Tim Eriksen--"Sacred Harp" Shaped Note Singing School (Workshop)

Traditional a cappella singing of religious music, mostly of early American origin, in four-part harmony, from any of several shaped note tunebooks, especially The Sacred Harp, a book first published in 1844 and continuously updated since, is called shaped note singing. Along with other hymn books from the era, The Sacred Harp's repertoire of 550 4-part a cappella hymns, odes, and anthems is part of the foundation of a vibrant oral tradition handed down since Colonial times and still practiced at hundreds of annual singing meetings, conventions, and local singing groups throughout the country and recently featured in the movie Cold Mountain. A Singing School is a brief course of musical instruction devoted to the rudiments of note-reading and sight-singing, with a focus on sacred music. Singing schools, established as early as 1700, were the first American musical institution; they fostered musical skills, notational innovations like shape notes, the composition of psalmody, and the publication of tunebooks like The Sacred Harp. Come learn about Sacred Harp singing and its four-shape musical notation in a relaxed and informal atmosphere in preparation for the sixteenth annual Potomac River Sacred Harp Singing Convention (April 2 & 3). Open to singers new to Sacred Harp singing and to experienced singers too.The workshop is offered at no charge although a collection will be taken to help defer the expenses. Mirjana Lausevic and Tim Eriksen perform a wide variety of Bosnian and American music in traditional and popular styles. Now married with two children, their introduction was musical, when studying at Wesleyan University they fell in love with each other?s singing. Minja soon enlisted Tim?s help to form the band Zabe I Babe, literally ?Frogs and Grandmothers.? Formed shortly after the outbreak of war in Minja?s native Bosnia, the band?s ?apples and oranges? repertoire was intended to reflect some of the musical wealth and diversity of this region, depicted in the West as barbaric and backward, ruled by ?ethnic hatred? and ?ancient conflicts.? Along with their musical collaboration, Tim and Minja continue their long work together in ethnomusicological research on music and politics in Bosnia and, more recently, on a music ethnography project, ?A World in Two Cities,? documenting some of the incredible musical and cultural diversity of urban Minnesota. They appear together with their son Luka as Sacred Harp singers in the Miramax film ?Cold Mountain,? for which Tim was a musical advisor and performer. See also the other Tim Eriksen and Mirjana Lausevic workshop and concert on March 19th on this website., as well as the Potomac River Singing Convention.