What's that Shape?

Find out from Shelley Phillips:

Shape note singing is a uniquely American tradition, a proudly inclusive and democratic part of our shared cultural heritage. The noteheads are four different shapes matched up and sung with solfege (fa so la and mi), aiding sight-singing in four-part harmony. The tradition is a living, breathing, ongoing practice passed directly to us by generations of singers, many gone on before and many still living. In fact, the tradition was born from colonial “singing schools” whose purpose was to teach beginners to sing, and our methods continue to reflect this goal. Groups are usually very social and open to anyone. Fasola singing (another name for this style) is not affiliated with any denomination and in earlier times it was a place where, say, the Baptists and Methodists could sing together. Here today in Santa Cruz we like to say that here the Wiccans and the Buddhists can sing together! This style is also often called “Sacred Harp” singing because the book that most singers use today is called “The Sacred Harp", referring to the human voice — that is, the musical instrument one is born with.

-- Shelley Phillips, Community Music School & Shape Note Singing Society

The Santa Cruz Shape Note Singing Society's choir will be featured on our upcoming Season Concert V, Jefferson's Jigge, an event co-presented by the Community Music School and the UC Santa Cruz Music Department.

Date & Time: Saturday – May 1, 2010 – 7:30pm

Location: UCSC Music Center Recital Hall

Featured Artist(s): Bill Coulter (guitar)

Deby Benton Grosjean (fiddle),

Barry Philips (cello), Boyd Jarrell (baritone),

Linda Burman-Hall (early keyboards) and The Shape Note Singing Society.

Description: Join the Jefferson family for folk and Baroque dance tunes in the parlor of Monticello. Our consort’s mix of classic colonial melodies, fancy continental imports, songs after Robert Burns, and passionate hymnody will set toes tapping. Co-presented by the UCSC Music Department & Community Music School.