This morning we all drove up to Page County for a hymn sing. Our friends the Showalters have been several times to the Harmonia Sacra singings held there once a year and invited us to go with them. We decide to make the trip and learn something new, as we'd not sung this variety of music before.
The August singing is always held in the old Mauck Meeting House, a log church building in the little village of Hamburg, VA. The acoustics are supposed to be very good, especially in the balcony, which is where we sat along with the Showalters and some of their relatives. No air-conditioning made for quite a warm experience, but it was actually a relatively pleasant day, so we were thankful.
What is Harmonia Sacra? "It is based on a shape-note tune book first published as Genuine Church Music by Joseph Funk in Winchester, Virginia in 1832. This book, later renamed the Harmonia Sacra, and since revised in 25 editions down to the present, is the oldest shape-note book in continuous use. Approximately 16 annual singings are held from it in Mennonite communities in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and some in Indiana." See this web page for some more information on the background of the Harmonia Sacra tradition. The Serven Clan wrote an interesting post earlier this year about Sacred Harp, which is a related style of harmony.
After a short reading of Psalms that focused on praising the Lord, we sang for a couple of hours from 10 until noon. Different people would come up to the podium as leaders to call out the hymn numbers and start off the parts. We knew maybe 20% of the songs/tunes sung, including Rock of Ages; Come Ye, Disconsolate; Homeward Bound, and Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (or Dedication Anthem). The others we were not familiar with we just followed along the best we could! The blending voices were very rich and harmonious. Here is a site where you can hear live recordings of several tunes that were actually recorded at the Mauck Meeting House in Hamburg--one of the ones listed called Newkirk we sang today.
Afterwards, we chatted outside with Sarah Showalter, the oldest daughter, and her family members in attendance as the rest of the crowd prepared for a picnic lunch followed by more afternoon singing. In the background of this picture, you can see the Hamburg Grocery, whose owners keep up the old church as well as a little museum across the street. On the way home we took advantage of a few scenic photo-taking opportunities as we drove over Massanutten Mountain. Our first Harmonia Sacra hymn sing was enjoyable.
~Hannah
Very interesting to learn about Harmonia Sacra.Glad it was enjoyable for you.
Too bad I couldn't have sent the extra air conditioning up your way.Our church gets too cold and I end up wearing a sweater.
Posted by: Tammy | Monday, August 06, 2007 at 10:53 AM
Dear Hannah,
I was reading your post with interest and thinking to myself--"You know, that sounds a lot like Sacred Harp . . ." And then I saw your very kind link. : ) That was very sweet of you.
I think that I've seen a Harmonia Sacra book before, but I can't think exactly where. Perhaps it was referred to in some Sacred Harp literature. We'll have to compare songs sometime and make music to the Lord together!
Praising my Lord,
Rebecca
Posted by: Rebecca Serven | Monday, August 06, 2007 at 05:23 PM
Will there be any Harmonia Sacra sings in the foreseeable future? Can anyone attend?
I am 70 years old and have sung acapella four part harmony at the Church of Christ all my life.
Posted by: Amy Bennett | Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 02:08 PM