The Gospel In Black and White sounds fascinating. I don't yet have a copy. But allow me to pay for it--how much?

I used to sing Sacred Harp all the time--at least once a month, anyway. But lately I find I can't do it more than about 20 minutes--it blows my voice out.   In style what it mostly reminds me of is sea chanteys--certainly the same full speed ahead, no holds barred approach. It sure is good gutsy stuff--hypnotic--it's easy to get caught up in it And it sure does capture the flavor of the early to mid 19th century--very Hobbesian view of life. Lots of people evidently had such trouble in this life that they really looked forward to the next. By far the most joyous, rollicking songs in Sacred Harp are about death.

But after having sung Sacred Harp for a long time, I had a chance to hear a black Sacred Harp group--some of the same songs--but a totally different approach musically--and not written down, as I recall. Of course, as you know, shape-note singing in general was to be in place of standard European notation. These days the Sacred Harp books are on the normal staff--so I find it's easier just to read the music. But you wouldn't need to read music--just recognize the shapes. Do you know of anybody who's learned music that way?

Anyway, the Gospel in Black and White sounds like a great idea.



One of the reasons I post so late frequently is that Jan also works all day and wants access to the computer at night. And of course she wants us to spend more time together--so doesn't want me to spend a lot of time on Mudcat. She's even written song parodies about spending too long on Mudcat. Ah well, there's just not enough time (as you also know).