Ellis, Matthew Ord and Phil Tyler at the monthly Cumberland Arms Come All Ye session in December, 2011.
And so I was invited to my very first singing, a round table affair, at the Gateshead home of the Barber family where, still enchanted, I bought my personal The Sacred Harp (1991). The first inklings of the global aspect arose from my fellow singers talking about "conventions" and "all-day singings". At that time my commitments to The North East Recorder Orchestra prevented me from discovering for myself what they were talking about but finally in September 2012, I resigned from the orchestra and was able to go to Cork Sacred Harp for their annual All-Day Singing. Wow - what an experience! I was hooked and thereafter I have traveled as much as I could around the globe to as many shapenote events possible (just check my log book).
Journeys to Poway, California for the 28th California State Convention in 2016 and to Hoboken, Georgia in 2017 for their annual All-day singing marked in one sense the end of a voyage of discovery. There, entirely amongst Americans who had been shapenote singing for generations and was a cornerstone in their whole lives, I felt even though there was still much to learn, that I had got to the essence of this genre. Community, Love, Fellowship and Harmony.
Through Shapenote singing I have a new hobby that is to attend as many 1st All-Day Singings as possible thereby traveling to new venues and making new friends.
Geoff Grainger, Sheffield, May 2018
| Performer/Group | Remarks |
|---|
| National Domains | ||
 |
Sacred Harp Australia |  |
|
Sacred Harp Singing | |
|
Sacred Harp Germany | |
|
Sacred Harp in Poland | |
|
Shapenote Scotland | |
|
United Kingdom Sacred Harp and Shapenote | |
| Groups | ||
|
Sacred Harp Amsterdam | |
|
Sacred Harp Berlin |  |
|
Blackwood Academy | |
|
Bremen Sacred Harp | [4] |
|
Brighton Shape Note Singing | |
|
Brisbane Shapenote | |
|
Bristol Sacred Harp | |
|
Cork Sacred Harp | [44] |
|
Sacred Harp Singers of Dublin | |
|
Durham Sacred Harp | |
|
Sacred Harp Frankfurt | |
|
Fort Worth Sacred Harp | [1] |
|
Sacred Harp Hamburg | |
|
Sacred Harp Cologne | |
|
London Sacred Harp | |
|
⇑Sacred Harp Singers Melbourne | [1] |
|
Various Sacred Harp Groups |  |
|
Sacred Harp Mount Pisgah | |
|
Sacred Harp and Shape Note in Tyneside | |
|
Oslo Sacred Harp | |
|
Oxford Sacred Harp Singing | |
|
Sheffield & South Yorkshire Sacred Harp | |
|
Southwest Texas Sacred Harp | |
|
Texas Sacred Harp Singers | |
|
Warsaw Sacred Harp | [2] |
|
Wellington Shape Note Singing | |
|
York Sacred Harp | |
| From | To | Destination | Event | Remarks |
|---|
| Song | Title | Group |
|---|
|
106 Ecstasy/ | 106 Cork Sacred Harp 2012 (1:10) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
Ecstasy/ | 106 Sacred Harp Ecstasy (1:50) | Bremen Sacred Harp |
|
107 Russia/ | 107 Russia - Cork All Day Sing 2011 (1:48) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
117 Babylon Is Fallen/ | 117 Babylon Is Fallen - Cork All-Day 2011 (1:40) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
122 All Is Well/ | 122 Cork Sacred Harp 2012 (1:47) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
127 Green Fields/ | 127 Sacred Harp 127 Green Fields (3:10) | Fort Worth Sacred Harp |
|
142 Stratfield/ | 142 Stratfield Sacred Harp Cooper Book (1:59) | Texas Sacred Harp Singers |
|
148 Jefferson/ | 148 Jefferson - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:23) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
163b China/ | 163b China - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:08) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
⇑168 Cowper/ | 168 Cowper - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (1:42) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
178 Africa/ | 178 Africa - sung by Brunswick Sacred Harp Singers (1:58) | Sacred Harp Singers Melbourne |
|
181 Exit/ | 181 Sacred Harp Exit (2:07) | Bremen Sacred Harp |
|
198 Green Street/ | 198 Cork Sacred Harp 2012 (2:09) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
201 Pilgrim/ | 201 Pilgrim - Sacred Harp in Warsaw, Poland (0:47) | Warsaw Sacred Harp |
