Southern Harmony
Encyclopedia
The Southern Harmony is a shape note hymn and tune book compiled by William Walker
. The book was released in 1835 under the full title of The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note
singing.
, are found in the American colonial era. Singing schools were created to provide instruction in choral singing, especially for the use of church
es. In 1801, a book called The Easy Instructor by William Smith and William Little was published for the use of this movement; its distinguishing feature was the use of four separate shapes that indicated the notes according to the rules of solfege
. A triangle indicated fa, a circle sol, a square la and a diamond, mi. To avoid proliferating shapes excessively, each shape (and its associated syllable) except for mi was assigned to two notes of the musical scale. A major scale in the system would be noted Fa - Sol - La - Fa - Sol - La - Mi - Fa, and a minor scale would be La - Mi - Fa - Sol - La - Fa - Sol - La.
in 1835, with subsequent editions printed in Philadelphia
. It contained 335 songs, went through several editions, and became one of the most popular southern tunebooks in the 19th century. In 1867 Walker claimed over 600,000 copies had been sold. Walker added an appendix of additional tunes in 1840 with a further enlargement in 1847. An 1854 revision deleted several tunes and added still more. The present edition is a facsimile reprint of the 1854 edition.
William Walker was born in 1809 in South Carolina
, and grew up near Spartanburg. He became a Baptist
song leader and shape note "singing master". Walker and Benjamin Franklin White
, publisher of the Sacred Harp
, married sisters. In 1866, Walker published a tunebook entitled Christian Harmony
, in which he changed from four shape to seven shape notation. He incorporated over half of the contents of The Southern Harmony in the Christian Harmony. William Walker died on September 24, 1875.
Although singing from the Southern Harmony is finding renewed interest at present, for many years it survived in one annual singing held each fourth Sunday in May at the Marshall County courthouse in Benton, Kentucky
. It is called "Big Singing Day". The Big Singing Day has been held since 1884, when it was organized by James Roberts Lemon, a newspaper owner and publisher in western Kentucky
.
The songs at the Big Singing are sung a cappella
, mostly in three-part harmony. Men or women may sing any part, but traditionally only men led the class. Women led in the Big Singing for the first time in 2005, with Dr. Deborah Carlton Loftis leading in 2006. The singing is an all day event, with about an hour and a half break for lunch. The morning singing consists of a type of practice session. There is a call to order, after which the session is opened by singing "Holy Manna" and having an invocation. Many leaders in the morning session will lead the song that they have been selected to sing in the afternoon session. After lunch that session is also opened by singing "Holy Manna". This is followed by an official welcome address. A selected group of leaders direct the singing according to a printed program, and time is also left for other visiting singers. According to the traditional performance, each leader is responsible for giving the pitch of his song. Most songs are sung slightly lower than the key in which they are written. Songs are first sung "by the note" - in which the solmization
is sung through - then followed "by the line", in which the words are sung.
The Southern Harmony has remained unchanged since 1854, unlike its counterpart the Sacred Harp
, which went through several revisions in the 20th century. About 75% of the songs are presented in three-part harmony, which tends to emphasize their modal
quality and dispersed harmony.
.
Composer Donald Grantham
also composed a four-movement piece for wind ensemble based on the anthology, entitled Southern Harmony.
The rock/blues/jam band The Black Crowes
named their second album The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
(1992) after this song anthology.
William Walker (composer)
William Walker was an American Baptist song leader, shape note "singing master", and compiler of four shape note tunebooks, most notable of which was The Southern Harmony.-Life:...
. The book was released in 1835 under the full title of The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note
Shape note
Shape notes are a music notation designed to facilitate congregational and community singing. The notation, introduced in 1801, became a popular teaching device in American singing schools...
singing.
The music and its notation
The roots of Southern Harmony singing, like the Sacred HarpSacred Harp
Sacred Harp singing is a tradition of sacred choral music that took root in the Southern region of the United States. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note music.- The music and its notation :...
, are found in the American colonial era. Singing schools were created to provide instruction in choral singing, especially for the use of church
Church service
In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be...
es. In 1801, a book called The Easy Instructor by William Smith and William Little was published for the use of this movement; its distinguishing feature was the use of four separate shapes that indicated the notes according to the rules of solfege
Solfege
In music, solfège is a pedagogical solmization technique for the teaching of sight-singing in which each note of the score is sung to a special syllable, called a solfège syllable...
. A triangle indicated fa, a circle sol, a square la and a diamond, mi. To avoid proliferating shapes excessively, each shape (and its associated syllable) except for mi was assigned to two notes of the musical scale. A major scale in the system would be noted Fa - Sol - La - Fa - Sol - La - Mi - Fa, and a minor scale would be La - Mi - Fa - Sol - La - Fa - Sol - La.
