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You've heard it on the soundtrack to Cold Mountain and now Shape
Note Singing is coming to Monterey on Saturday, May 31st at Monterey
United Church of Christ with a workshop at 2:00 pm and a
presentation at 4:00 pm. Featured lead singer is Peter Amidon who
grew up in Monterey and with his wife, Mary Alice, are widely
respected performing and teaching artists who have dedicated more than
twenty years to traditional song, dance and story-telling. |
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The Amidons have been on two US
and three European tours with Northern Harmony choruses and are featured
singers on American Shape Note Music "Rivers of Delight." They
are in great demand; a list of their upcoming performances and more
biographical information can be viewed at their web site,
amidonmusic.com.
The Monterey event is sponsored by the Bidwell House Museum as
its opening attraction of the 2008 season and has been partially funded
by the Monterey Cultural Council. |
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Peter Amidon leads Sacred Harp singers. |
Shape note singing was
formulated in Colonial New England in the 18th century. A uniquely
American tradition, it was kept alive in the rural southern states and
has recently returned with great popularity not only to New England but
nation-wide. Often called Sacred Harp singing, the term derives
from a publication of B. F. White and E.J. King's The Sacred
Harp published in 1844.
The Bidwell House Museum's director, Martha Dailey, will be
writing a series of informational articles for Monterey residents in
preparation for the unique event. "The best way to learn more about
Sacred Harp singing is to experience it," she says. Singers sit in a
"hollow square"; it is four-part, unaccompanied, full voice singing.
"What I like most about it is that it is so inclusive and democratic.
Singing "schools" were set up all over New England and itinerant
teachers taught with tunebooks that featured noteheads in four shapes, "
said Dailey. Beginners and newcomers are especially attracted to the
community sing-a-long which has no religious affiliation.
Thousands of teachers, parents, and young people have shared the Amidons'
music through their albums of songs for all ages. When Pete Seeger
attended a Sacred Harp Sing led by Peter Amidon recently, he
said, "I've known shape note singing for 55 years...but never was part
of such a large gang so expertly led." The Amidons will be joined by
Matt and Rosie Wojcik and other lead singers at an old and new
American shape note sing in a participatory workshop at 2:00, followed
by refreshments and a presentation at 4:00. Guests may sit anywhere in
the church space and a ten dollar fee will include one or both of the
performances.
See the related story on the history of
religious music and the place of shape-note singing. |
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Article first published in the Bidwell House Museum 2007 Newsletter
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