"Shape notes" are called that because the note heads are in four distinct
shapes to aid sight-reading. Shape note singing is alive and well; see
http://fasola.org/ for more information about the history of shape note
singing, how it's done today, and where it's done today. I've done it
myself (but only as a rank beginner) and the sound is beautiful. According
to the Sacred Harp website, there's a group in Richmond, and here's their
website: http://members.cox.net/rshs1/.
Martha Katz-Hyman
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