Author: Editor

Editor, Vision & Voice

2025 Green Cookies

In preparation for the 9th Annual Australian Sacred Harp Convention later this month, Lauren Reader of Melbourne has created a labor of love.

A custom-mixed color, and debossed fondant is layered on shortbread cookies, and then hand-painted lettering is applied. She has faithfully reproduced the color and graphics of the new 2025 Edition.

Some may recall a previous iteration of these cookies in “1991 Red.”

From the “Sacred Harp Melbourne” FB group.

Personalizing a New Book

A new edition of the tune book is a fresh chance to personalize one’s copy.

This new copy of The Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition belongs to Esther Morgan-Ellis, with a fabric cover by Pam Nunn, and beautiful edge decoration by Lily Hammond.

Some Shape Note Singing Signage

Signage from the Young People’s Singing, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, July 30, 2023. Photo by Shawn Taylor
Signage from the Rocky Mountain Convention—Colorado Session, Westminster, Colorado, July 24, 2024. Photo by Shawn Taylor
Signage from the Fasola Omaha Nebraska Singing, Omaha, Nebraska, October 2024. Photo by Shawn Taylor
Signage from the Western Massachusetts Sacred Harp Convention, Northampton, Massachusetts, March 11, 2024. Photo by Shawn Taylor
Signage from a house singing, Atlanta, Georgia, December 17, 2022. Photo by Shawn Taylor
Signage from a singing school, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, July 28, 2023. Photo by Shawn Taylor

Ted Mercer’s Marginalia

Beloved Chicago singer, the late Ted Mercer, had a biting sense of humor and lots of opinions, which he shared liberally.

Here are two examples of the many critical “marginalia” he meticulously stamped into his copy of the 1991 Edition.

  • “ONLY WITH ALCOHOL” on page 263, DODDRIDGE
  • “FROM THE AWKWARD MELODEON” on page 169, DARTMOUTH
  • “YIKES” on page 490, MY SHEPHERD GUIDES

These were recently shared by Judy Hauff on Sacred Harp Friends on the occasion of Ted’s birthday. The book is now in the possession of Lisa Grayson. Anyone who ever sat near Ted in a singing remembers these fondly.

Talk about visual transmission of Sacred Harp culture!