Manchester Sacred Harp

Manchester Sacred Harp Blog (dummy)

Why we sing, and other stories

We liked the idea of having somewhere to gather our thoughts, tell tales and invite you down the rabbit hole with us.

So we made a blog. It’ll be a collection of different voices and perspectives, all with Sacred Harp at the heart.

Recent posts:
20/09/2025 That guy who writes the high fa in A major
14/08/2025 Denson family footprints
22/06/2025 Safety in Numbers
14/05/2025 Laurie Anderson’s ARK: United States V

Recent posts:
20/09/2025 That guy who writes the high fa in A major
14/08/2025 Denson family footprints
22/06/2025 Safety in Numbers
14/05/2025 Laurie Anderson’s ARK: United States V

That guy who writes the high fa in A major
Denson family footprints
Safety in Numbers
Laurie Anderson’s ARK: United States V

Recent posts:

 

Matthew Parkinson smiling as he holds the 2025 edition. He's wearing a fancy red and green tie
Matthew Parkinson with the 2025 edition of The Sacred Harp

That guy who writes the high fa in A major 20/09/2025

We’re very proud that Matthew Parkinson of Manchester Sacred Harp has two songs in the 2025 revision of The Sacred Harp. The week before the launch of the new book in Atlanta, Harriet Monkhouse and Jo Kay interviewed him about his discovery of Sacred Harp, how he composes songs, and how he feels about his songs becoming part of the canon… Read full post

 

Title page from the 1936 edition of Original Sacred Harp (Denson revision), promising "The best collection of sacred songs, hymns, odes and anthems, ever offered the singing public for general use". Names on the music committee include Tom and Seaborn Denson, and Tom's sons, Howard and Paine.
Title page of the Original Sacred Harp (Denson Revision) 1936. Names on the Music Committee include Tom and Seaborn Denson, and Tom’s sons, Howard and Paine.

Denson family footprints 14/08/2025

This is one for the geeks! Earlier this year, someone asked why the song on page 422 of the Sacred Harp book (1991 edition) is called Burdette, and someone else said “I think it’s one of the Denson family.” I couldn’t resist; I plunged down a very deep rabbit hole. I emerged clutching a family tree for… Read full post

 

Lucy leading a song at Whitworth Art Gallery
Singing at Whitworth Art Gallery. Photo by Susanna Cox.

Safety in Numbers 22/06/2025

“If you can hear your neighbour singing, you’re not loud enough”, some say. Sacred Harp – or shapenote singing in general – is sung in what some call “Full Voice”. I tend to call it “shouty singing”, but it really ISN’T about drowning out your neighbour. There’s incredible release in permission to sing with little holding back… Read full post

 

Official image from the show: A stark black and white image that communicates anxiety at the state of the world. Laurie Anderson stands in front of a large image of the globe suspended on a black background. She is turned slightly to the side, arms raised and hands in her hair, as if she's at her wit's end with confusion and concern.
Image credit: Factory International

Laurie Anderson’s ARK: United States V 14/05/2025

In November 2024, Manchester Sacred Harp took part in an amazing performance project with Grammy Award-winning US artist, Laurie Anderson, at Aviva Studios, Manchester. For those of us taking part, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience; for most of the 8,000+ audience members, it was a first encounter with Sacred Harp singing, in all its glory… Read full post