Minnesota State Convention Home Page

• Shape note singing is an American folk tradition of singing hymns and gospel songs from books using shaped noteheads to indicate position in the scale. The Minnesota Convention uses the 1991 edition of the Sacred Harp. Books will be available for sale ($18.00) or loan at the convention.
• Shape note singing is a participatory event, not a performance, although visitors are welcome to come and listen.
• The singers sit in a hollow square facing each other and take turns leading songs.
• The songs are sung in three or four parts without instrumental accompaniment.
• The music has a distinctive open and modal sound, and the singing is usually exuberant, rhythmic and full of feeling.
• The Convention, two days of singing, brings together singers from all over the United States.
• If you haven't been to a singing before, you are strongly encouraged to attend a local singing in Minneapolis or St. Paul before the convention.
• The minutes for a not-so-recent convention are here.

Convention co-chairs: Stacey Berkheimer and Kristie Harju

Registration Saturday and Sunday opens at 9:00 a.m. Singing begins at 9:30 a.m. Dinner on the Grounds (potluck) begins at noon; local singers should bring lots of food ready to serve, as there generally are no kitchen facilities on site. Singing ends at 3:00 p.m.

Housing available for out of town singers: contact TBA

Child care available Saturday and Sunday

LINK to last year's convention poster (pdf)

Social events Saturday and Sunday nights will be announced at the convention.

Song leaders wishing to lead new music not in the 1991 edition of the Sacred Harp should talk to one of the chairs before the weekend of the convention.

Media should contact Matt Wells at (651) 695-0086 (evenings) or matt@mattwells.com for our press kit.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information please contact the convention chairs or: Keith or Jenny Willard, kwillard@visi.com
Matt Wells, matt@mattwells.com

Please contact Matt Wells with corrections, revisions, and comments.

Matt Wells Home Page