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Financial Assistance funds are available from Laurel Ridge, too! Please fill out the form below.
Call 336-725-0651 or erik@moravianmusic.org with questions.

At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing

A publication of the Moravian Archives and Moravian Music Foundation
by Rev. C. Daniel Crews
and Rev. Nola Reed Knouse
2012
52 pages. $5.00

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Explore the views of the sacrament throughout history from church leaders such as Luke of Prague, Jakoubek, Comenius, and Spangenberg.

Would you like to learn about “Zwinglian-Lutheran tensions”?

Would you like to learn Peter Celcicky’s “middle view between the Ultraquists and the Taborites”?

How does the 1615 Czech hymnal offer connections to our understanding, even today? Example: from a translation of one Hussite hymn into English:

“After the Consecration”

Great High Priest, all things sustaining,
Jesus, high in heaven reigning,
Solace for your church still gaining:

In this holy feast, dear Savior
We your gracious presence savor,
Tasting your eternal favor.

The continuity of Moravian theology and practice of Holy Communion through the centuries is remarkable. Three main themes emerge:

1. Enjoyment of the special presence of the Savior;
2. The service of Holy Communion is both communal and individual in nature;
3. Expectation that the fruits of Holy Communion will be lived out in life, even as we look to eternity.

In this booklet, the Rev. Daniel Crews and the Rev. Nola Reed Knouse explore the Moravian celebration of Holy Communion.

Topics such as,

• Christ’s real presence in the sacrament, in all ways, and “any way he wants to be.”
• Discussion of the history of the sacrament in the Unitas Fratrum; the sacrament during the Renewed Unity in the eighteenth century in Saxon Germany; later development; and Holy Communion in today’s American Moravian Church.
• Preparation for the Service
• Celebration of the Sacrament, itself.

Moramus Award

The Moravian Music Foundation holds one of the largest collections of American songbooks in the Irving Lowens Collection in Winston-Salem. Read more about the Collection >

Shape-Note (or shaped-note) music is an American style of singing that emerged from the American Tunebook traditions of the 18^th and 19^th centuries. In this style, noteheads are replaced with various shapes, indicating scale degrees, and acting as a “visual solfege.” As most early American hymnals did not contain written music, tunebooks were published as a way to expand a congregation’s repertoire of hymn tunes, as well as teach them to read and sightread music. The various shape-note systems were intended to be an aid for the sightreading and learning process. Out of the various notational systems that were developed during the era of the American Tunebook, only two are still in widespread use today. The four-shape system, as found in the earliest to most recent editions of The Sacred Harp; and Jesse Aikin’s seven-shape system, most commonly found in The Christian Harmony (2010) and many gospel songbooks published in the early-to-mid 20^th century.

120th Sacred Harp Convention

Sept. 13 and 14, 2025, MMF Assoc. Director, Kyle Johnston traveled to Atlanta, GA to the 120th Sacred Harp Musical Convention, joining almost 700 singers, representing most US States, and 5 countries, to celebrate and participate in the debut of The Sacred Harp, 2025 Revision (the first revision of this historic tunebook in 34 years.) While not Moravian in origin, The Sacred Harp plays a major role in the American Tunebook Tradition, represented at the Moravian Music Foundation through the Irving Lowens American Tunebook Collection, which contains over 2,000 tunebooks.

Talks from the Symposium

2nd Winston-Salem Sing!

MMF Hosts Shape Note Sing!
In October, the 2nd Winston-Salem Shape Note Convention will take place:
* Saturday the 11th at Fries Moravian Church, 251 N. Hawthorne Rd NW,
* Sunday, the 12th at the Archie K. Davis Center (home of the Moravian Archives and Moravian Music Foundation, 457 S. Church St., behind Cedarhyrst [PEC office}) in old Salem.
Use the Elberson Salem Fine Arts Ctr parking lot, 430 Leaders Ave.

