Matt Hinton, a shape-note singer, leads a song at a Sacred Harp singing event held at Holly Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Bremen, Ga., on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Credit: AP/Jessie Wardarski ...

Marie Brandis, who has been participating in Sacred Harp singing for over 40 years, gave a brief introduction to the form, including the corresponding shapes and notes: a triangle for Fa, an oval for ...

BREMEN, Ga. – “The Sacred Harp” is a pre-Civil War compilation of sacred songs that uses music notes shaped like triangles, ovals, squares and diamonds, and it is getting an update.

Fa, sol, la, mi and other peculiarities of shape-note singing Like all Sacred Harp events, it was not a performance. “The Sacred Harp” is meant to be sung by everyone — loudly.

Matt Hinton, a shape-note singer, leads a song at a Sacred Harp singing event held at Holly Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Bremen, Ga., on Saturday, March 22, 2025.

By HOLLY MEYER BREMEN, Ga. (AP) — “The Sacred Harp” is a pre-Civil War compilation of sacred songs that uses music notes shaped like triangles, ovals, squares and diamonds, and it is getting ...