Sacred Harp Publishing Company

04/09/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗽: 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲

10,000 copies of The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition have been distributed in just over six months since the debut of the new book in Atlanta! Attendance at singings is up, and the excitement of singing new songs by both living and historical composers is palpable. Thank you for your overwhelming support and for your warm embrace of the new edition, the first revision in 34 years!

The third printing was completed in February, and books are available for immediate order and shipment worldwide from our website. Introductory prices are continuing: individual books are $20 plus shipping, and cases of eight books are $160 with free domestic shipping and $40 shipping to most international locations. Permanently-marked loaner books are still available for $80 per case. You’ll find a link to the loaner-book request form on the ordering page on our website.

Thank you for your feedback on the binding and print quality. We have worked with the printer to make the binding and the gold on the cover more durable by using more pressure to imprint the gold, applying more glue to the book's spine, and increasing the width of the crimp in the cover, which better protects the binding's thread. In addition, we have moved the printed content of each page slightly away from the interior "gutter" to improve readability. We are investigating new processes and printers for forthcoming printings, so we welcome your continued feedback about the quality of the first three printings.

The third printing has also afforded us an opportunity to make a few updates, corrections, and minor changes for clarity or consistency:

𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀
• EVENING HYMN (41): update of dotted rhythm in measures 7 (tenor)/8 (alto)/9 (treble)/11 (tenor) to pairs of dotted eighth notes and sixteenth notes.
• BUFFAM FALLS (413): addition of repeat around second part of song.

𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
• SHARPSBURG (39b): correct scripture to “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.—Ps. 32:1.”

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
• MINISTER’S FAREWELL (69t): add “Treble and alto The Southern Harmony, 1835.”
• WORCESTER (195): add “Alto The Sacred Harp, 1844.”
• MULBERRY GROVE (482): change “Carmei” to “Carmi” in alto attribution.
• NEW AGATITE (485): add attribution for second verse, “Isaac Watts, 1719.”
• EAGLES’ WINGS (491): update attribution of second verse, “Wesley’s Redemption Hymns, 1747.”

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
• Essay on “The Revisions of The Sacred Harp” (9): correct date of Sacred Harp Publishing Company’s transition to nonprofit status to 1974.
• “Rudiments of Music” (15): replace Affetuoso with Affettuoso.
• SOUTHMINSTER (161): change “heaven’s” to “heavens’” in “To the heavens’ high King.”
• SAVE, MIGHTY LORD (70b): change "O" to "Oh" in chorus.
• AND JESUS CRUCIFIED (184): change "forego" to "forgo" in “All thy pleasures I forgo.”
• MONROE (370): change "O" to "Oh" in verse 3 (two instances).

Order copies of the new Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition, the best collection of shape-note hymns, revival choruses, plain and fuging tunes, odes, and anthems.

02/07/2026

"Antigodlin Stories of the Sacred Harp" by John Lawrence Brasher is now available through the Sacred Harp Publishing Company's online store. Brasher shares family and community stories dating back to the Civil War, along with his own first hand perspective on Sacred Harp singing's last half-century. As Buell Cobb wrote, "We've never before had this level of detail about the singers' personalities, musical tastes, and convictions—and all told, in the singer's voices, with both great humor and poignancy." The book is available to ship anywhere in the United States.

A book celebrating the people who sang Sacred Harp in the Deep South in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, bringing to light their vanished worlds.

01/11/2026

We have released the complete audio recording of Sunday's session at the 2025 United Sacred Harp Musical Association, when more than 700 singers gathered to celebrate the launch of The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition, on our website and on the YouTube playlist linked here. Thanks to Matt Goldman for audio production and to everyone who helped make this unforgettable event possible. Saturday's session, which was dedicated to singing new compositions, is also available on our website and YouTube channel.

Selections from the 120th session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association, September 14, 2025, Atlanta, Georgia.

12/14/2025

You can also access the recordings in an audio playlist on our website: https://sacredharp.com/new-song-recordings/

Recorded at The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition Debut Singing at the 120th Session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association, September 13, 2025, Atlanta, Geor...

