Eerie, haunting, beautiful: Scottish Psalm Singing

[Kevlar70]

Not only is this type of 'line singing' still in practice on Lewis, but also in rural Georgia. The practice of having the first voice (the Presenter) start the psalm and then the congregation join in has developed into 'shape-note' singing which is still practiced in some communities near where I live. The similarities of shape-note singing, line-singing by some African-American churches in the south, and the Gaelic psalm singing in the Hebrides is striking.

NPR did a short piece on it, linked below:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4632964

I heard a lecture by Willie Ruff of the Yale School of Music a couple of years ago which detailed what I have written above.

[A Hay]

After reading the start of this thread and hearing the short clips on the website, I ordered SALM Vol.1.

It arrived today and I've been enjoying it this evening.
Very nice and restful.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention, beloitpiper.

Tom