Shape-note singing, for Marie

[singersdd]

Marie eattheolives wants to sing a capella at her house, according to her FB post. So I asked her about shape-note singing. She's never been able to, but I have.

Way back in 2006, before we had to move in with Rob & Mer for 3 months, then to Lebanon, I got to go to Conner Prairie once a week after work and sing. a capella for hours

Comments

[radiantlove]

I'm dying for the chance to try this!!!

[singersdd]

If you search for shape-note singing, you may be able to find a group in your area. That's how I found the group at Conner Prairie.

[bluiidmommy]

When I took my music class last fall, I had to watch some videos of people doing just this thing. It's very interesting to me.

[singersdd]

It's fun to sing, too. And a truly American music.

[singersdd]

See, that? is cool. It would be fun to just look at the syllables and sing the melody.

When I was in choir in college, we used a fixed-do sight reading system: Do was always C. It definitely helped the sight-reading, but I think moveable Do would have been just as useful.

[eattheolives]

I love this stuff! I grew up singing 4-part a capella in church, usually with shape-note songbooks, so it's fascinating to me how DIFFERENT this way of singing can sound from that, even though at first glance it's basically the same.

[singersdd]

I love the sound. It's very distinct, sort of like America: very open and never exactly what you expect. :)