|
207 Louisiana/ | 207 Sacred Harp Louisiana (3:49) | Fort Worth Sacred Harp |
|
209 Evening Shade/ | 209 Evening Shade - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (1:33) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
236 Easter Anthem/ | 236 Easter Anthem - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (3:02) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
245 Claremont/ | 245 Claremont - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (3:25) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
254 Rose of Sharon/ | 254 2011 All Ireland Singing Sadhbh O'Flynn leading (3:41) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
⇑268 David's Lamentation/ | 268 David's Lamentation - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:13) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
274t The Golden Harp/ | 274t Sacred Harp The Golden Harp (1:20) | Bremen Sacred Harp |
|
Golden Harp, The/ | 274t The Golden Harp - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (1:53) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
277 Antioch/ | 277 Antioch - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:06) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
282 I'm Going Home/ | 282 I'm Going Home - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (1:58) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
288 White/ | 288 White - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:10) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
29t Fairfield/ | 29t Sacred Harp Fairfield (2:03) | Bremen Sacred Harp |
|
300 Calvary/ | 300 Calvary - Sacred Harp Singers of Cork, Ireland (1:45) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
306 Oxford/ | 306 First Polish Sacred Harp Convention (2:14) | Warsaw Sacred Harp |
|
Oxford/ | 306 Oxford - First Ireland Sacred Harp Convention, 2011 (1:54) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
⇑30t Love Divine/ | 30t Cork Sacred Harp 2012 (2:24) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
313b Cobb/ | 313b Cobb - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:19) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
317 Jackson/ | 317 Jackson - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (1:14) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
318 Present Joys/ | 318 Present Joys - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:27) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
328 Praise God/ | 328 Cork Sacred Harp 2012 (1:57) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
347 Christian's Farewell/ | 347 Christian's Farewell - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:30) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
348b Fleeting Days/ | 348b First Poland Sacred Harp Convention (1:29) | Warsaw Sacred Harp |
|
354t Lebanon/ | 354t Lebanon - First Ireland Sacred Harp Convention, 2011 (2:08) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
37b Liverpool/ | 37b Liverpool - First Ireland Sacred Harp Convention, 2011 (1:34) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
383 Eternal Day/ | 383 Cork Sacred Harp 2012 (2:08) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
⇑384 Panting For Heaven/ | 384 Sacred Harp Panting for Heaven (2:08) | Bremen Sacred Harp |
|
39t Detroit/ | 39t Cork Sacred Harp 2012 (1:21) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
410t The Dying Californian/ | 410t The Dying Californian - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (1:29) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
421 Sweet Morning/ | 421 Sweet Morning - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:02) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
430 Arbacoochee/ | 430 Arbacoochee - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (1:54) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
440 North Salem/ | 440 North Salem - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (1:59) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
47b Idumea/ | 47b Cork Sacred Harp 2012 (2:08) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
