The Burlington Sacred Harp Singers warmly invite you to join us for a rousing weekend of song and fellowship. We are delighted to welcome renowned shape note singers and filmmakers Matt and Erica Hinton from Atlanta, Georgia. The Hintons will teach a traditional singing school, including an introduction to reading shape note music and important aspects of traditional practice. The weekend will also include a screening of the Hintons' documentary Awake My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp, an afternoon of full-on participatory group singing and an evening performance by revered Americana musicians Tim Eriksen, PhD (Cornelia’s Dad, the film Cold Mountain) and Peter Irvine (Cornelia's Dad, Trio de Pumpkintown). This weekend is made possible by generous support from the Vermont Community Foundation, the Country Dance and Song Society, New City Galerie and Young Tradition Vermont.

We hope you can join us!

Friday, January 13
7:30pm Screening of the documentary Awake My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp, followed by Q & A with directors Matt and Erica Hinton

Saturday, January 14
10:00am to 12:30pm Singing School with Matt and Erica Hinton
12:30pm Dinner on the Grounds / Potluck Lunch
1:30pm to 4:00pm Singing
7:30pm Tim Eriksen with Peter Irvine: In Concert at Main St. Landing

Sunday, January 15
9:30am Brunch social at a local singer's house (and possibly more singing...). Address will be given at the Saturday singing.

Singing will be from the 1991 Denson edition of The Sacred Harp. Songbooks will be available to borrow and purchase. All are welcome, no singing or musical experience necessary.

Friday events & Saturday singing school at Contois Auditorium, City Hall, 149 Church St, Burlington. Saturday concert at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Black Box Theatre, 60 Lake Street, Burlington.

Housing with local singers is available on Friday and Saturday nights. Contact Anna Mays at anna(dot)mays(at)gmail.com to request housing or with any questions.

For more details, visit http://www.vtshapenotesingers.com/?p=1372
Tim Eriksen concert https://www.facebook.com/events/1232045250208296/

Learn to sing the early American shape-note harmony of the venerable Sacred Harp tunebook in a workshop taught by acclaimed singing masters Matt and Erica Hinton. Matt and Erica are filmmakers, long-time fasola singers and educators from Atlanta, Georgia. This singing workshop, addressed to absolute beginners and more experienced singers alike, begins with the basics of the human voice and group singing, and includes an introduction to reading shape-note music, important aspects of traditional practice and lots of full-on singing. No prior experience required.

The Hinton’s film Awake My Soul is a feature documentary that explores the history, music and traditions of Sacred Harp singing, the oldest surviving American music. While often linked only to its history (e.g. the songs were used in the recent historical films “Cold Mountain” and “Gangs of New York”) this haunting music has survived over 200 years tucked away from sight in the deep rural south, where in old wooden country churches, devoted singers break open The Sacred Harp.

The Sacred Harp, first published in 1844 in Georgia, is at the heart of one of America’s most vital, homegrown musical practices. Within its pages, “Amazing Grace” and “Wayfaring Stranger” meet the rafter-rattling “fuging tunes” of early New England, all harmonized for three and four-part social singing, and written in a unique and practical notation system.

The Sacred Harp is an often “missing link” in American old-time and early gospel music, and a revelation to Americana enthusiasts from banjo players and ballad singers to fans of early country and folk harmony. An inclusive and democratic community singing tradition that was preserved in the rural south throughout the last century, Sacred Harp singing is now experiencing a revival with groups learning to sing the music throughout the US and Europe.

See the film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHUfHNEZDPc

This event is supported in part by the Vermont Community Foundation www.vermontcf.org, the Outreach Fund of the Country Dance and Song Society www.cdss.org, New City Galerie www.newcitygalerie.org, Young Tradition Vermont www.youngtraditionvermont.org and Main Street Landing www.mainstreetlanding.com/performing-arts-center

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