We’ll All Sing Hallelujah: Sacred Sounds of Alabama Exhibit Opening at Central Library June 11

What: We’ll All Sing Hallelujah: Sacred Sounds of Alabama
When: Exhibit is open during Central Library hours June 11–July 22, 2019
Opening Reception, Saturday, June 15, 2019, 3:00–5:00 p.m.
Sacred harp Singing Reception, Sunday, June 30, 2019, 3:00–5:00 p.m.
Where: The Central Library Fourth Floor Gallery, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203
Details: Produced in 2014 by the Alabama Folklife Association, this exhibit presents Alabama’s sacred music traditions, historical photos, and contemporary documentation by folklorists working within the state. Together, they demonstrate the profound and diverse heritage of these rich genres of music that have been passed down from one generation to the next.

A new art exhibit, We’ll Sing Hallelujah: Sacred Sounds of Alabama, paying tribute to genres of music that have been passed on through generations, will debut June 11, 2019, in the Central Library’s Fourth Floor Gallery. The exhibit, which closes on July 22, 2019, was produced by the Alabama Folklife Association.

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 public is invited to an opening reception on Saturday, June 15, 3:00–5:00 p.m. in the Fourth Floor Gallery of the Central Library.

Another reception for Sacred Harp singers will be held on Sunday, June 30, 3:00–5:00 p.m., after the group performs a special singing on the sixth floor of the Jefferson County Courthouse, located just across the street. The all-day singing 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.

“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. Learn more about the Alabama Folklife Association by clicking here.