I spent last weekend the way I spend a lot of weekends: singing Protestant hymns at the top of my lungs with friends from around the country.
上个周末，我过了很多周末：和来自全国各地的朋友一起唱着新教的赞美诗。
Sacred Harp singing is an a cappella hymn tradition that has a long history in New England and the rural south and is now sung all over the US and in several other countries.
神圣的竖琴演唱是一种无伴奏赞美诗的传统，在新英格兰和南部农村有着悠久的历史，现在美国各地和其他几个国家都有唱。
The powerful harmonies gripped me the moment I walked into my first singing 16 years ago.
16年前，当我走进我的第一次唱歌的那一刻，强大的和声抓住了我。
Sacred Harp is one of the great joys in my life.
神圣的竖琴是我生活中最大的乐趣之一。
I started singing simply because it made me happy, but as my relationship with this music and the community of people who make it deepens, I often find myself thinking about what people find in Sacred Harp and how it helps us grow as human beings.
我开始唱歌只是因为它让我快乐，但随着我与这种音乐的关系以及制作它的人社区的加深，我经常发现自己在思考人们在神圣的竖琴中找到了什么，以及它如何帮助我们作为人类成长。
Most humans desire to know and be known by others.
大多数人都渴望知道并被他人所认识。
I believe Sacred Harp singing can help us fulfill those desires.
我相信神圣的竖琴演唱可以帮助我们满足这些愿望。
Singing together is an intimate act.
一起唱歌是一种亲密的行为。
Many of us feel self-conscious about our voices and worry that we will be ridiculed if we sing in front of other people.
我们中的许多人对自己的声音感到害羞，担心当我们在别人面前唱歌时会被嘲笑。
Many of our musical experiences today are mediated by recordings, where every sour note and missed entrance has been corrected.
我们今天的许多音乐体验都是通过录音来调解的，其中每一个酸涩的音符和错过的入口都被纠正了。
We are constantly listening to perfect performances, and it is no wonder we are afraid to open our mouths lest we make a mistake.
我们不断地聆听完美的表演，难怪我们害怕张开嘴巴以免犯错误。
In Sacred Harp singing, every voice is welcome, whether trained or untrained, raspy or mellifluous.
在神圣的竖琴演唱中，每一个声音都是受欢迎的，无论是受过训练的或未受过训练的，沙哑的或甜美的。
We embrace the vulnerability of singing together, sharing our voices with each other, warts and all.
我们拥抱一起唱歌的脆弱，彼此分享我们的声音，疣和所有。
Through this vulnerable act, we know each other and are known.
通过这种脆弱的行为，我们相互了解，相互了解。
We also honor each other’s vulnerability by being gentle with each other.
我们也通过温柔的对待来尊重彼此的脆弱。