There are lots of threads discussing Shape Note Singing - basically it is a form of music notation which was used instead of Tonic Solfa or the "standard" sparrows sat on phone lines. Bung "shape note" in the forum search box and you should find plenty of references.
Last week there was a thread linking to a site containing the lyrics of the songs from Cold Mountain ( and lots of other films including Oh Brother Where Art Thou) - can't the thread title, but it's worth checking back for. I'm too knackered to do so right now.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.