AWAKE, MY SOUL: The Story of the Sacred Harp

Directed by Erica & Matt hinton
United States. 75 minutes.
Documentary
SUN OCT 17 @ 3:15pm | Salem Cinema

In old country churches, singers still break out copies of The Sacred Harp, a "shape note" hymnal preserving some of the oldest, most fiercely beautiful music in our country. To the casual observer, the haunting a capella "shape note" hymn singing is some peculiar, foreign tongue, but to these Sacred Harp singers, it is the key that unlocks mysteries: songs of beauty and sorrow, of life and death, songs that cause feet to stomp and tears to flow, often at the same time. They are ancient sounds that are disorienting to the modern ear, and yet are sung with such passion. The film offers a glimpse into the lives of the singers, and the history of this Lost Tonal Tribe whose story is one of both rebellion and tradition. Filmmakers Matt and Erica Hinton masterfully document this significant, yet largely unknown art form and its deep roots in the American South.

Filmography: First Feature