Rock of Ages In Sacred Harp
by David and Carol Kelly
Title
Rock of Ages In Sacred Harp
Artist
David and Carol Kelly
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
"Rock of Ages" was written by A. M. Toplady in 1776 and included in an article on God's forgiveness. Controversy followed Augustus Montague Toplady throughout his short 38 years of life, but he did not let that stop him. At a very young age he showed a keen interest in developing a relationship with God. By age 12 he was preaching sermons, and at age 14 he began writing hymns. He was ordained as an Anglican priest at the age of 22. Although some thought him to be arrogant and obstinate, excerpts from his writings verify that he was a devoted and humble follower of Christ.
Sacred Harp is a uniquely American tradition that brings communities together to sing four-part hymns and anthems. It is a proudly inclusive and democratic part of our shared cultural heritage. The musical notation uses note heads in 4 distinct shapes to aid in sight-reading, but it is often called "Sacred Harp" singing because the books that most singers use today are called "The Sacred Harp," with the most prominent of these being the 1991 Denson edition. The term "sacred harp" refers to the human voice - the musical instrument you were given at birth.
Uploaded
February 13th, 2015
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