Sold out! Sounding Spirit Singing School: Four-Shape Singing School (first of 3 public events)

Have you ever wanted to know more about the origins of American popular music? We invite you to the Sounding Spirit Singing School, where you’ll learn about Southern sacred music, which has influenced everything from gospel to blues and pop.

Register for the public singing school events at https://soundingspirit.eventbrite.com/

Three events are open to the public at no charge. The first is:

(Sold out!) Friday, Apr. 4, 4-5:30 p.m.: Four-Shape Singing School with David Ivey, Candler School of Theology

Shape-note music uses shaped note heads to convey pitch. During its heyday in the 19th century, several shape note systems were in competition across the US South. Largely eclipsed by 1900, four-shape notation remains in use at Sacred Harp singings across the country and globe. In this public session, learn how to sing four-shape music and experience historic four-shape repertoire with singing school teacher and president of the Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association David Ivey of Huntsville, Alabama.

See related entries for:

Friday, Apr. 4, 7:30-9 p.m.: “New Book” Gospel Singing with Tom Powell, Burlington Road Building
Saturday, Apr. 5, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Choral Singing School with Derrick Fox, Cannon Chapel

Specific locations and more details can be found at https://soundingspirit.org/singing-school/.

You can also visit “Singing the Sacred,” an exhibit at Pitts Theology Library that features Southern vernacular songbooks published between 1850 and 1925. These songbooks reflect the musical traditions of various religious groups, as well as changes in publishing methods, sacred music styles, and society in general.

Presented by the Emory Center for Digital Scholarship and the Sounding Spirit Digital Library project. Sponsored by the Hightower Fund.