Shape-Note Traditions

The words

1. Allen Carden

   Allen D. Carden (1792–1859), compiler of The Missouri Harmony (1820). Compiled a long-lived frontier shape-note tunebook.

   Warren Steel: Review: The Missouri Harmony (opens a new tab) · Wikipedia: Shape note (opens a new tab)

2. Convention

   A regional shape-note singing convention, such as the Southern Musical Convention (1845). The organized gatherings that sustained the tradition.

   Wikipedia: Sacred Harp (opens a new tab)

3. Davisson

   Ananias Davisson (1780–1857), compiler of Kentucky Harmony, the first Southern shape-note tunebook.

   Library of Virginia: Index of Virginia (opens a new tab) · Wikipedia: Shape note (opens a new tab)

4. Diamond

   Diamond-shaped note head for the syllable mi.

   New Georgia Encyclopedia: The Sacred Harp (opens a new tab)

5. Fasola

   Name for four-syllable (fa, sol, la, mi) shape-note singing.

   encyclopediaofarkansas.net: Shape-Note (opens a new tab)

6. Hollow square

   Seating of Sacred Harp singers in four facing sections.

   New Georgia Encyclopedia: The Sacred Harp (opens a new tab)

7. Jesse Aikin

   Jesse B. Aikin (1808–1900), whose Christian Minstrel (1846) introduced the lasting seven-shape system. Originator of the standard seven-shape notation.

   Wikipedia: Jesse B. Aikin (opens a new tab)

8. John Wyeth

   John Wyeth (1770–1858), Harrisburg printer of the shape-note Repository of Sacred Music and its Part Second. His shape-note tunebooks fed the Southern tradition.

   Warren Steel: John Wyeth and Southern Folk (opens a new tab)

9. Joseph Funk

   Joseph Funk (1778–1862), Mennonite compiler of Genuine Church Music (later Harmonia Sacra).

   Library of Virginia: Joseph Funk (opens a new tab)

10. Keying

    A designated keyer choosing and sounding the starting pitch without an instrument.

    Wikipedia: Sacred Harp (opens a new tab)

11. Patent notes

    Period name for Little and Smith’s patented shape notes.

    explore.lib.virginia.edu: University (opens a new tab)

12. Singers Glen

    Rockingham County, Virginia, community (formerly Mountain Valley) where Joseph Funk lived and published.

    Library of Virginia: Joseph Funk (opens a new tab)

13. Triangle

    Triangular note head for the syllable fa.

    New Georgia Encyclopedia: The Sacred Harp (opens a new tab)

14. William Little

    Co-author of The Easy Instructor (1801), which introduced four-shape notation.

    New Georgia Encyclopedia: The Sacred Harp (opens a new tab)

15. William Smith

    Co-author with William Little of The Easy Instructor (1801).

    New Georgia Encyclopedia: The Sacred Harp (opens a new tab)