The Sacred Harper's Companion

A Collection of Hymns and Anthems

in Traditional Shape Note Style by Contemporary Composers

Edited by Glen Wright and Susan Mampre

Quick Contents:
Contents by name and author,
Pre-publication review by Paul Gauthier,
Post-publication comments by Ishmael.
Ordering Info

Index by Tune Name

A Pre-Publication Review

Date: 16 Mar 94 18:52:48 EST
From: Paul Gauthier (paulgauthier@mindspring.com)

Here's a copy of a message I sent out on the net back last September describing the book:

A new book of original shaped note tunes is in the works. Due out by October, the book is the work of Glen Wright and Susan Mampre of Rutland, MA (Glen's "Natick" appeared in the new 1991 edition of the Original Sacred Harp. They've collected new songs from shaped note composers across the country and combined them into a collection of at least 25 new tunes centered in the OSH tradition.

I asked Susan Mampre the purpose behind their effort. She said "we wanted to collect and share new tunes from all over the country written by composers firmly grounded in the Sacred Harp tradition but who also let their own styles show through. A partial list of composers includes such notables as Jim Carnes and John Hocutt from Alabama, Glen Wright and Bruce Randall from Massachusetts, Judy Hauff and Ted Johnson from Chicago, Ray Hamrick and Hugh McGraw from Georgia, P. Dan Brittain from New York and others. The songs grabbed us. They were moving and also quite singable."

The book is being typeset by computer and should be very clear and readable (Susan and Glen have actually started a business typesetting shaped note music for Sacred Harp groups and individual composers.) Norumbega Harmony has been singing through the new pieces and have become excited about a number of them.

Paul Gauthier
Image Softworks
Westford, MA
paulgauthier@mindspring.com

Ishmael's Comments

Date: 23 August 1994

Ordering Information

Musica
8 Briarwood Road
Rutland, MA 01543-1754