Canaan Land and the Good Old Way: Hymns from the Sacred Harp Tradition

The Sacred Harp singing tradition is a uniquely American genre that dates back to late 18th-century New England and flourished in the South. It is designed to be performed by those who do not have any formal training and thus utilizes shape-note notation. Participants often speak of the emotional impact of performing these works and attend special conferences devoted to Sacred Harp singing. The source material for this arrangement comes from The Southern Harmony, by William Walker, and The Colored Sacred Harp, a work written by African Americans for use in Black churches, mainly in the South. This work provides an opportunity to work on ensemble skills, bow technique, and intonation in an interesting and historically relevant work.