Back in 2007, I hand coded the first incarnation of this website in HTML with what was then state-of-the-art CSS. It was a way to indulge some of my interests of that time — mountain dulcimer, abc notation, web development, etc. But I didn't do much with the site for the next three years.
In 2010 I decided to convert this site to a Sacred Harp blog. I wanted to write about my experiences as a new Sacred Harp singer in the San Francisco Bay Area. I blogged about local singings, all-day singings and conventions, and some of the unusual venues where I’ve sung Sacred Harp: on stage with poet Coleman Barks, in the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, in a classroom at Stanford Univ., during a peace walk, etc. During the pandemic, I blogged about my experiences with online singing. Unfortunately, my Sacred Harp blog was compromised by criminal hackers in 2023, and most of that material has been lost.
In 2022, I moved to Massachusetts, and have been unable to sing Scared Harp music much. As a result, I've been adding more and more non-Sacred Harp material, such as a large selection of copyright-free hymns and spiritual songs for religious liberals.
Screenshot of the original Three Oranges website.
I'm Dan Harper, an admittedly mediocre musician. However, I'm not bad at organizing musical events. And I have a master's degree in religious education along with 25+ years pratical experience, with the result that I'm pretty good at leading singing and teaching muscial beginners.
Sang in the Bay Area from 2009 to 2022. At various times served as chair, vice-chair, secretary, arranging committee, kitchen committee, housing coordinator, chaplain for Bay Area singings including (in alphabetical order): All California Convention, Coghlan/Helwig Memorial, Golden Gate All Day, Marian Bush Half Day, Palo Alto All Day, Santa Cruz All Day, Ziegler Memorial. Helped start the Palo Alto All Day Singing in 2012, and served as first chair. Helped start the Dominic Ciavonne Ziegler Memorial Singing in 2013, and served as first chair. When COVID hit, participated in Bay Area online singing sessions. Moved to Massachusetts in 2022, which put an end to me Sacred Harp singing.
Jack and Marianne leading at the first Dominic Ciavonne Ziegler Memorial Singing, Old Felta Schoolhouse, Healdsburg, Calif., in 2013.
In the past, I've sung in traditional choruses and smaller ensembles. I like to lead singing with kids. Currently, I mostly sing and play ʻukulele. In 2024 I helped organize the Cohasset ʻUkulele Circle and chaired our first half-day ukulele festival in 2025. I've also joined a handbell choir, where we play a three-octave set of Whitechapel bells. I played mountain dulcimer for a few years, in the traditional noter style. I'm a very bad folk guitarist. I once4 built a washtub bass and played it in local jam sessions.
Singing Renaissance love songs on the street in San Francisco. We got thrown out by security not long after this photo was taken.
With the San Francisco Labor Chorus in 2014.
