Sacred Harp Singing in the Netherlands Sacred Harp Singing in the Netherlands: An explorative case study

This study employed an exploratory approach by applying practice theory to insights gathered through
the triangulation of interview, document analysis and observation methodologies to 1) map the Sacred
Harp Singing practice scope and give a nuanced picture of its performativity in the Netherlands, with
a particular focus on the Sacred Harp group from Amsterdam comparing it to one from Bremen and 2)
investigate the underlying rise of transformative emotions, the social, secular, and religious meanings, and
the sense of belonging to an international community. The findings suggest that Sacred Harp enthusiasts
in the region are keen on retaining the legacies of the traditional singers by establishing similar singing
atmospheres and by following the practice’s historical customs and practices, including the communal
singing in the “hollow square” and the affinity towards democratic participation. The findings also
indicate that while there is a noticeable level of commitment and excitement among local enthusiasts,
the growth of the groups’ memberships is hampered by a lack of interest by the general public, possibly
in connection with insufficient strategies for publicizing the practice. Therefore, the existence of these
barriers could imply that the practice would probably grow at a relatively slow pace in the region.