12/14/2025

We are excited to share recordings of 88 new songs from The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition recorded at the 120th Session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association, September 13–14, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia on YouTube through the playlist linked here. Special thanks to audio engineer Matt Goldman for doing an amazing job capturing the sound of more than seven hundred singers at the largest Sacred Harp singing in living memory. We hope these recordings will help you learn the new songs in our book. Stay tuned for even more resources including video of the entire debut singing.

Recorded at The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition Debut Singing at the 120th Session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association, September 13, 2025, Atlanta, Geor...

09/15/2025

Thanks to each and every one of you who came to the United Sacred Harp Musical Association this weekend and made our launch of The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition such a resounding success!

Photograph by Patrick Kolts.

09/11/2025

We are pleased to share one last resource about the new "Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition" as we approach the debut singing this weekend. Much more information about the weekend’s activities are on our website.

On our page linked below, you'll find a two-sided document sized to fit in your songbook listing all of the page numbers of new songs and songs by living composers in the 2025 edition. The handout also includes lists of the small number of songs with page number changes and new top or bottom designations (songs that stayed in the same place but are now paired with another song on their page).

We stuck with the longstanding tradition in revising "The Sacred Harp" of keeping page numbers consistent so that singers are able to find the songs we know and love. The four page numbers we did change made space for more new songs while minimizing song removals and eliminating page turns. The total number of page turns is down more than 50% in the 2025 edition.

We also made a small number of changes to song titles. We restored two songs to their original titles and removed parenthetical “(First)” and “(Second)” indications that were added to the book in 1991.

In addition to this handy resource, an updated Fasola.org website featuring the index and concordance to all songs and texts in the 2025 Edition will be available on Friday morning.

𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬
330b → 330t: FELLOWSHIP
365 → 364: SOUTHWELL
507 → 508: SERMON ON THE MOUNT
566 → 565t: HEBRON

𝐓𝐨𝐩/𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
27t: BETHEL
178t: AFRICA
347t: CHRISTIAN’S FAREWELL
414b: PARTING FRIEND
420b: BISHOP
423t: GRANTVILLE
452b: MARTIN
497t: NATICK
499b: AT REST
501b: O’LEARY
565b: THE HILL OF ZION

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 (𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥)
ODE ON LIFE’S JOURNEY → ODE OF LIFE’S JOURNEY
PLEYEL’S HYMN → PLEYEL’S HYMN SECOND
Removal of parenthetical “(First)” and “(Second)” indications

https://sacredharp.com/2025/09/11/new-song-page-numbers-2025-edition/

We are pleased to share one last resource about the new Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition as we approach the debut singing this weekend. Much more information about the weekend’s activities are on our website. This two-sided document, sized to fit in your songbook, includes all of the page numbers of n...

09/10/2025

We are happy to announce that we will live-stream the launch of "The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition" this weekend including the symposium on Friday and the singing on Saturday and Sunday at the United Convention. You can access our livestream here: https://www.youtube.com//live

If you subscribe to our channel and opt in to notifications, YouTube will let you know as each event starts.

All-day symposium featuring presentations about the making of The Sacred Harp, 2025 Edition

09/09/2025

We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to Atlanta for the debut singing from The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition this weekend! Here's a preview of each day's activities:

𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭. 𝟏𝟐: 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐩 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦
• Holy Trinity Parish Episcopal Church, 515 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA. Note that free onsite and street parking is limited. The venue is accessible by MARTA and paid parking is available at several locations in Decatur.
• Tickets are required and cost $25 to help offset the cost of the event. You can purchase a ticket at Eventbrite, where you'll also find a full schedule of the day's events. You can search for "Sacred Harp symposium" on Eventbrite or follow the link in the comment below.
• Check-in and book sales start at 8am. The symposium begins with a plenary session at 9am. Sessions continue until 5pm with a break for lunch.
• Book sales: We will have individual copies of the new book available for everyone attending the symposium, however bulk orders will be filled on Saturday at the United Convention. We will be able to accept card payments, but payment with cash or check is preferred.

𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲-𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭. 𝟏𝟑–𝟏𝟒: 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐩: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧" 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
• The Foundry at Puritan Mill, 916 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA. Free onsite parking.
• Registration and book sales start at 8:30am. We will sing from 9:30am until about 3:00pm both days. Saturday will be a special session featuring composers leading their songs from the new edition. On Sunday, we will sing from the new book with an opportunity for everyone who wishes to lead to do so in groups.
• Book sales: we will have individual books for sale as you enter the singing. Prearranged bulk orders will be available for pickup on Saturday following the singing. We will be able to accept card payments, but payment with cash or check is preferred.
• Food: we will provide a catered dinner on the grounds. If you are traveling from nearby, please bring desserts to share.

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
• On Saturday following the singing, we will have an informal social at Chattahoochee Food Words (1235 Chattahoochee Ave NW, Atlanta, GA).
• Sunday evening, we will meet at 5pm at the grave of B. F. White in Atlanta's historic Oakland Cemetery (374 MLK Jr DR SE, Atlanta, GA) for brief remarks and about 20 minutes of singing.
• Monday morning (10am–noon), take a road trip to the Sacred Harp Museum in Carrollton, Georgia (162 Oak Grove RD), approximately one hour from Atlanta.

You can find the full schedule on our website with details for all these events along with transit and lodging options, accessibility information, and much more. Please reach out with questions to [email protected].

We are excited to welcome you to a full weekend of events as we launch The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition at the United Sacred Harp Musical Association in Atlanta, Georgia, September 12–14, 2025. The weekend will begin on Friday, September 12, with an all-day symposium at Holy Trinity Parish Episcopal ...

09/04/2025

𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐟 "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐩: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧"
We can’t wait to welcome you to Atlanta next week to launch The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition! Whether you are joining us in person or in spirit, here are details about how to get your new book:

𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Coming to the Revising The Sacred Harp Symposium in Atlanta on Friday, September 12? We’ll have enough books on site for each participant to purchase a copy.

At the United Convention in Atlanta on Saturday and Sunday, September 13–14, we will have copies available for all attendees. If you’ve already placed a bulk order for a case or more, we will have them ready for you to pick up after the singing on Saturday afternoon at a designated loading area. Please get in touch with Richard Ivey at [email protected] for any questions about bulk orders.

We will be able to accept payment with cash, checks, cards, and Venmo. Please consider helping us avoid processing fees by paying with cash or check.

𝐀𝐭 𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
If you’re unable to join us in Atlanta, check in with your local Sacred Harp group. Large quantities of books are en route to be ready for singings across the United States and in the United Kingdom. Local singing organizers will be coordinating sales and taking payment. We have prioritized singings that are coming up later this month and early in the fall, so please be patient as we get books rolled out as quickly as possible.

𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲
Once our initial deliveries have been distributed to singing conventions and local groups, we’ll open up individual book sales on our website. Please note that books will cost $20 or £20 in person at a singing, but they will incur an additional shipping fee of $8 when ordered from the website in the United States.

09/03/2025

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Sacred Harp Publishing Company website at www.sacredharp.com ! You’ll find all the great resources from our previous site with many new additions, now in a streamlined, easy-to-navigate layout.

What's new?

• A stunning redesign by Atlanta-area singer Ellen Culpepper that updates our style with a contemporary feel while referencing 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑝’s history.

• A responsive, mobile-friendly design that works equally well on desktop computers and smartphones.

• A new landing page for our journal, 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒 𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑠 (formerly the 𝑆𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑝 𝑃𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟), offering easy access to all the content of the journal’s run from 2012 to 2017. With this new design, we are excited to be relaunching 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒 𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑠 in 2026 with brand new content.

• A new page for the Sacred Harp Museum featuring all our online exhibitions, with the brand new ability to search the museum’s catalog of books, recordings, minutes, photographs, and more.

• An updated shopping experience with more options for securely ordering our books and recordings. You’ll be able to purchase a new 𝑆𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑝 songbook in person at the United Convention in September, or at many conventions and local singings in the following weeks. We anticipate making 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑝 available for sale through our website beginning in October.

Thanks to everyone who put in the monumental effort to make this new website possible, especially to web developers Tom McTighe and Steve Brett. We hope you are as excited as we are to have this great new resource available as we get ready to launch 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑝: 2025 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛!

Order copies of The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition for your community The United Sacred Harp Musical Association Online Exhibition Latest news In Memoriam: Mike Hinton Mike Hinton, president of the Sacred Harp Publishing Company since 2002, passed away on July 18, 2025. Read about Mike and his dedication...