Dear VA-Histers, On Thursday, February 6, 2003, at noon, the Richmond Sacred Harp Singers will perform and explain this unique musical form at the Library of Virginia. Audience participation is welcome. The Richmond Sacred Harp Singers were established in 1990 to carry on the Sacred Harp tradition in central Virginia. Sacred Harp singing is named for The Sacred Harp, an oblong tunebook which has been continuously in print since 1844. Sacred Harp is a shape-note form of singing, which uses notes with specially-shaped noteheads to show the position of the notes on the scale. The Sacred Harp uses a four-syllable system rather than the familiar seven note "Do-Re-Mi" system. Singings are held in a hollow square with the singers sitting so that each of the four parts occupies one side of the square. Each singer sings "full voice" rather than the more traditional choral blending style. This free program complements the Library's exhibition, Virginia Roots Music, and is sponsored in part by a Folklife Grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. The Library is located at 800 East Broad Street in historic downtown Richmond. There is free parking for this event in the Library's underground parking deck. For further information, call 804-692-3592. Gregg D. Kimball Director of Publications and Educational Services Library of Virginia 804/692-3722 [log in to unmask] To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html