Mississippi Sacred Harp

Sacred Harp Sings, by W. B. Allison

“Old Sacred Harp Singings,” of common occurrence in the comparatively early days of this region, were almost abandoned for a considerable period but in more recent years have been revived with great fervor. So marked is their return to popularity in the rural districts that, during the early summer, a singing is held within the territory contiguous to Meridian on practically every Sunday and some residents of the city, devotees of the older sacred music, make a practice of attending them all.

The name is derived from that of the song book or hymnal in general use, i.e., the “Sacred Harp,” a very old collection (a revision dated 1902 is generally accepted as few of the original books survive). “The Harp” and “Old Harmony” (Christian Harmony, published in 1873) are considered the only books appropriate for use at a real “Old Harp” singing.”

The old Liberty Church, three miles from Duffee, Newton County, has for a number of years held as an annual event, a Harp singing, on the second Sunday in June, and, as the traditions and conventions are carefully observed, their latest service may be considered as typical. Liberty Church is situated in an oak grove on top of a fairly high hill, allowing, on one side, an extensive view, but enclosed by woods on three sides, and, from it, a path descends steeply through the woods to a fine spring. The age of the church is uncertain but a former member states that he moved into the community and, with his wife, attended services there in 1871. The building is small, about twenty-five by forty feet, but, so great is the interest through the country round that a crowd of more than five hundred persons of all ages gathered to attend the service. The singing started at ten o’clock and continued without pause until twelve, when a recess was taken, and, for an hour, the invariable bountiful dinner was the center of attraction. At one o’clock the singers reassembled and continued with strong voices and unflogging zeal until nearly four o’clock.

There was not instrumental accompaniment. The singing is led by two, three or even four co-leaders who sound the key note and sing a chord in unison. The entire song is then run through in chorus, “by note,” after the method of the old country singing schools, now a thing of the past. That is, instead of using the words, each note is sung by syllable as—

 

Thereafter the number is sung through, words and music in the usual way but the complete formula is observed with each selection. The leaders are almost without exception most capable conductors who know their books by heart, after calling and singing through number after number from either book without so much as a glance at it. All parts are carried with the utmost accuracy and fervor, and it is indeed beautiful to see the rapt expression which comes upon the faces of many of the singers to whom music is truly a voice of and to the soul.

W. B. Allison was a researcher for the Works Progress Administration. On June 14, 1936, he attended and described a singing at Liberty Church in Duffee, Newton County, Mississippi. I believe the author W. B. Allison is probably this person – William Bartlett Allison.

The community of Duffee was first known as Liberty, as was the Baptist Church (i.e., Liberty Baptist Church). It was later called Rue, with a post office by that name existing from 1902 to 1906. In 1906, it was renamed Duffee for a railroad surveyor when a railroad was built through the community at that time. Duffee is about 20 miles northwest of Meridian, Mississippi.

A Place Called Mississippi: Collected Narratives, Marion Barnwell, editor. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi, 1997, pp. 261-262.