All the Details

VIDEO Introduction to Shape Note Singing

This is the video I usually show people to introduce them to the tradition. It provides a good overview of the tradition, even though it doesn’t specifically talk about “All-Days”

This video was made by NC DNCR at the NC All-Day several years ago and features footage from that event.

This is a video of the first time I ever led a tune at the NC All-Day back in 2011

This is NOT from NC, but is an example of an All-Day in Cork, Ireland

via GIPHY

Did you know that in 2024…?

• 68 years old: The Moravian Music Foundation was founded in 1956.
• 30,000+: items are in the MMF collection!
• 10,000: manuscripts and early imprints over which the MMF are custodians.
• 4,000: linear feet of documents are in the MMF vault.
• 100s: of children were taught music through the MMF’s “Little Sparrows” program.
• 30: percent humidity must be maintained in the vault for optimal preservation.
• 12: Music courses were offered in-person and online in 2024 (international students, too!).
• 8: full concerts were presented.
• 3: Singstunden total were held in Nazareth, PA; Bethlehem, PA; and Winston-Salem, NC.
• 2: Lecture Recitals were presented.
• 2: in-person music classes were offered in the Bethlehem area.

On the CALENDAR: regular Comenius Music Academy class will take place this week, Thursday, August 15 at 1:00

CANCELLED: Community Chorale Play-Along, College Hill Moravian Church, Bethlehem; Saturday, August 17 at 10:30a

Thank you for the outpouring of support and prayers. We are immensely grateful.

In this workshop we will be taking a look at current music publishing software, how they work, and what types of projects can be done with them. We will also practice using publishing software to transcribe a piece of music. Laptops are encouraged, as well as a version of one of the following software: Finale, Sibelius, and Dorico each have free versions. MuseScore is completely open-source and free. Lilypond is also free, but is a coded software, not visual, and is not recommended for people just starting in music publishing. Registration is required.

Moravian Music Weekend
September 2024
Accommodations and Other Information

Holiday Inn Express & Suites; Lancaster-Lititz

101 Crosswinds Drive, Lititz, PA

Excellent staff and facilities. Indoor pool, fitness ctr. Pet friendly.
Hot breakfast bar, included. spacious rooms, free Wi-Fi, TV, microwave, mini-fridge.
Check in: 3:00pm; Check out: 11:00am.

Individuals will make their own reservation and provide their own credit card. Individuals are responsible for all room charges and incidentals.

10 Room Block

Available for Arr. 9/20/24 – Dep. 9/22/24 (you may also choose just one night)
(you are welcome to ask them about extending to Sunday night.)
Deadline = August 6, 2024 (cancellation with 48 hour notice)

The group block for Moravian Music Foundation is now active in our system. -Christine McGrorty, front desk 
Reservations can be made one of two ways.
1. Guests can call reservations at 1-800-465-4329 and use the code  MMF
2. Guests can use the booking link provided below. 

Lititz Reservations Link

National IHG.com Holiday Inn Reservations

Lancaster Inn & Suites

charming décor and comfortable amenities

Situated 13 minutes (6 miles) from Lititz Moravian, the Lancaster Inn & Suites has a premier location among Pennsylvania Dutch Country hotels.

Lancaster Inn & Suites is more than just a place to stay. We focus on every need of our guests. At Lancaster, we welcome your pet in exclusively pet-friendly rooms (Limited Rooms) Along with that, you will get to enjoy a wide range of scrumptious complimentary breakfast with us.

Website

Lancaster Hampton Inn

IN THE HEART OF LANCASTER COUNTY

Right off Route 30, we’re near Amish attractions and downtown Lancaster. Sight & Sound Theatres are less than 20 minutes away, and Hershey Park rides and entertainment are 40 minutes from our door. We’ve got a seasonal outdoor pool, fitness center, and free WiFi and daily hot breakfast.

10 miles to Lititz Moravian
20 minutes or so
545 Greenfield Rd., Lancaster, PA

Website