Sacred Harp Singing Reception for Sacred Sounds of Alabama Exhibit at Central Library June 30

What: Sacred Harp singing reception for Sacred Sounds of Alabama exhibit
When: Sunday, June 30, 2019, 3:00–5:00 p.m.
Where: The Central Library Fourth Floor Gallery
Details: Free and open to the public

The Sacred Harp singers will be at the Central Library on Saturday, June 30, 3:00–5:00 p.m., after the group performs an Alabama Bicentennial Singing on the sixth floor of the Jefferson County Courthouse, located just across the street. The all-day singing event will celebrate the forthcoming release of Alan Lomax’s field recordings for the Library of Congress. They were made during a singing on the site of the courthouse in August 1942.

We’ll Sing Hallelujah: Sacred Sounds of Alabama is produced by the Alabama Folklife Association and pays tribute to genres of music that have been passed on through generations. The exhibit will be on display in the Central Library’s Fourth Floor Gallery through Monday, July 22, 2019.

We'll Sing Hallelujah displays historic photographs and contemporary images, captured by folklorists working in the state of Alabama, demonstrating the profound heritage of traditional music genres.

“The AFA is honored to bring the exhibit to the library, especially during the year of Alabama’s Bicentennial, when there are so many special programs taking place in the city,” said Executive Director Mary Allison Haynie. “While several sections of the exhibit will be very familiar to many, residents, visitors, and newcomers can learn about Sacred Harp traditions or gain a greater understanding of the many noteworthy honors bestowed on Alabama artists.”

For over 30 years, the Alabama Folklife Association, a partner program of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, has supported the research, preservation, presentation, and promotion of Alabama’s folk and traditional arts. Sacred music has played a major role in the work of the organization.