The Sacred Harp

David Liptak chose a route to writing this composition that has been most widely recognized and acclaimed by Aaron Copland in his various settings of Americana such as Appalachian Spring, Rodeo and Billy the Kid. Liptak took, as his source of inspiration, the tune “Wondrous Love,” a hymn chosen from the well-known shaped-note collection, The Sacred Harp. Shaped-note singing was both vigorous and unrestrained, primarily using song with open fourths and fifths, and based in a particular key or mode. Liptak’s compositional use of this earlier material has created a work with originality and musical depth.