In the Dayton Daily News dated Sunday, January 3rd, 2004, there appeared an article written by Khalid Moss about "Sacred Harp" singing. It was noted in the article that this form of singing can be heard in the movie Cold Mountain, a civil war era tale. As I read the article I was a bit surprised and amused at points. The article refers to shape note singing, something which I grew up with, and refers to it as a music form that has escaped the attention of "scholars, musicologists and general listeners". The author refers to this form of singing as "fasola or shape note singing". It was also stated that a local musician, and voice major, who was introduced to the music by accident when someone showed him a copy of the Sacred Harp songbook dating back to 1854. This particular individual then organized a group which meets regularly, singing a capella, at a local seminary. I am sure that this was quite a discovery for someone not very familiar with groups who reject instrumental music in worship, which does violate scriptural authority. In the article however there were some statements that point to some things that are interesting in light of what the Bible says about singing in worship.
In the New Testament, we are told to sing. In Ephesians 5.19, Paul states, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord". The word for singing here is the Greek word ad and the word for "melody" comes from the Greek word psall. There is not room here to discuss these words. I have some materials that go into some depth with the meanings and derivations. The short story is that in the first century, particularly the word psall, meant to sing, or according to some scholars, to chant. Instrumental music was unknown, untaught and not practiced by the early Christians.
In the article, the "Sacred Harp" music, the author states, "...emphasizes the participation of the singers over the performance of the music." This is an interesting observation on the part of someone who apparently is not acquainted with the Lord's church, and shows that when someone applies some logic, otherwise known as common sense, we can see the purpose for the instructions. Our emphasis in worship is on God, fellowship with other Christians and edification in that which we sing. The singer, or Christian, is the instrument, the one who has presented their bodies a living sacrifice to God (Rom 12.1).
The author also states in the article, "If one is not familiar with the form, Sacred Harp singing will sound cacophonous. The choir sings a capella, and singers vocalize in stark, sometimes dissonant, four part harmony." I was quite amused at this statement. I can remember sitting in hot church buildings on wood pews, windows open, sweating, and the song leader being totally off key and everyone else trying to follow as best they could. I can also remember being in assemblies where the song leader was very accomplished and led the congregation with great skill and talent. That however is not the point to the singing. The point is that we are singing to God.
James states, "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms." In our singing we find a way to express the joy and peace that we have as Christians. We find a way to rise above even the most difficult of times by focusing our energy in an outward direction, releasing tension and praising God for the blessing. We can see this at work in the lives of Paul and Silas when they were beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." (Acts 16.25). This eventually led to the conversion of their jailor as he undoubtedly heard them singing before the prison was shaken by an earthquake.
Another interesting observation comes from a statement quoted in the article as well. "It's not a performance oriented kind of a thing... I'm not sure how it would sound in a concert setting." Interesting isn't it, that someone who apparently is not acquainted with the Lord's church should be able to figure out that this singing was for the benefit of the singers. It seems that the author and the musician quoted in the article have some misunderstandings of scriptural music in worship but the observations made here are very interesting indeed. I have known of others involved with "church music" who have screened the congregations for the right "talent" and have hired organists and pianists from other denominations or religious organizations to meet certain "professional" and musical standards. That places the emphasis on the music, not the worship, and certainly not the worshiper or on God
TLC