The shape-note tradition emerged from New England’s 18th century singing school movement that aimed to improve Protestant church music and expanded into a social activity.

It's called shape notes because the musical notation is written in a special way to help singers find the right pitch. Fa is a triangle, Sol is a round spot, La is a rectangle and Mi is a diamond.

A unique form of shape-note singing that’s been a tradition in the Blue Ridge Mountains for more than 100 years will be performed and taught in Henderson County again this year during an annual event ...

Minnesota wasn't even a state when shape-note singing first took hold in the U.S., but it's on the map of the music's revival. Shape-note groups have been springing up here since 1990.

BREMEN, Ga. – “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.. Sung in ...

The Raleigh Shape Note Singers meet every fourth Sunday from 2–4 p.m. at the Friends Meeting House, 625 Tower St. The Durham Shape Note Singers meet every second Sunday from 2–4 p.m. at the ...

This shape-note music can be found along the eastern seaboard of the United States and goes back to the 1600s, he explains. Its original proponents weren't trained in classical music, and learnt music ...

The St. Louis Shape Note Singers' appearance in the Cube Gallery of the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts on Thursday is an unusual one for the group.

BREMEN, Ga. – “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.. Sung in ...

Matt Hinton, a shape-note singer, leads a song at a Sacred Harp singing event held at Holly Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Bremen, Ga., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) ...

BREMEN, Ga. – “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.. Sung in ...