The adaptations of Sacred Harp songs presented in this recording are very different from the field recordings or live singings that the listener may be more familiar with. However, for those who are not interested in Sacred Harp singing, this album may be a pleasant introduction to the songs themselves, without the distractions of solfège or unfamiliar song structures.
Most of the performances of the songs take the basic outline of the melody, which is often buried in the tenor line in traditional singing, and combine it with either the original words or variations thereof. The rest of the chords are mixed in with other instrumentation and occasionally, with other singers. However, the end result is more like something you would hear on an Adult Album Alternative radio station than something found in an Alan Lomax collection.
There are still a few tidbits here and there that will please the singer’s soul, such as the chorus of “David’s Lamentation,” performed by The Good Players. The spine-tingling four-part harmonies of the line “oh, my son” are included, with sparse instrumentation backing them. My favorite Sacred Harp song (and a favorite of many other singers), “Africa,” is given a delicate treatment, delivered in the sweet vocals of The Innocence Mission’s Karen Peris with minimal acoustic instrumentation backing her up.
The liner notes for this set are extensive, and well worth the read. In addition to essays by those involved with the production of these albums, there is also commentary by the performers on Help Me to Sing, photographs from singings, and examples of shape note music. Thus, Awake My Soul / Help Me To Sing is continuing the preservational and educational mission of the documentary which inspired this collection.
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