Idumea/ | 47b Idumea - Sacred Harp in Warsaw, Poland (0:36) | Warsaw Sacred Harp |
|
481 Novakoski/ | 481 Novakoski - Second Ireland Sacred Harp Convention - 2012 (2:40) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
48b Kedron/ | 48b Kedron - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (1:46) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
⇑49b Mear/ | 49b Mear - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:50) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
504 Wood Street/ | 504 Sacred Harp Wood Street (2:26) | Bremen Sacred Harp |
|
507 Sermon on the Mount/ | 507 Sermon on the Mount - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (3:02) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
535 Shawmut/ | 535b Shawmut - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (1:24) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
542 I'll Seek His Blessings/ | 542 Sacred Harp I'll Seek His Blessing (1:38) | Fort Worth Sacred Harp |
|
543 Consecration/ | 543 - Consecration Cooper Book Sacred Harp Singing . (2:32) | Sacred Harp Mount Pisgah |
|
547 Granville/ | 547 Granville - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:31) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
569b Sacred Throne/ | 569b Sacred Throne - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:47) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
65 Sweet Prospect/ | 65 Sweet Prospect - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:11) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
68b Ortonville/ | 68b Ortonville - Cork All-Day Sing 2011 (2:52) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
⇑86 Poland/ | 86 Poland in Cork (3:00) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
457 Wayfaring Stranger/ | Brunswick Sacred Harp singers singing Wayfaring Stranger. P.M (2:15) | Sacred Harp Singers Melbourne |
|
505 Cleansing Fountain/ | Cooper Book 505 Cleansing Fountain (3:27) | Bob Meek Memorial Singing |
|
Idumea/ | Cork Cork Sacred Harp Singers @ Black Sun (4:29) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
488b Nearer, My God, To Thee (Bethany)/ | Nearer My God to Thee. - 488b (5:31) | Sacred Harp Mount Pisgah |
|
339 When I Am Gone/ | PLSCH2013 - Saturday - 339 When I Am Gone . (2:33) | Geoff Grainger |
|
49t Old Hundred/ | PLSHC2013 - Saturday - 49t Old Hundred (1:33) | Geoff Grainger |
|
40 Lenox/ | PLSHC2013 - Sunday - 40 Lenox (1:54) | Geoff Grainger |
|
89 The Church's Desolation/ | PLSHC2013 - Sunday - 89 The Church's Desolation (2:27) | Geoff Grainger |
|
463 Angel Band (Land of Beulah)/ | Sacred Harp (Cooper Book) 463, Angel Band (3:15) | Bob Meek Memorial Singing |
|
⇑156 Jesus Rose/ | Sacred Harp 156 Jesus Rose (3:03) | Geoff Grainger |
|
Jesus Rose/ | Sacred Harp 156 Jesus Rose (3:16) | Geoff Grainger |
|
China/ | Sacred Harp 163b China (2:31) | Geoff Grainger |
|
Africa/ | Sacred Harp 178 Africa (Callback) (2:15) | Geoff Grainger |
|
030b Prospect/ | Sacred Harp 30B Prospect Cooper Revision 2006 HD (2:57) | Southwest Texas Sacred Harp |
|
/ | Sacred Harp 313b Cobb (1:54) | Geoff Grainger |
|
/ | Sacred Harp 313b Cobb (1:51) | Geoff Grainger |
|
/ | Sacred Harp 376 Help Me To Sing Cooper Revision 2006 HD (3:21) | Texas Sacred Harp Singers |
|
42 Clamanda/ | Sacred Harp 42 Clamanda (1:42) | Sacred Harp Hamburg |
|
503 Lloyd/ | Sacred Harp 503 Lloyd (2:15) | Geoff Grainger |
|
⇑Lloyd/ | Sacred Harp 503 Lloyd (1:41) | Geoff Grainger |
|
Lloyd/ | Sacred Harp 503 Lloyd (2:14) | Geoff Grainger |
|
511a Brown/ | Sacred Harp 511T Brown Cooper Revision 2006 HD (3:08) | Southwest Texas Sacred Harp |
|
523 Pleyel's Hymn/ | Sacred Harp 523 Pleyel's Hymn (Second) (2:17) | Geoff Grainger |
|
Pleyel's Hymn/ | Sacred Harp 523 Pleyel's Hymn (Second) (2:34) | Geoff Grainger |
|
Shawmut/ | Sacred Harp 535 Shawmut (2:16) | Geoff Grainger |
|
566 Hebron/ | Sacred Harp 566 Hebron (2:22) | Geoff Grainger |
|
/ | Sacred Harp Singers @ Black Sun 23-4-11 (6:16) | Cork Sacred Harp |
|
/ | Sacred Harp Singing - Documentary Part 1 (7:30) | Various Sacred Harp Groups |
|
38b Windham/ | Windham 38b (3:21) | Sacred Harp Singers Melbourne |