Product Description

As seen on Public Television nationwide. 'Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp' is the first feature documentary about Sacred Harp singing, a haunting form of a cappella, shape note hymn singing with deep roots in the American south. Shape note singing has survived over 200 years tucked away from notice in the rural deep south, where in old country churches, singers break open 'The Sacred Harp', a 160 year old shape note hymnal which has preserved these fiercely beautiful songs which are some of the oldest in America. The film offers a glimpse into the lives of this 'Lost Tonal Tribe' whose history is a story of both rebellion and tradition. The filmmakers, Matt and Erica Hinton spent 7 years documenting this yet largely unknown art form. Narrated by country singer Jim Lauderdale. This Special Edition includes an extended version of Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp with over 20 minutes not seen on Television, as well as over 5 hours of bonus features! Including: * Awake, My Soul, a documentary introduction to the history, music and traditions associated with The Sacred Harp, a 19th shapenote hymnal which contains many of the earliest American tunes. * Deleted Scenes * Additional interview footage from the Sacred Harp singers featured in Awake, My Soul commenting on a variety of themes. * Over two hours of Sacred Harp singing (62 songs) from 1998-2006, the years that Awake My Soul was in production. * A feature-length audio commentary by featured singers Hugh McGraw, Raymond Hamrick, John Plunkett, and director, Matt Hinton. * The original 10 minute film that was the university project which led the directors, Matt & Erica Hinton, to produce Awake, My Soul . * Interviews with Narrator/ country singer Jim Lauderdale and with Executive Producers Mac Powell & Tai Anderson of the Grammy award winning band, Third Day. * Subtitles for those who haven't yet grasped the nuances of the Southern dialect of the English language. * and more...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11028 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-01-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Surround Sound
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 300 minutes

Amazon.com
Seven years of filmic devotion by directors Matt and Erica Hinton poured into Awake My Soul, a thorough examination of the history of Sacred Harp singing. Sacred harp singing, based on four notes, or "shape-notes" sung in different octaves and a cappella rounds to form otherworldly harmonies, has survived since early Colonists rebelled against a musical dearth caused by Puritanism by inventing this lovely congregational singing style. Delving into hymns from "The Sacred Harp," a 160-year old hymnal still presently used, Awake My Soul shows choirs at Shoal Creek Church in Georgia and Henegar Union Convention in Alabama, among others, singing Christian songs that sound as if they were written in the Renaissance. In addition, narration by Jim Lauderdale edited into archival footage and interview snippets with approximately twenty living singers and music teachers navigates the historical, social, and religious terrain of this American tradition that was rediscovered in the 1920s and again during the 1960s folk revival, by Alan Lomax and singer Hugh McGraw. Certain characters, like Raymond Hamrick, a watchmaker from Macon, Georgia who has been singing and songwriting for over fifty years, remind one of how crucial storytelling is to rural Southern culture, where sacred harp singing currently thrives. Awake My Soul is careful to point out that this music has been preserved in small communities rather than in academic settings. To underscore the cultural power each individual has to foster artistic creation, regardless of age, class, race, or other social limitation, is to shed true light on what Sacred Harp singing is all about.--Trinie Dalton

Review
'Awake, My Soul features some of the most raucous group vocals that have been recorded.' --Pitchfork

Review
'In the Hinton's fine documentary: You get the feel of the people and the wonderful sound of the music, and thankfully without any condescension. As an introduction to Sacred Harp, it's as amazing as the music itself.' --Birmingham Weekly

Customer Reviews

I feel a little sorry for the devil
This wonderful documentary is the first about Sacred Harp singing, a form of a cappella, shape note hymn singing. It has been sung in country churches in southern U.S. for over 200 years. Original Sacred Harp - Denson Revision 1987 Standard Melodies is a 160 year old shape note hymnal, which preserves some of the oldest songs in America. The filmmakers, Matt and Erica Hinton spent seven years making this film focusing on the "Lost Tonal Tribe".

Amazon's product review is very good, but the "AmericanaRoots" review is truly outstanding. Be sure to click on the "See all Editorial Reviews" button and read that review if you have any interest in this form of music.

The " Awake, My Soul " website provides a good sampling of the music, quite a bit of additional history, and some very moving photographs.

For myself, the sounds and the history of this form of music were entrancing. I've stolen the title of my Review from Joe Dempsey of the "Washington City Paper", who caught my reactions exactly: "Spectacular... Get enough people singing weird harmonies at the top of their voices and you start feeling a little sorry for the devil."

Robert C. Ross 2008

Great Documentary
As an avid Shape Note singer I must say that Matt&Erica's film is
an excellent intro to this wonderful American music.I am glad and proud to
be part of the fold that is doing all it can to keep this music alive.

Tears, Chills, and A Smile On My Face!! What Singing!!!
As a student of Appalachian Studies and Appalachian Music at Appalachian State University, Boone, N,C, (Go Mountaineers!) we study the history and observe the old recordings, videos and experience personally our history that has been preserved for over 200 years.

PBS showed this documentary a few weeks ago late one evening, and I was spell bounded and immobilized for the hour. What powerful singing. The Sacred Harp is a part of the Gregorian Chant that is sung in Catholic Churches all over. Watching this special and feeling the power of the music, as a Catholic, I wanted to shout Hallelujah!

There is power in this program, and this is the kind of music that moves and stirs the soul. To see the elderly people sing their hearts out, and tears running down their faces, you know what they are singing about. If the heavenly band of angels and all the saints sing like this in Heaven, WOW!!

It is wonderful to see a group of young generation that is interested in carrying on the Sacred Harp tradition. It is important to have our early American Heritage continued to the next generation.

If you have the chance to attend a Sacred Harp Convention Singing, you need to go. Plan to spend the whole day.You will leave a different person.