“Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp” is the first feature documentary about Sacred Harp singing, a haunting form of a cappella, shape note hymn singing with deep roots in the American south. Shape note singing has survived over 200 years tucked away from notice in the rural deep south, where in old country churches, singers break open “The Sacred Harp,” a 160 year old shape note hymnal which has preserved these songs which are some of the oldest in America.
The film offers a glimpse into the lives of this 'Lost Tonal Tribe' whose history is a story of both rebellion and tradition. The filmmakers, Matt and Erica Hinton spent seven years documenting this yet largely unknown art form.
The documentary has aired on PBS and has been featured on NPR, in TIME magazine, Pitchfork.com, NY Times, among others. The recently released original soundtrack includes traditional Sacred Harp singing as recorded in rural Georgia and Alabama, as well as the first ever collection of popular music adaptations of Sacred Harp songs, featuring artists such as John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, Murray Hammond (Old 97’s), Elvis Perkins, Richard Buckner, and Doc Watson, Woven Hand, Tenement Halls and others.
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Praise for "Awake, My Soul":
"When you see "Awake, My Soul", you will remember it."
--No Depression
“‘Awake, My Soul‘ features some of the most raucous group vocals that have been recorded.”
-Pitchfork.com
”‘Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp‘ is a fascinating history of a raw, overwhelming, unconventional form of Southern hymn singing.”
-The Oregonian
"These are no ordinary church choirs. The music is rebellious in its disregard for musical convention, punk in its inclusivity, and powerful in a way that only music performed with true passion can be...”
-KQED, San Francisco, CA
"In the Hinton's fine documentary: You get the feel of the people and the wonderful sound of the music, and thankfully without any condescension. As an introduction to Sacred Harp, it's as amazing as the music itself."
-Birmingham Weekly
On the Soundtrack:
"Revelatory and exultant, dense with harmonic ideas and often overwhelming even on CD" [score: 8.8]
-Pitchfork.com
“An outstanding primer for anyone dipping into the genre...” [****]
-SPIN
"The first time I heard Sacred Harp music, I was f***ing floored. This was like no staid church music I had ever encountered before! This was an alien/outsider sound, completely bucking traditional notions of dynamics and choral techniques for a rousing, rough-hewn cacophony that is as ecstatic and strong as it is tremendously sad...”
-Ink 19
“The songs turn the whole congregation into a choir, proclaiming their devotion in forthright, wide-open, vibrato-free chords with drones and inner counterpoint that hark back to Renaissance music...Brilliant...”
-Jon Pareles, NY Times
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For more information, visit www.awakemysoul.com
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHUfHNEZDPc
Contact:
Matt Hinton info@awakemysoul.com | 404.918.4914
Jeff Guy www.trinityanglicanmission.org | 404.803.4316
Location:
Trinity Anglican Mission
2270 Defoor Hills Rd. NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
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The 49th Annual Georgia State Sacred Harp Singing Convention will take place Saturday, March 27 & Sunday, the 28th, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days, at Sweetwater Chapel 1000 Pleasant Hill Road Lawrenceville, Georgia 30044-3330
Traditional “dinner on the grounds” at noon-- please bring a covered dish to share. This is a free event. All are welcome, no experience necessary.
For more info concerning the singing: http://www.atlantasacredharp.org/docs/2010GaStateSHConvFlyer.pdf
Contact: John Plunkett bildad12@hotmail.com | 678.763.7292
