The Scarèd Harp is, essentially, a filk of The Sacred Harp.
It is a collection of filk songs set in easy four-part arrangements
which are intended for group singing rather than concert performance.
What is "filk"?
Filk is a sub-genre of folk music which is indigenous to science fiction conventions.
The name was, according to legend, originally a misspelling of "folk"; thus
"folk music" became "filk music".
If this brings to mind geeks wearing Spock ears who need to get a life,
singing badly written Star Trek parodies of pop songs in tone-deaf voices
accompanied by out-of-tune guitars played badly, then you're only partly correct.
Filk is also typified not only by excellently written parodies to rival those of
Wierd Al Yankovic, but by serious songs with beautifully crafted melodies and
lyrics, not to mention a surprising number of truly fine performers, some of
them professional or semi-professional folk musicians.
For more information about filk, see:
The Sacred Harp is the most famous of a number of hymn books
typified by a particular style of four-part harmony, intended for
group participation rather than concert performance. The singers
sit in a hollow square, arranged by sections, facing inward.
They are singing for themselves and each other, not for an audience.
The music is written using "shape notes", a variation on normal
music notation which was designed to be easier for beginners to
learn, while immediately readable by experienced music readers.
This Christian music is some of the most emotionally powerful
music in the world.
For more information about The Sacred Harp, see:
The first official mass printing of The Scarèd Harp was a
limited edition of 100 numbered copies, most of which were distributed
at Concertino in July 2003.
A handful will be available at the World
Science Fiction Convention in Toronto, Canada in August of 2003.
A very small number are available from
ed@mewsic.REMOVE_THIS_SPAMGUARD.com
for $5 (American) plus postage.
Can I do a mass printing?
Yes, but I'd appreciate it if you'd
contact me
first. I'd like each mass printing to have a unique identity
(i.e. say "second printing", "third printing", etc. and include the printing date).
You can expect your printing costs to run very roughly $4 per copy.
Can I sell The Scarèd Harp?
Yes, but only to recover your printing costs. The agreement with the contributors
specifies that no profit will be made on The Scarèd Harp.
That depends on what you mean by "changes". I want to ensure that different
editions of The Scarèd Harp are compatible with each other
with respect to arrangements and page numbers.
How can I add songs to The Scarèd Harp?
Send your submissions to me at
ed@mewsic.REMOVE_THIS_SPAMGUARD.com.
Keep in mind that The Scarèd Harp is about participation,
not performance, so keep your arrangements simple.
What is the correct pronunciation of "Scarèd"?
"Scare - ed", not "scared" or "scarred" or "scar - ed".