"Sacred Harp is a haunting form of a capella hymn singing that has deep roots in the South. These songs are sung unaccompanied by any musical instrument, save the instrument given by God: The human voice. That is the sacred harp." So says narrator Jim Lauderdale in this amazing documentary, directed by Erica and Matt Hinton, which explores a little-known American musical tradition that stretches back two centuries. For more on this film and this music, be sure to check out Williams Bowers' most recent Puritan Blister, as well as Amanda Petrusich's review of I Belong to This Band: 85 Years of Sacred Harp Recordings.
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Posted
Aug 29 2008, 05:15 PM
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Pitchfork Media - Today