"As the Spirit Moves"

Three Traditions of a cappella Sacred Music

Huston-Tillotson College

January 30, 2005

Humankind has always bared its soul through song. With ourselves as sole medium, sans instruments, palette or pen, it represents our most direct spiritual expression. A recent production from Texas Folklife Resources (TFR) highlighted a trio of sacred a cappella singing styles and their roots within the great traditions of Texas music and spirituality. "As the Spirit Moves" featured the Austin Area Sacred Harp Singers , Cantor Neil Blumofe and the Austin Jewish Men's Choir , and the Huston-Tillotson College Concert Choir .

Although depicted in films, including "Brother, Where Art Thou?" and "Cold Mountain," Sacred Harp, or shape-note singing, is still a little-known tradition of spiritual music. Sacred Harp, or shape-note singing, utilizes a hymnal with simplified musical notation, the "shape notes," for congregants who do not read music. It took hold in the Southern United States in the 18th century, and has been sung in rural Texas since 1855.

The Austin Area Sacred Harp Singers , including fifth generation Texan singer Gaylon Powell, boasts members of varying faiths, including a few agnostics and atheists. Regardless of faith, singers cite a powerful force channeled through the unaccompanied human voices.

Hazzan Neil Blumofe, supported by a small men's choir, will introduce listeners to Jewish cantorial singing. Until recent times, this ancient, sacred expression was an exclusively oral tradition. An integral part of religious ceremonies, the Jewish Cantor freely improvises on the songs, an art that Blumofe describes as, "organic praying, or praying in the moment."

Perhaps the most recognized a cappella sacred singing style is the gospel choir. Dr. Gloria Quinlan will direct the 30-member Huston-Tillotson Concert Choir through a chronological overview of African-American gospel hymns. The choir will start with antebellum era hymns as sung by slaves in the fields and will culminate with joyful, glorious praise music that is synonymous with contemporary gospel song.

All three traditions share a power to move individuals regardless of faith, "to touch the heart," in the words of Gaylon Powell.