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Join us for Day 2 of Manchester Sacred Harp's singing weekend. You are very welcome to attend this special Sunday Singing in the Gallery without attending on Saturday. We will be singing from the song book 'The Christian Harmony'. This will be an informal half day singing with no dinner on the grounds and no arranging committee - just lead a tune if you feel like it.
To find out more and confirm attendance for our formal All-Day singing, please go to the specific event page: https://fb.me/e/hCSGNYgix On Day 1 we will be singing from 'The Sacred Harp' (Denson) song book.
SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER (Day 2)
1pm Start
4.30pm Close
Book: Christian Harmony
Venue
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The Whitworth Art Gallery Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER
https://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk
Singing takes place in Gallery 3 on the ground floor
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IMPORTANT:
To protect the wellbeing of singers and their loved ones, stay home if you have ANY cold or flu-like symptoms, or have been in close contact who have transmissible respiratory illness (e.g. if your housemate or child has a cough or cold)
Our Covid policy is currently being agreed by committee. Please check back before you attend to ensure you know what you're agreeing to.
Please note that the singing takes place in an art gallery. The room is open to gallery visitors and chairs will be made available for people who wish to sit and listen. Access to the room and to toilet facilities is via public areas.
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Lunch & refreshments
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No food or refreshments are provided as part of this afternoon singing. Please note that no food or drink is allowed to be consumed in the gallery. Only lidded bottles of water are permitted in the space.
You can bring your own food to eat outdoors, or downstairs where there is an indoor picnic space. There is a café, generally very busy at the weekend, so there may be a long wait.
https://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/visit/foodanddrink/
Access information
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The Whitworth is wheelchair accessible, flat level access, lifts and/or ramps throughout. Accessible toilet facilities. There are 5 parking spaces on Denmark Road for Blue Badge holders, with step-free access via the Parkside entrance. More details: https://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/visit/access/
Getting there
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The Whitworth’s own information page on this is comprehensive:
https://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/visit/gettinghere/ �
Driving is restricted along Oxford Road. There is free on-street parking on Denmark Street, which is often very busy but you can park on single yellow lines on a Sunday.
The Whitworth is about 25 min walk from the city centre, and on a major bus route. Buses: 5, 41, 42, 43, 140 – 143, 147. Ask for bus stop nearest MRI, Oxford Road.
New to Christian Harmony?
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Christian Harmony is shape note singing, using seven shapes instead of the four shapes of Sacred Harp. Some people find this easier to follow as it's more akin to the 'do re mi' of traditional music education. But there's no need to have any musical background to enjoy singing with us.
Shape note singing is accessible, communal and participatory, not performative. So there's no 'choir practice' - you just turn up and sing. It is open to all voices, and you need no experience. You might find it a bit intense if it's your first go, but you'll be made welcome.
'The Christian Harmony' is the name of one of the tune books - and whilst we do indeed sing in harmony, the singers are people of all faiths and none.
Sacred Harp is a singing tradition that originated in America in the late 1800s, drawing on the hymns and folk tunes of the time. It is sung in four part harmony, with no instruments accompanying the singers.
Manchester Sacred Harp is a friendly group who get together for the love of singing. We're a small group - numbers fluctuate each time, depending on who can make it (there's no expectation to always attend). It's not a fixed group - it's open to anybody, so you're welcome to just come along and try it.
There is a mixture of abilities, and the voices of the most experienced singers help you to follow the tune. You won’t be asked to sing alone, and there’s no audience. It’s all about power of many voices joined in harmony.
Participants sit in an open square, the singers in each of the four sections facing towards each other. Each section sings a different part of the harmony.
First of all, everyone sounds out the tune together using just the shape notes. Then we sing it through with the words in our tune book. Shape notes were designed to make it easier to follow a tune for people who don’t read music. But there’s no real need to follow the notes - you simply need to listen and join in - you’ll pick it up as you go along.
This lovely short video gives a useful explanation of Sacred Harp:
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*** photo used with kind permission of Joyce Smith ***
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Whitworth Art Gallery, Cufflinkswala, Denmark Road, Manchester, M15 6, United Kingdom,Manchester, United Kingdom
