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Sacred Harp singing is a tradition of sacred choral music that originated in the American South of the United States. The name is derived from The Sacred Harp, a ubiquitous and historically important tunebook printed in shape notes. The work was first published in 1844 and has reappeared in multiple editions ever since. Sacred Harp music represents one branch of an older tradition of American music that developed over the period 1770 to 1820 from roots in New England, with a significant, related development under the influence of "revival" services around the 1840s. This music was included in, and became profoundly associated with, books using the shape note style of notation popular in America in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Sacred Harp music is performed a cappella (voice only, without instruments) and originated as Protestant Christian music.
Sacred Harp singing came into being with the 1844 publication of Benjamin Franklin White and Elisha J. King’s The Sacred Harp. It was this book, now distributed in several different versions, that came to be the shape note tradition with the largest number of participants. B. F. White (1800-1879) was originally from Union County, South Carolina, but since 1842 had been living in Harris County, Georgia. He prepared The Sacred Harp in collaboration with a younger man, E. J. King, (ca. 1821-44), who was from Talbot County, Georgia. Together they compiled, transcribed, and composed tunes, and published a book of over 250 songs. King died soon after the book was published, and White was left to guide its growth. He was responsible for organizing singing schools and conventions at which The Sacred Harp was used as the songbook. During his lifetime, the book became popular and would go through three revisions (1850, 1859, and 1869), all produced by committees consisting of White and several colleagues working under the auspices of the Southern Musical Convention. The first two new editions simply added appendices of new songs to the back of the book. The 1869 revision was more extensive, removing some of the less popular songs and adding new ones in their places. From the original 262 pages, the book was expanded by 1869 to 477. This edition was reprinted and continued in use for several decades.(Ref Wikipedia)
ABOUT THIS COLLECTION: As well as the individual lyrics listed below you can download download the original Sacred Harp books in PDF format. Two versions are provided:
SACRED HARP RESOURCES:
For Sacred Harp Singing in the UK check out www.ukshapenote.org.uk
A great collection of resources from Warren Steel at the University of Mississippi
For a demonstration of singing check out this YouTube video.
The transcriptions on this site are made by many different individuals from all over the world for their own research and instruction and as such should not be considered definitive "official" versions, or representative of any particular artist or performance. They are being shared on this site for educational purposes only, please see our copyright page for more info.
Available songs in this section, to view the songs choose the required section from the nav-bar at the top of this page. | |
A Charge To Keep A Cross For Me A Glad New Song A Thankful Heart Abbeville Adoration Africa Ainslie Akers Akin Alabama Albion Alexander All Is Well All Saints New Amanda Ray America Amity Amsterdam Animation Anthem On The Beginning Anthem On The Savior Antioch Arbacoochee Arkansas Arlington Arnold As We Go On Assurance At Rest Aylesbury Babels Streams Babylon Is Fallen Ballstown Baptismal Anthem Beach Spring Bear Creek Behold The Savior Bellevue Beneficence Bethel Big Creek Bishop Blissful Dawning Blooming Youth Bound For Canaan Boylston Bridgewater Bristol Burdette Burk Calvary Cambridge Can I Leave You Canaans Land Carmarthen Carnsville Chambers Charlton Chester Cheves China Christ Our Song Christian Soldier Christian Song Christians Delight Christians Farewell Christians Hope Christmas Anthem Clamanda Claremont Cleburne Cobb Columbiana Columbus Complainer Concord Confidence Consecration Consolation Conversion Converting Grace Cookham Corinth Corley Coronation Coston Cowper Cross Of Christ Cuba Cusseta Dartmouth Davids Lamentation Day Of Worship Delight Delong Detroit Devotion Distress Done With The World Duane Street Dull Care Dura Easter Anthem Easter Morn Ecstasy Edgefield Edmonds Edom Elder Elysian Emmaus Enfield Essay Ester Eternal Day Eternal Home Eternal Light Eternal Praise Evening Shade Exhilaration Exhortation (first) Exhortation (second) Exit Expression Fairfield Faith And Hope Family Bible Family Circle Farewell Anthem Farewell To All (first) Farewell To All (second) Fatherland Federal Street Fellowship Few Happy Matches Fight On Fillmore Fleeting Days Florence Florida Fredericksburg Frozen Heart Fulfillment Funeral Anthem Funeral Thought Gainsville Garden Hymn Georgia Golden Streets Gospel Trumpet Grantville Granville Green Fields Green Street Greenland Greensborough Greenwich Hallelujah Hampton Happy Christian Happy Home Happy Land Harmony harp001 Harpeth Valley Haynes Creek Heavenly Anthem Heavenly Armor Heavenly Dove Heavenly Home Heavenly Land Heavenly Port Heavenly Rest Heavenly Union Heavenly