Appalachian Music: Sacred Harp Explained with Tom Ivey
Appalachian Music: Sacred Harp Explained with Tom Ivey  
Podcast: The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Published On: Wed Sep 23 2026
Description: Sacred Harp: A Living Tradition, with Thomas A. IveyWhat is Sacred Harp, and why are thousands of people still singing it every weekend? In this episode of Pursuit of Beauty, I talk with Tom Ivey, a shape-note singer for more than thirty years, a longtime member of the Charleston Sacred Harp singing (begun in 2008), and a composer whose tune "Blessed Road" appears in the new 2025 edition of The Sacred Harp.— RESOURCES MENTIONED —Sacred Harp Publishing Co.: http://sacredharp.comShenandoah Harmony: http://www.shenandoahharmony.comSacred Harp Bremen (part-by-part practice tracks): https://www.sacredharpbremen.orgSingings calendar & indexes: https://fasola.org— RECORDINGS USED —Excerpts are used for commentary and education, with thanks to the singers and those who recorded and shared them. If you're a creator and would like a clip removed or credited differently, please contact me and I'll take care of it right away.Stratfield142 (Texas Sacred Harp Singers)- 410t The Dying Californian – Young People's Convention, Austin TX, 2014 – https://youtu.be/DNDgfS8CBPw- What Wondrous Love – Henderson TX, 2012 – https://youtu.be/aRpV9H9ZpB0- 45t New Britain – Southwest Convention, McMahan TX, 2011 – https://youtu.be/uPOo4dOuPbQ- Bound for Canaan – Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, McMahan TX, 2012 – https://youtu.be/5FTVuNqEBh8- 501 That Beautiful Land – Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, McMahan TX, 2012 – https://youtu.be/xTbJ5axaUnA- 254 Rose of Sharon – Coker UMC, San Antonio TX, 2011 – https://youtu.be/u_afgYrZe9g- 178 Africa – Coker UMC, San Antonio TX – https://youtu.be/YZrO3P7AQOQ- 457 Wayfaring Stranger – https://youtu.be/-S-Mb8K6cE8PLBrayfield- 110 Mount Vernon – Missouri State Convention, 2014 – https://youtu.be/9LxmTypxn50- Jordan (Billings) – Missouri State Convention, 2018 – https://youtu.be/uK7u0loWB00- 236 Easter Anthem – Kalamazoo All-Day Singing, 2009 – https://youtu.be/_TgfhYsmGEQ- 284 Garden Hymn – Southern Wisconsin Singing, Dodgeville, 2011 – https://youtu.be/TKQb8PM0Au8RI Sacred Harp- 160b Turn, Sinner, Turn – Rhode Island All-Day Singing, 2019 – https://youtu.be/-BG4MkqzQlo- 163t Morning – Rhode Island All-Day Singing, 2017 – https://youtu.be/pCd1ShMg3tI- 414 Parting Friend – Rhode Island All-Day Singing, 2018 – https://youtu.be/AwUgBjRYGX0Secondmdus – Lloyd's Hymnbook, Mars Hill Primitive Baptist Church, Hoboken GA, 2007- O How Happy Are They – https://youtu.be/BCPsSnn07Hc- I Walked Abroad One Morning Fair – https://youtu.be/emb-xLtcSkUSacred Harp Museum- 493 Blessed Road (Thomas A. Ivey, 2010; © 2025 Sacred Harp Publishing Company) – 2025 Edition Debut Singing, Atlanta, 2025 – https://youtu.be/eEA9zZewSOkOther channels- 346 The American Star – Camp Fasola, 2024 – Esther Morgan-Ellis – https://youtu.be/DJ_4LQ98gzY- 155 Northfield – Henagar Union Convention, 2012 – Mrkyess1 – https://youtu.be/IjMLGGGwzaI- Angel's Hymn – Northern Shenandoah Valley Singing, 2014 – SuperDonkeyEars – https://youtu.be/B2pygw2_JJg- 326t We've No Abiding City Here (Shenandoah Harmony) – Lehigh Valley All-Day, 2016 – Rachel Hall – https://youtu.be/wnQ4heCBc60- Jacob's Vision – Germany Sacred Harp Convention, 2018, led by Georges Boboé – Sacred Harp Bremen – https://youtu.be/o2N095OV33w- Hail Smiling Morn (Spofforth) – The Marsh Warblers, West Gallery choir – bothybats1 – https://youtu.be/pcJz_oZfVVs- Gaelic Psalm singing, Psalm 122 – Rev. Jack Morrison, 1992 – Don Aldmor Rison – https://youtu.be/XXnqemuXVOc- Bill of Rights: First Amendment (Neely Bruce) – Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers MA, 2016, dir. Tom Carmody – https://youtu.be/msJs4zvG8OwBostonSing Shapenote Resources- Piccolo Spoleto 2010 (Charleston) – https://www.bostonsing.org/recordings/piccolo-spoleto/- Vintage recordings – https://www.bostonsing.org/recordings/vintage-recordings/