The Old Harp Singers of Eastern Tennessee's 1951 Folkways Records release offers a direct link to a rural American gospel tradition. The album documents a cappella performances of songs in the "Old Harp" style, a sacred folk music form popular in the American South.
- This album was recorded in the field and released by Folkways Records, a label known for its ethnographic and documentary sound recordings. The performances feature the distinct, unadorned vocal harmonies characteristic of the Old Harp Singing tradition. This release predates the folk music revival of the late 1950s and 1960s, capturing the tradition in its contemporary practice.
- The album was released on September 16, 1951, by Folkways Records.
- The genre is gospel folk music.
The Old Harp Singers of Eastern Tennessee were a group dedicated to preserving and performing the American folk hymn style known as "Old Harp Singing." This 1951 album documents their efforts to keep this rural vocal tradition alive during a period of increasing modernization.
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