"This is a participatory singing from the 2025 edition of the song book The Sacred Harp, first published in 1844. We sit facing each other around a “hollow square” with a side for tenors, trebles, altos, and basses. Each song starts with singing the “shapes” Fa, Sol, La and Mi. Then we sing the poetry (lyrics), written between 1700 to 2025. Themes are spirituality, our lives, our deaths, our struggles, and the world around us.
There’s no audience. We sing for each other. Each singer, new or old, can choose a song from the book to lead, or have help leading. It’s loud. It’s not perfect. We welcome everyone who wants to sing, no matter what faith, sexuality, or politics, and support each other as we form harmonies together.
A quick introduction to shape notes starts things off. Then we sing until 4 pm, with a recess in the middle. Loaner songbooks are available for the singing or can be purchased. There is no charge to participate, but donations are welcome to help cover rent.
The Toronto Shape Note Group also sings from The Sacred Harp songbook on third Wednesdays at Friends House, 60 Lowther Avenue at 7:30 p.m. We also have house singings singing from similar books. On May 9th, we are having a Singing School at Detweiler Meeting House in Ayr, Ontario. In August we hold a 2-day “Convention” with attendees from other provinces, states and countries. Check out torontoshapenote.org or facebook.com/groups/torontoshapenote for more information or email singing@torontoshapenote.org. "