''Southern Harmony'' is a

minimalist In visual arts, music and other media, minimalism is an art movement that began in post– World War II in Western art, most strongly with American visual arts in the 1960s and early 1970s. Prominent artists associated with minimalism include Do ...

composition Composition or Compositions may refer to: Arts and literature *Composition (dance), practice and teaching of choreography *Composition (language), in literature and rhetoric, producing a work in spoken tradition and written discourse, to include v ...

by William Duckworth written in 1980 and 1981. It is scored for unaccompanied mixed chorus, and is an original work created through adaptation of

shape-note Shape notes are a musical notation designed to facilitate congregational and social singing. The notation, introduced in late 18th century England, became a popular teaching device in American singing schools. Shapes were added to the noteh ...

songs from the 1854 compilation '' Southern Harmony and Musical Companion'' (first published 1835). ''Southern Harmony'' is divided into four books (or sections) that were premiered over the span of a decade. The complete work was premiered in February 1992 at

Merkin Concert Hall Merkin Hall is a 449-seat concert hall in Manhattan, New York City. The hall, named in honor of Hermann and Ursula Merkin, is part of the Kaufman Music Center, a complex that includes the Lucy Moses School, a community arts school, and the Speci ...

in New York by the

Gregg Smith Singers The Gregg Smith Singers is a mixed chorus from the United States, directed by Gregg Smith (August 21, 1931 – July 12, 2016). The group, which comprises 16 singers, was founded at an all-Japanese Methodist church in West Los Angeles, California in ...

Movements

The individual movements of ''Southern Harmony'' are:

Book One

# Consolation # Wondrous Love # Hebrew Children # Solemn Thought # Rock of Ages

Book Two

Book Three

Book Four

References

* Monroe Street Musi

* ''Southern Harmony'' compact dis

* Silverman, Adam. "Stylistic Combination and Methodical Construction in William Duckworth's Southern Harmony". ''Contemporary Music Review'' Volume 20, Number 4, 2001, pp. 45–59 (15)

{{classical-composition-stub Minimalistic compositions 1981 compositions Choral compositions Compositions by William Duckworth