[extropy-chat] LA Times - Singing and health

[Emlyn]

Sorry, I didn't realise the shape note stuff was from MB.

Awesome stuff.

Check this out, it made me laugh (struck a chord, as it were)...

"Black Gospel Choir Makes Man Wish He Believed In All That God Bullshit"
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28174

Emlyn

On 27/04/07, MB <mbb386 at main.nc.us> wrote:
> I like this, PJ, thanks for posting it. :)
>
> Some years ago I found a welcoming singing opportunity - people who sing Shape Note
> Music. Where I live there are several versions of Shape Note Music and I go to all
> the singings I can get to, four different states! The songs are almost all old (18th
> and 19th century) religious music, but that doesn't bother me a bit. I have several
> friends who "can't stand the religiousness of this" - but I love the sound and the
> people and the singing (and the food!).
>
> We often have "all day singings" where we begin in the morning, break an hour for
> covered dish lunch (ah, the food!), and then sing until late afternoon.  I didn't
> know I could do it, I thought I'd collapse, but I never did... I just kept going and
> it was a blast.
>
> Aside from the music and singing, there's learning to read the various sets of
> shapes, which I find delightfully challenging as well, like learning to read a code.
>  And there's learning to lead a song - standing in the middle of the Hollow Square
> and beating time and leading all the singers. :) And there's always a new song, one
> I've not heard before.
>
> I cannot (yet?) read regular round-note music, despite several years of piano
> lessons in my long-ago childhood. My poor teachers - they were so disgusted and
> disheartened. My parents were insistent, even offering cash bribes for me to learn
> to play certain pieces of music. It never really happened.
>
> I wonder what they'd think of Shape Note Singing?  ;)
>
> http://fasola.org/
> http://christianharmony.org/
> http://www.oldharp.org/
>
> Regards,
> MB
> ... who was told (in school) "you don't sing well enough to be in the group"
>
>
> > http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-sing23apr23,1,2749174.story?coll=la-headlines-health
> >
>
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