History of The Southern Harmony
The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion was compiled by William "Singin' Billy" Walker and printed in New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
in 1835, with subsequent editions printed in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. It contained 335 songs, went through several editions, and became one of the most popular southern tunebooks in the 19th century. In 1867 Walker claimed over 600,000 copies had been sold. Walker added an appendix of additional tunes in 1840 with a further enlargement in 1847. An 1854 revision deleted several tunes and added still more. The present edition is a facsimile reprint of the 1854 edition.
William Walker was born in 1809 in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, and grew up near Spartanburg. He became a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
song leader and shape note "singing master". Walker and Benjamin Franklin White
Benjamin Franklin White
Benjamin Franklin White was a shape note "singing master", and compiler of the shape note tunebook known as The Sacred Harp. He was born near Cross Keys in Union County, South Carolina, the twelfth child of Robert and Mildred White.-Musical career:White and Elisha J...
, publisher of the Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp singing is a tradition of sacred choral music that took root in the Southern region of the United States. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note music.- The music and its notation :...
, married sisters. In 1866, Walker published a tunebook entitled Christian Harmony
Christian Harmony
The Christian Harmony is a shape note hymn and tune book compiled by William Walker. The book was released in 1866¹. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note singing....
, in which he changed from four shape to seven shape notation. He incorporated over half of the contents of The Southern Harmony in the Christian Harmony. William Walker died on September 24, 1875.
Singings
Benton, KentuckyAlthough singing from the Southern Harmony is finding renewed interest at present, for many years it survived in one annual singing held each fourth Sunday in May at the Marshall County courthouse in Benton, Kentucky
Benton, Kentucky
Benton is a city in Marshall County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 4,197 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marshall County....
. It is called "Big Singing Day". The Big Singing Day has been held since 1884, when it was organized by James Roberts Lemon, a newspaper owner and publisher in western Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
The songs at the Big Singing are sung a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
, mostly in three-part harmony. Men or women may sing any part, but traditionally only men led the class. Women led in the Big Singing for the first time in 2005, with Dr. Deborah Carlton Loftis leading in 2006. The singing is an all day event, with about an hour and a half break for lunch. The morning singing consists of a type of practice session. There is a call to order, after which the session is opened by singing "Holy Manna" and having an invocation. Many leaders in the morning session will lead the song that they have been selected to sing in the afternoon session. After lunch that session is also opened by singing "Holy Manna". This is followed by an official welcome address. A selected group of leaders direct the singing according to a printed program, and time is also left for other visiting singers. According to the traditional performance, each leader is responsible for giving the pitch of his song. Most songs are sung slightly lower than the key in which they are written. Songs are first sung "by the note" - in which the solmization
Solmization
Solmization is a system of attributing a distinct syllable to each note in a musical scale. Various forms of solmization are in use and have been used throughout the world.In Europe and North America, solfège is the convention used most often...
is sung through - then followed "by the line", in which the words are sung.
The Southern Harmony has remained unchanged since 1854, unlike its counterpart the Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp singing is a tradition of sacred choral music that took root in the Southern region of the United States. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note music.- The music and its notation :...
, which went through several revisions in the 20th century. About 75% of the songs are presented in three-part harmony, which tends to emphasize their modal
Musical mode
In the theory of Western music since the ninth century, mode generally refers to a type of scale. This usage, still the most common in recent years, reflects a tradition dating to the middle ages, itself inspired by the theory of ancient Greek music.The word encompasses several additional...
quality and dispersed harmony.
Related
The American composer William Duckworth used some of the songs in the Southern Harmony as a starting point for his own minimalist choral arrangements of the same nameSouthern Harmony (Duckworth)
Southern Harmony is a minimalist composition by William Duckworth written in 1980 and 1981. It is scored for unaccompanied mixed chorus, and is an original work created through adaptation of shape-note songs from the 1854 compilation Southern Harmony and Musical Companion...
.
Composer Donald Grantham
Donald Grantham
Donald Grantham is an American composer and music educator.Grantham was born in Duncan, Oklahoma. After receiving a Bachelor of Music from the University of Oklahoma, he went on to receive his MM and DMA from the University of Southern California. For two summers he studied under famed French...
also composed a four-movement piece for wind ensemble based on the anthology, entitled Southern Harmony.
The rock/blues/jam band The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
named their second album The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is the second album by the American blues-rock group The Black Crowes, released on May 12, 1992. It was the first record by the band to feature Marc Ford on lead guitar, replacing Jeff Cease, who was fired the year before.It features four hit singles;...
(1992) after this song anthology.
External links
- Introduction to the 4th Edition of Southern Harmony
- The Southern Harmony online
- The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion-publisher page