New Harp of Columbia, Restored Edition, 2001
About this book
The New Harp of Columbia (NHoC) is a seven-shape tune book first published in 1863 in Knoxville, based on the 1848 Harp of Columbia, also published in East Tennessee; this comprehensive edition restoring all omitted songs was published in 2001 thanks to the tireless efforts of singer Larry Olszewski.
The community shape note singing tradition that uses this book is old harp. Old harp is unique to Tennessee and sung only in Sevier, Blount, Knox, Greene, and Anderson Counties.
Jeremy Shipp explains, “Old harp is important because it is the only active use of the first style of music published in Tennessee, that of early-to mid-19th century shape note tune books. Other shape note tune books than the NHoC were published and used in Tennessee, but none have survived with active use today.”
(Contributions from Tina Becker and Jeremy Shipp)
Singings where this book was used
- 2001: Rocky Mount
- 2002: Rocky Mount
- 2003: Rocky Mount
- 2004: Franklin; Rocky Mount; Joe Beasley Memorial
- 2005: Rocky Mount; Headrick Chapel; Wears Valley View; Joe Beasley Memorial; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2006: Jubilee Festival; Franklin; Headrick Chapel; Maryville College; Larry Olszewski Memorial; Joe Beasley Memorial
- 2007: Headrick Chapel; Wears Valley View; Thanksgiving Eve; Larry Olszewski Memorial; Joe Beasley Memorial; Sugarlands
- 2008: TVUUC Singing; Jubilee Festival; Etowah Spring; Franklin; Camp DoReMi; Etowah Fall; Wears Valley Methodist; Headrick Chapel; Joe Beasley Memorial; Sugarlands
- 2009: Larry Olszewski Memorial; Jubilee Festival; Etowah Spring; Townsend Spring Festival; Franklin; Camp DoReMi; Etowah Fall; Headrick Chapel; Dollywood; Maryville College; Old Fields; Thanksgiving Eve
- 2010: Jubilee Festival; Tuckaleechee; Greene County; Caney Creek; Camp DoReMi; Cades Cove; Etowah Fall; Music of Appalachia; Headrick Chapel; Wears Valley View; Maryville College; Old Fields; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2011: Wilderness Wildlife; Jubilee Festival; Kathy Jones Memorial; Greene County; Camp DoReMi; Etowah Fall; Headrick Chapel; Wears Valley View; Maryville College; Old Fields; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2012: Wilderness Wildlife; Jubilee Festival; Boogertown; Mabbs Gooch Easter; Townsend Spring Festival; Greene County; Caney Creek; Camp DoReMi; Etowah Fall; Headrick Chapel; Wears Valley View; Maryville College; Larry Olszewski Memorial; Sugarlands
- 2013: Wilderness Wildlife; Jubilee Festival; Mabbs Gooch Easter; Greene County; Little Greenbrier; Camp DoReMi; Etowah Fall; Headrick Chapel; Maryville College; Larry Olszewski Memorial; Joe Beasley Memorial
- 2014: Wilderness Wildlife; Jubilee Festival; Boogertown; Tuckaleechee; Middle Creek; Greene County; Little Greenbrier; Camp DoReMi; Music of Appalachia; Headrick Chapel; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2015: Jubilee Festival; Gideon Fryer Memorial; Mabbs Gooch Easter; Tuckaleechee; Greene County; Camp DoReMi; Music of Appalachia; Headrick Chapel; Dollywood; Maryville College; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2016: Jubilee Festival; Mabbs Gooch Easter; Wilderness Wildlife; Greene County; Caney Creek; Little Greenbrier; Camp DoReMi; Headrick Chapel; Wears Valley View; Dollywood; Maryville College; Heritage Center Townsend; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2017: Jubilee Festival; Mabbs Gooch Easter; Middle Creek; Greene County; Caney Creek; Little Greenbrier; Camp DoReMi; Sinless Summerland; Music of Appalachia; Wears Valley; Dollywood; Maryville College; Heritage Center Townsend; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2018: Jubilee Festival; Boogertown; Mabbs Gooch Easter; Tuckaleechee; Middle Creek; Wilderness Wildlife; Greene County; Caney Creek; Camp DoReMi; Cades Cove; Wears Valley; Music of Appalachia; Dollywood; Maryville College; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2019: Jubilee Festival; Boogertown; Tuckaleechee; Middle Creek; Greene County; Caney Creek; Little Greenbrier; Camp DoReMi; Cades Cove; Wears Valley; Music of Appalachia; Dollywood; Maryville College; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2020: September Small Group 2
- 2021: Boogertown; Tuckaleechee; Caney Creek; Little Greenbrier; Camp DoReMi; Wears Valley
- 2022: Old Harp Singing; Boogertown; Tuckaleechee; Middle Creek; Greene County; Camp DoReMi; Wears Valley; Maryville College; Larry Olszewski Memorial; Black Mountain Small Group; Old Harp New Year
- 2023: Boogertown; Heritage Center Townsend; Greene County; Wears Valley; Camp DoReMi; Maryville College; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2024: Old Harp New Year; Mary Grace Memorial; Greene County; Caney Creek; Cades Cove; Camp DoReMi; Wears Valley; Maryville College; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2025: Old Harp New Year; Third Saturday Singing Remembering David Becker; Greene County; Camp DoReMi; Wears Valley; Larry Olszewski Memorial
- 2026: Old Harp New Year; Jubilee Festival; Boogertown; Middle Creek; Statehood Day; Franklin; Caney Creek; Make Music Day; Little Greenbrier; Camp DoReMi; Cumberland Gap; Cades Cove; Wears Valley
Sung counts for each tune
The times-sung counts come from the Minutes on this site.