The Shape Note Singing Project

The Shape Note Singing Project began in the early 1990s in the African American Studies Department. From the very beginning, Dr. Payne and The Center for Southern Studies The Center for the Study of Southern Culture staff were extremely receptive to the idea of developing a project that would preserve shapenote music.

The purpose of the shapenote singing project was to:

• Document song traditions through high-quality recordings
• Create a collection of shapenote songbooks, minutes, programs and other related materials to preserve the tradition
• Publish a newsletter to connect singing communities, high light tradition, and reinforce musical tradition. Newsletter, while available to all, would be focused toward the communities of singers
• Organize a large sing/symposium toward the end of the project to discuss musical tradition, share music and history, and validate tradition.

Project Timeline - Looking Back

1991 – 1995 University of Mississippi Years

Working as a research assistant, I was able to visit singing conventions in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana to inform conventions about the project and document the shapenote tradition.

Highlights of from the University years were the West Harmony Shape Note Singing Conventions recordings in 1994 & 1995 and the publication of The African American Shape Note & Vocal Music Singing Convention Directory.

1996 – 2009 Kitchen Table Years

After leaving the University, my husband Benny and I documenting shapenote music. However, with full time jobs, we found ourselves unable to carry on at our University years’ pace.

Eventually we reduced our travels to singing conventions down to about three a year. Everything was placed in storage but we did manage a few projects using our kitchen table as a workstation setup.

Highlights from these years were being recognized as the Humanities Scholar of Year in 2001 at Rust College, Rust College, presenting a presentation at the Ozark Singing in 2006 and 2008, and writing two musical cd reviews for the Alabama Folkarts Journal.

In 2009, we decided to try and revive the project using the internet.

The original purpose of the shapenote singing project remains, to Document, Preserve and Present the Shape Note singing tradition. This time, we are focusing the project heavily on preservation efforts.

Shapenote singers, old and new, are invited to become active shapenote music singers as well as learn more about shapenote music from a historical perspective.