Sacred Harp singing meets on the 2nd Sunday of each month, 4:30-7:30pm, at the Walnut Hills Christian Church, 1438 East McMillan, at the corner of McMillan and Ingleside. Enter the street-level, back door from the parking lot, then go upstairs and to the left. We have a communal meal at 6:00pm?please join us!

The meetings are informal and proceed by taking turns choosing songs from the book. Often easy songs are chosen if newcomers are present. Veteran singers are eager to answer any questions. There is no admission charge, no membership, no audition, no choir director, no rehearsal, and no performance?just singing. Sacred Harp thrives on large numbers, so veterans are usually eager to help newcomers learn the fundamentals.

SACRED HARP SINGING

We sing from the The Sacred Harp (orig. 1844), which features a style of music popular during the early nineteenth century. Its most distinctive feature is the use of shape notes to indicate the degree of the musical scale. Just as in nineteenth century singing schools, Sacred Harp singers sing the names of the notes "fa," "sol," "la," and "mi" before singing the text. Singers sit in a "hollow square," with the bass, tenor, treble, and alto facing the leader in the center.

For more information on Sacred Harp singing in general, the "fasola" webpage is a good place to start?http://fasola.org.

NEW YEAR'S DAY SINGING

Each year on January 1st, Cincinnati sponsors an "all-day singing" from 10am-4pm. This is a wonderful event that attracts singers from around the midwest and brings together old friends who are in Cincinnati for the holidays. It is held at Walnut Hills Christian Church.

DIRECTIONS TO WALNUT HILLS CHRISTIAN CHURCH

• From I-71 southbound: Exit 3 at Taft (merge to left lane on ramp); turn left, crossing Taft to southbound Essex, go one block; left (east) on McMillan, go about a mile (cross Gilbert, pass McDonalds, cross Victory Pkwy); when the road splits stay right on McMillan, continue on a block or so to the church at Ingleside.
• From I-75 southbound: Exit 3 Hopple St; left (east) off ramp, cross over interstate, bear slightly left up the hill; continue straight for about 4 miles as Hopple becomes MLKing and then Madison (you will cross major streets at Clifton, Jefferson, Reading, Gilbert, Victory Pkwy); right at Woodburn (majestic Catholic church on far left corner), go three blocks; left at Taft, go one block; right at Ingleside, church is at end of block.
• From northbound I-75/I-71/I-471: take first exit immediately north of river onto eastbound Columbia Parkway (US 50 east); left at Kemper Rd (traffic light, a half-mile or so east of downtown), follow Kemper (watch signs!) to top of hill; right on McMillan, cross Victory Pkwy; when the road splits stay right on McMillan, continue on a block or so to church at Ingleside.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information on the Cincinnati singing call John Bealle at 513-861-1137 or email at jbealle@spsp.net