Figure 1. Members of the Fox Valley Area Singers rehearsing at the Beith House, January 25, 2026.
If you are a choral music enthusiast or enjoy using your own voice to make music, you likely know about Shape Note singing, also known as “Sacred Harp” from the 1844 The Sacred Harp book by B. F. White.
What is shape note singing?
Shape note singing is a 200+ year old American tradition of a cappella singing. The tradition was a way for a rural community to come together at a school, church, or someone’s home. The gatherings were never a practice or rehearsal, just loud and powerful singing!
HOW IS SHAPE NOTE SINGING PERFORMED?
Songs are sung in four-part harmony with no accompaniment. The singers sit in four sections (like a square) and face each other. Participants sit based on their singing range: treble singers are seated on one side, altos on a side, tenors on a side, and the bass singers complete the square.
Figure 2. Page from The Sacred Heart by B.F. White, 1991 Edition.
The singers follow music books where the notes are shown in shapes (see Figure 2):
A triangle (Fa): Represents the fa syllable
An oval (Sol): Represents the sol syllable
A rectangle (La): Represents the la syllable.
A diamond (Mi): Represents the mi syllable.
An organization, the Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association (SHMHA), hosts a singer’s website. The SHMHA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose purpose is the preservation and perpetuation of Sacred Harp singing and its traditions. SHMHA’s interests include Sacred Harp music, history, traditional singing practices, singing schools, singings, and singing conventions.
SEE A PERFORMANCE FEBRUARY 15, 2026
Preservation Partners has featured shape note singers at several events at the Durant-Peterson House Museum over the years, and 2026 is no exception!
The Fox Valley Area Singers, a local shape note singing group led by Paul Hough, are scheduled to perform at the Durant-Peterson House Museum on February 15, 1-4 pm. Come hear them fill the historic house with music!
WANT TO JOIN A SHAPE NOTE SINGERS GROUP?
If you are interested in joining the group, here is a message from Paul:
Shape Note (Sacred Harp) music is a traditional form of early American singing. We sing songs like "Amazing Grace", a cappella (without instruments) in 4 parts with enthusiasm! Sacred Harp is the human voice--the instrument you were born with. We sing only for ourselves to enjoy the music. This is not a choir or rehearsal. Everyone is welcome, including beginners interested in their own singing voice. Find out more at fasola.org. In the Fox Valley, we meet at Beith House, a historic house in downtown St. Charles, built at a time when this music was sung in rural America. We usually sing on the 4th Sunday of the month from 2-4 pm. For more information, contact Paul Hough at 630-631-3622 or paulandreehough@gmail.com.
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