BREMEN, Ga. (AP) — “The Sacred Harp” is a pre-Civil War compilation of sacred songs that uses music notes shaped like triangles, ovals, squares and diamonds, and it is getting an update.

Why Sacred Harp singers are revamping an iconic pre-Civil War hymnal Like all Sacred Harp events, it was not a performance. “The Sacred Harp” is meant to be sung by everyone — loudly.

Anyone can lead a song of their choosing from the hymnal’s 554 options, but a song can only be sung once per event with few exceptions. Also called fa-sol-la singing, the group sight-reads the ...

BREMEN, Ga. (AP) — A Christian hymnal called “The Sacred Harp” is at the heart of a more than 180-year-old American singing tradition that is as much about the community as it is the music.

A 1911 edition of “The Sacred Harp,” a shape-note hymnal from the 1800s, opened to song No. 43, “Primrose Hill.” Mike Lagerquist Singers revamp iconic pre-Civil War hymnal ...

Anyone can lead a song of their choosing from the hymnal's 554 options, but a song can only be sung once per event with few exceptions. Also called fa-sol-la singing, the group sight-reads the ...

Why Sacred Harp singers are revamping an iconic pre-Civil War hymnal A new edition of “The Sacred Harp,” a Christian hymnal first published in 1844, is being released this year. HOLLY MEYER ...