Nancy-Jean, that's a great story! My husband and I wandered into our first (only) shape note workshop at Old Songs Festival at the Altamont Fairgrounds, and we were completely dumbfounded by the power of the music. It was a square of about 300 voices, each one singing with gusto, some with arms waving, 4-part harmonies hitting that tin roof in the sheep barn and just enveloping all of us.

I still don't know how to read the shapes, so I just followed along with the standard music notation as best I could. (The shapes are written as the note head on standard music). The emphasis is on participation, not performance.

It's not something I'd want to do every day (I AM a BLUEGRASSER, after all, and we never do anything the same way twice!) but it was an experience I'll never forget and intend to repeat in November.

Lonesome EJ, find a group and go experience it. There's no way a recording can adequately show the effect, viscerally, spiritually, musically.