Presented by Baltimore Shape Note Singers
and The Center for Congregational Song

We are very pleased to present this special shape-note singing, with singers from Maryland and the region, singing new poetry with an old tune, in the traditional Sacred Harp style:

Background

On Monday, January 13, 2025, the Baltimore Shape Note Singers met at Four Hour Day Lutherie for an evening that combined tradition with a focus on inclusion. The group sang “Love Astounding”, a poem by Jeanette M. Lindholm set to the tune “Holy Manna” from The Sacred Harp. This performance was part of the Songs for the Holy Other: Hymns Affirming the LGBTQIA2S+ Community project, recorded in the traditional Sacred Harp style.

A Typical Start

The evening began with the group’s regular Second Monday singing. About 22 singers attended, including a couple of first-timers exploring shape-note music for the first time. The first hour featured selections from The Sacred Harp and The Shenandoah Harmony, as is usual for these gatherings.

Before the break, Brian Hehn of the Hymn Society shared some background on the Songs for the Holy Other project, explaining its origins and purpose. Afterward, the singers took a short recess.

“Love Astounding”

Following the break, the group turned its attention to “Love Astounding”. Kevin introduced the song, while Lindsey guided the group through the notes to make sure everyone was comfortable. The song was sung three times before the group returned to their tunebooks to close out the evening.

Thanks to the Community

A note of appreciation goes to Topher Lawton for scoring the tune. Special thanks to Nora, Sarah, Elizabeth, Kelly, Beth, River, Niamh, Samuel, Robin, Brian, Topher, Luke, El, Taylor, Cori, Katie, and Becca for their contributions to this event. Events like this reflect the role shape-note singing can play in bringing people together while expanding the repertoire to include works that resonate with modern audiences.

For those in the Baltimore area, the group welcomes anyone interested in exploring this unique and communal form of singing.

Donate to the The Center for Congregational Song

The recording of “Love Astounding” is part of a broader initiative by the Hymn Society, which plans to release a series of videos for the project. While future videos will not have that wonderful shape-note source, you can support the work they are doing by giving to their Go Fund Me page located here: https://gofund.me/44bd4ed9

For more information, visit:
https://www.baltimoreshapenote.org/
http://www.marylandshapenote.org/
https://thehymnsociety.org/resources/songs-for-the-holy-other/
https://gofund.me/44bd4ed9