Vital Sparks

Vital Sparks

Occasional essays on the texts found in The Sacred Harp and related tune books

Archive

Vital Sparks: The poetry of Judge Jackson

Vital Sparks: The poetry of Judge Jackson

An essay for Black History month

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
Vital Sparks: God’s Garden

Vital Sparks: God’s Garden

335 RETURN AGAIN, 64 NASHVILLE, 284 GARDEN HYMN

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
Vital Sparks: Auld Lang Syne

Vital Sparks: Auld Lang Syne

162 PLENARY

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
Vital Sparks: Ye heedless ones

Vital Sparks: Ye heedless ones

Secular Songs in The Sacred Harp: Part 2

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
Join creation, preservation and redemption: join in one

Join creation, preservation and redemption: join in one

An Anthem for Thanksgiving, by William Billings

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
Vital Sparks: Behold the smiling, happy land

Vital Sparks: Behold the smiling, happy land

Secular Songs in The Sacred Harp, Part 1

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
Vital Sparks: Thou art pitiful and kind

Vital Sparks: Thou art pitiful and kind

Semantic Drift in The Sacred Harp, part 1

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
Update: “O Come, Come Away” is gone away

Update: “O Come, Come Away” is gone away

New information has come to light

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
I am for peace

I am for peace

357 KEDAR

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
Vital Sparks: “O Come, Come Away” is gone away

Vital Sparks: “O Come, Come Away” is gone away

Saying goodbye to a surprisingly versatile tune

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
William Cowper and the theology of despair

William Cowper and the theology of despair

Content warning: discussion of suicide

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
Before the rosy dawn of day

Before the rosy dawn of day

Elizabeth (Singer) Rowe

Will Fitzgerald
Will Fitzgerald
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