ALL-DAY SINGING

The Sacred Harp may have been published in Georgia, but the roots of its musical style run deep into northern New England. Born out of the Fasola singing schools of the 18th century, the earliest tunes in the book were composed for use by newly formed church choirs and social singing gatherings.

​

Jeremiah Ingalls, choirmaster of the First Congregational Church in Newbury, Vermont from 1791–1805, composed two tunes in The Sacred Harp, one of these, Northfield, has been a part of The Sacred Harp since its inception. In 1805 Ingalls published his own tunebook, The Christian Harmony, a collection of hymns, odes, anthems, and arrangements of folk tunes, many of which he wrote in honor of nearby towns like Danville and Barnet. Others were composed for the funerals of young Newbury residents Judith Brock and Polly Gould. According to Reverend S.L. Bates, "Mr. Ingalls...designed it as a sort of musical treasury for his townspeople." Ingalls' arrangements of folk hymns and spirituals represent the earliest recorded melodies of Sacred Harp stalwarts Gospel Trumpet, Clamanda, Vernon, 93rd Psalm, and The Young Convert.

​

We sing from The Sacred Harp 2025 Edition and a new four-shape edition of Ingalls' The Christian Harmony at the Newbury Center Town House on the Saturday before the third Sunday in July. The building's magnificent acoustics and unspoiled interior create the perfect home for the American harmony that grew from seeds planted here in Newbury.