The Sacred Harp

The Sacred Harp is a significant American songbook that uses a unique shape-note musical notation system. This system employs distinct shapes for note heads to indicate their scale degree and solmization syllable, making sight-reading easier. Originating from early English colonists' four-syllable system (fa-sol-la-mi), it was adapted to represent notes in the major scale.12

This practice is primarily associated with American sacred music, particularly in singing schools, conventions, and all-day gatherings known as "singings". While criticized by some, shape-note singing has maintained a strong tradition, especially in the rural South. The Sacred Harp songbook itself, first published in 1844, continues to be used in its four-shape fasola notation, preserving a large repertoire of hymns, psalmody, and spiritual songs. These traditions often involve unique practices like seating by parts in a "hollow square" and leaders selecting songs to guide the singers.12