The documentary Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp told the story of the origins of shape note singing, and of the Sacred Harp collection in particular, as well as the recent revival of this type of vocal music. With the release of the two-disc soundtrack, we are treated with the full recordings of the songs referenced in the documentary, including the solfège - singing the song with the names of the notes rather than the words in order to learn the music. The second disc of the set features 20 renditions of Sacred Harp tunes by a diverse group of folk and pop performers. The set is treated as two different albums, each with its own title.
Awake My Soul: The Original Soundtrack
You would probably need to be a fan of Sacred Harp or Early American music to fully appreciate this recording. Traditional Sacred Harp singing is not done for performance, so there are generally no considerations for any potential Earthly audience. Singers pour their heart and soul out in voice, singing as loudly and stridently as possible, with only a few exceptions. This results in nasal-sounding female vocals and slurred syllables, which are difficult to listen to for long periods of time.
These are field recordings, captured from several singings between July 2004 and July 2006, with each instance containing a different set of singers and surrounding environments. The recordings presented here are about as clear and balanced as can be done under the circumstances. Most of the voices are blended, and no individual singer stands out. I can’t tell if the alto part is more prominent because it’s the part I usually sing, or if it’s because the altos in the groups are particularly strong voices.
Help Me to Sing: Songs of the Sacred Harp
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