For those of us who are engaged with the Sacred Harp tradition, the hollow square is where the magic happens—voices raised in four-part harmony, loud and unamplified. But the endurance of these 19th-century shape-note tunes often means they travel far beyond the singing school, finding new life in unexpected places.
One compelling recent interpretations comes from The Westerlies, a “new music” brass quartet based in New York. Their album, Paradise, offers a sublime, mostly instrumental exploration of the Sacred Harp songbook, translating our familiar vocal harmonies into the precise, warm textures of two trumpets and two trombones.
While this is a clear departure from the traditional a cappella practice, Paradise serves as a testament to the musical durability of the shape-note tradition. The Westerlies—comprising Riley Mulherkar and Chloe Rowlands on trumpet, and Andy Clausen and Addison Maye-Saxon on trombone—approach the material with a reverence that will resonate with singers, even as they take the music into the realm of chamber jazz and Appalachian folk.
DownBeat Magazine, which awarded the album a rare 5-star review, described the project as “sublime, precise and deeply spiritual,” noting that the band has “reshaped, recast and elevated this choral music… into something that’s beautifully soothing and timeless.”
The album features reimagined versions of classic tunes alongside original compositions inspired by the style. While largely instrumental, the project does feature two guest vocalists familiar to the folk world: Sam Amidon on the title track “Paradise,” and Aoife O’Donovan on “Weeping Mary.”
For the Singloud audience, Paradise is a fascinating study in how the angular, powerful harmonies of the B.F. White book can be softened and stretched without losing their essential character. As DownBeat critic Frank Alkyer put it: “This is music of great simplicity, thoughtfulness and beauty. It is not easy-listening; it’s amazing listening.”
We recommend giving it a listen—not as a replacement for the hollow square, but as a beautiful echo of it.
Listen and Support:
- Stream/Buy on Bandcamp: The Westerlies – Paradise
- Visit the Band’s Website: TheWesterliesMusic.com
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