What ARE "high lonesome harmonies" exactly?

high lonesome harmonies is vocal harmony featuring two, three, or four parts, often featuring a dissonant or modal sound in the highest voice. This vocal style has been characterized as the "high lonesome sound." The "High Lonesome" sound can be credited to Shape-Note music where a high-pitched harmony, that can generally be characterized as having a nasal timbre, is sung over the main melody. There is also an emphasis on traditional songs, often with sentimental or religious themes

High Lonesome harmonies are basically High Pitches that the singers take in unison, like they sing the different parts, bass, Tenor, Soprano & stuff That a choir would sing but at a real high tone. They sing it together but when a person listens to it he can hear it both together and can separate the parts too.

exactly this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY4wyIhY2VY

i don't know