The Visual Culture of Sacred Harp
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.
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.
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!