NEW GLOUCESTER — The seventh annual Shaker Meetinghouse and Francis Bliss Birthday Singing will be held Saturday, June 7, from 1-4:30 p.m.
This will be held in the historic 1794 Meetinghouse, 707 Shaker Road, at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village. This is a free, participatory event and no experience is needed. Donations are accepted. Participants will sing from the Sacred Harp, 1991 Denson edition.
Sacred Harp or shape note music was widely published in the 19th century and music is still being written in this style today. The four “shapes” provide quick access to reading music for the average person.
The songs are written using the familiar musical notation, so if you read music, you can read shape note music.
Francis Bliss, a former professor at Colby College and beloved member of the Maine shape note singing community, will be 94 this June.
This event is part of the folk festival being held at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village and Museum with workshops, demonstrations and an herb plant sale going on from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. as well as museum tours.
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