Vision Heavens My Home Hebrew Children Hebron Help Me To Sing Highlands Of Heaven Holcombe Holiness Holly Springs Holy City Holy Manna Home In Heaven Home Of The Blest Homeward Bound Horton Humility Huntington I Want To Go To Heaven I Would See Jesus Idumea Ill Seek His Blessings Im Going Home Im On My Journey Home Imandra Immensity Infinite Day Infinite Delight Invitation Invocation (first) Invocation (second) Irwinton Jackson Jacobs Vision Jasper Jefferson Jerusalem Jester Jesus Is My Friend Jesus Rose Jewett Jordan (first) Jordan (second) Journey Home Joyful Jubilee Kedron Kelley King Of Peace Kingwood Laban Land Of Rest Lawrenceburg Leander Lebanon Lena Lenox Let Us Sing Liberty Lisbon Liverpool Living Hope Living Lamb Living Streams Lloyd Logan Long Sought Home Look Out Lord We Adore Thee Louisiana Love Divine Love Shall Never Die Love The Lord Lover Of The Lord Loving Jesus Loving Kindness Majesty Manchester Mans Redemption Marlborough Mars Hill Martin Marys Grief And Joy Mcgraw Mckay Mear Melancholy Day Mercys Free Messiah Milford Millennium Ministers Farewell Mission Monroe Montgomery Morality Morgan Morning Prayer Morning Sun Morning Mortality Mount Desert |
Mount Pleasant Mount Vernon Mount Zion (first) Mount Zion (second) Mulberry Grove Mullins Murillos Lesson Mutual Love My Brightest Days My Home (first) My Home (second) My Life And Breath My Rising Sun My Shepherd Guides Nashville Natick Nativity Never Part Never Turn Back New Agatite New Bethany New Bethel New Britain New Georgia New Harmony New Hope New Hosanna New Jerusalem New Jordan New Lebanon New Prospect New Topia Newburgh Newnan Nidrah Ninety Fifth Ninety Third Psalm North Port North Salem Northfield Norwich Notes Almost Divine Novakoski Ocean Ode On Lifes Journey Ode On Science Odem (first) Odem (second) Ogletree Oh Come Away Oh Sing With Me Oh What Love Old Hundred Oleary Olney Ortonville Our Humble Faith Oxford Panting For Heaven Parting Friend Parting Friends (first) Parting Friends (second) Parting Friends (third) Parting Hand Passing Away Peace And Joy Penick Penitence Petersburg Phillips Farewell Phoebus Pilgrim Pilgrims Farewell Pisgah Pittsford Pleasant Hill Plenary Pleyels Hymn (first) Pleyels Hymn (second) Poland Portland Portuguese Hymn Praise God Praise Him Pray Brethren Pray Present Joys Primrose Hill Primrose Promised Day Prospect Protection (first) Protection (second) Providence Ragan Raymond Redemption Reese Religion Is A Fortune Repentance Rest For The Weary Restoration (first) Restoration (second) Resurrected Return Again Reverential Anthem Reynolds Rockport Rocky Road Roll Jordan Roll On Rose Of Sharon Russia Sabbath Morning sacred Harp Hymnal Sacred Mount Sacred Rest Sacred Throne sacredharp 1844 sacredharp Htmgr sacredharp Srxtxt Saints Bound For Heaven Saints Delight Salem Samaria Sardinia Sardis Save Lord Or We Perish Save Mighty Lord Sawyers Exit Schenectady Send A Blessing Sermon On The Mount Service Of The Lord Sharon Sharpsburg Shawmut Shepherds Rejoice Sheppard Sherburne Shining Star Shouting Song Showers Of Blessings Sidney Silver Street Sing On Sing To Me Of Heaven Sinners Friend Sisters Farewell Soar Away Soft Music Soldier Of The Cross Soldiers Delight Sons Of Sorrow Sounding Joy Span Of Life Spring St Thomas Stafford Still Better Stockwood Stony Point Stratfield Struggle On Supplication Swanton Sweet Affliction Sweet Canaan Sweet Majesty Sweet Morning Sweet Prospect Sweet Rivers Sweet Solitude Sweet Union Symphony The American Star The Ark The Better Land The Blessed Lamb The Bower Of Prayer The Brides Farewell The Child Of Grace The Christian Warfare The Christians Flight The Christians Hope The Christians Nightly Song The Churchs Desolation The Converted Thief The Dying Boy The Dying Californian The Dying Christian The Dying Friend The Dying Minister The Enquirer The Fountain The Golden Harp The Good Old Way The Gospel Pool The Great Day The Great Redeemer The Grieved Soul The Happy Sailor The Hill Of Zion The Lamb Of God The Last Words Of Copernicus The Lone Pilgrim The Loved Ones The Lovely Story The Marcellas The Marriage In The Skies The Mercy Seat The Messiahs Praise The Midnight Cry The Morning Trumpet The Old Fashioned Bible The Old Ship Of Zion The Pilgrims Way The Prodigal Son The Promised Land The Resurrection Day The Rock That Is Higher Than I The Royal Band The Saviors Call The Saviors Name The Shepherds Flock The Spirit Shall Return The Throne Of Grace The Traveler The Trumpet The Twenty Third Psalm The Weary Soul Thou Art God Thou Art Passing Away To Die No More Tolling Bell Traveling On Traveling Pilgrim Tribulation Turn Sinner Turn Union Vain World Adieu Vale Of Sorrow Vermont Vernon Victoria Villulia Virginia War Department Warning Warrenton Wayfaring Stranger Weary Pilgrim Webster Weeping Mary Weeping Pilgrim Weeping Savior (first) Weeping Savior (second) Weeping Sinners Well Soon Be There Wells Westford When I Am Gone Where Ceaseless Ages Roll Where Theres No Trouble And Sorrow White Whitestown Windham Winter Wondrous Cross Wondrous Love Wood Street Wootten Worcester World Unknown Ye Heedless Ones Youth Will Soon Be Gone Zion |
There are also many other Christian pieces on this site which are included with other collections, e.g. the Children's Songs section contains quite a few.