World Wednesdays: Sacred Harp

Sacred Harp or shapenote singing is a distinctive American musical form. Related to other solfege, or named note, systems used in Europe, the Sacred Harp developed in the 19th century as a way of teaching music in communities that lacked musical instruments.

This week's World Wednesdays program will give listeners a taste of a traditional Sacred Harp singing session, featuring a selection of tunes from the Sacred Harp and other shapenote hymnals--including some non-traditional interpretations. The four-note fa-so-la-mi solfege system will be explained. The recordings will include an introductory prayer, and there will be a live "memorial lesson" to remember those who are gone.

World Wednesdays, an informal exploration of traditional music with presenter Otenth Paderborn, occurs weekly from 6-7pm SLT in The Clarendon Conservatory in New Babbage, or listen at http://music.radioriel.org.