SOMETIMES, just out of the blue, I can hear the congregation in the Scandia Covenant Church in Scandia, PA singing, mostly in English but sometimes in Swedish, during worship or special services, the beautiful harmonies along with the tone deaf, young and old, but all rising to God in Heaven in love, in praise and in supplication, and I am filled with a sensation of love and peace and gratitude for these experiences and memories. This Verse and Voice from Sojourners triggered these memories today, and I am thankful. And a while ago I stumbled across this haunting version of Idumea in Shape Note / Sacred Harp singing. Beautiful. From The Face Of Appalachia , reminds me of home.....
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Verse of the dayO come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Voice of the dayWe need moments where people can collectively sing through hellish circumstances and find joyful unity. Prayer of the dayLet us sing together, in times of trouble and times of joy. God, hear our songs of joy and our songs of lament. |
A HAUNTING VOICE FROM THE APPALACHIAN HILLS: Shape Note Singing that Lifts the Soul. FOA Ep. 3
Shape note singing is a way of reading music used to teach groups of folks how to sing who could not read traditional music scores. It was taught in traveling music schools and was used widely in Appalachia and popularized with the publication of books released in the mid-1800s. I read from a conversation from my book, Hands in Harmony, that I had with musician friend Laura Boosinger about shape note singing.
We'll hear the haunting acapella rendition of Idumea, by the Christian Harmony singers featuring Jerry Israel. It brings chills up the back of my neck every time I hear it. This tune is on my friend Sheila Kay Adams CD, "All The Other Fine Things," and is included on the music CD with my book, Hands in Harmony: Traditional Crafts and Music in Appalachia.
While this powerful and haunting shape note song unfolds you will see photographs from my books, The Face of Appalachia: Portraits from the Mountain Farm, On Earth’s Furrowed Brow: The Appalachian Farm in Photographs, and Hands in Harmony as well as unpublished work from the past 40 years. Be sure to check out our other videos and books at barnwellphoto.co
For more information on songs and acapella ballads by the amazing Sheila Kay Adams check out the following link:
Sheila Kay Adams – Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (blueridgeheritage.com) https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/art...
To learn more about the multitalented Laura Boosinger visit:
Laura Boosinger – Music of the Southern Mountains https://lauraboosinger.com
The poem was written by the British Methodist cleric Charles Wesley in 1763 and the music by Ananiais Davisson of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley in 1816. Wesley wrote the text of many hymns still in wide use today, probably most famously “Hark!
And am I born to die?To lay this body down!And must my trembling spirit flyInto a world unknownA land of deepest shadeUnpierced by human thoughtThe dreary regions of the deadWhere all things are forgotSoon as from earth I goWhat will become of me?Eternal happiness or woeMust then my portion be!Waked by the trumpet soundI from my grave shall riseAnd see the Judge with glory crownedAnd see the flaming skies
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