Newcastle Sacred Harp Singing

Newcastle upon Tyne Shapenote Singing
Dates for your diary
Newcastle Sacred Harp Singing Day Saturday May 30th Please note new venue for singing day: St Andrew's Methodist UR Church Hall, Station Rd, Benton NE12 8AW Singing Schools: Cumberland Arms singing school on Sunday 3 May, 2- 5pm If you'd like to dig deeper into the shapes, or have a friend who wants to try it, or want to try something specific out, please do come... If there's anyone you know who might like to come to a workshop type event, please let them know that this is happening. The singing school content is organized based on who comes so, again, just come wanting to sing! Click here for a flyer if you want to publicise the singing school to your work colleagues or friends Regular Singings: Last Tuesday of every month. Some months are missed so please ring before coming for the first time.
Essential Info re regular singing
	When? Last Tuesday, singing from 7.30pm.
	What? Singing from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Denson edition
	Where? Coleman Education Centre, St Oswald’s Hospice, Regent Avenue, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1EE
	Who? Everyone welcome with or without experience.
	Contact info: Email Cath Tyler for information or to be added to the mailing list
What is this all about?
	Shape Note singing is a participation event. When you come, come to sing! The singing is an opportunity to sing great, uniquely American unaccompanied choral music together. As is traditional, the singing is highly democratic--anyone who wants to may call and lead songs. We sing from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition, the leading example of shape-note hymnals that were popular in the early 1800s in America. The idiosyncratic style of its hymns is characterized by strong rhythm and simple harmonic structures that break many of the Old World strictures in a powerful, expressive way.
How do I start?
	The traditional way to learn to read shapes and to start singing from the Sacred Harp book is to go to a Singing School. We would probably think of this as a workshop for beginners. If you would like to try out Shape Note, but are not sure what it is about and are not used to reading music, then come and be introduced to the unique style of Shape Note. We are lucky that Cath Tyler (from the States) is based in Newcastle and keen to run Shape Note Singing Schools
Getting There (St Oswald's Hospice)
	Regent Avenue is just off the Great North Road, first turn left after the Salters Road lights at the end of Gosforth High Street, before you get to the Regent Centre when coming out of town. Metro stop: Regent Centre. Buses along the Great North Road including the 45A.
Other Information
	Loan books are available, but please bring along your own book if you have one.