Shape Note Music: Books

          The following (more-or-less) alphabetical list is intended as a companion to Steven Sabols' Tunebooks, Music Books, and Hymnals, where you will find reviews for most of them.   You may wish to open his page in a seperate browser window, so that you can easily go back and forth between his page and mine.
          Links are to Amazon.com unless otherwise specified.  
 
A-B     C-D     E-G     H-K     L-N     O-P     Q-S     Southern     T-Z    
 
America's Music: From the Pilgrims to the Present; Gilbert Chase. University of Illinois Press Third edition (November 1992).   Paperback
        Amazon.com        
 
American Fuging Tunes, 1770-1820: A Descriptive Catalog; Karl Kroeger.   (Music Reference Collection, No 41).   Greenwood Publishing Group (November 1993).   Hardcover
Karen Willard's Review
        Amazon.com
 
The American Musical Miscellany: A Collection of the Newest and Most Approved Songs, Set to Music; H. Wiley Hitchcock. Da Capo Press 1972 facsimile (June 1978).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
American Psalmody, or titles of Books Containing Tunes Printed in America from 1721 to 1820; Frank J. Metcalf. Da Capo Press Second edition (June 1968).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
American Sacred Music Imprints, 1698-1810: A Bibliography; Allen Perdue Britton, Irving Lowens, Richard Crawford. American Antiquarian Society (October 1990).   Hardcover
Same ISBN# as A Bibliography of American Sacred Music, 1698-1810.
        Amazon.com        
 
Andrew Law, American Psalmodist; Richard Crawford. Da Capo Press reprint (January 1981) of original published in 1968.   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
The Anthem in New England Before 1800; Ralph T. Daniel.   Da Capo Press reprint (June 1979) originally published in 1966.   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
A Bibliography of American Sacred Music, 1698-1810; Allen Perdue Britton, Irving Lowens, Richard Crawford. University Press of Virginia, 1990. Hardcover *OP
Same ISBN# as American Sacred Music Imprints, 1698-1810: A Bibliography.
        Amazon.com        
 
Catalog of the Musical Works of William Billings (Musical Reference Collection, no. 32); Richard Crawford, compiler.   Greenwood Publishing Group (June 1992).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
A Checklist of Four-Shape Shape-Note Tunebooks; Richard J. Stanislaw. Institute for Studies in American Music Monograph No. 10. 1978, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.   *OP
        Amazon.com        
 
The Christian Harmony; Jeremiah Ingalls; Thomas B. Malone, ed.   2005 Shapenotes edition Printed in four shapes $16.00
Tom Malone   email
 
The Christian Harmony; Jeremiah Ingalls; David Klocko, editor.   1981 facsimile of a New England tunebook, written in round notes.   * OP
N.B. This is not the same book as William Walker's shape-note The Christian Harmony.
        Amazon.com        
 
The Christian Harmony; William Walker; New and Revised (1994) Edition of the Deason-Parris Revision.
Not currently listed at Amazon.com; see see Steven Sabol's Review and ordering information at Tunebooks, Music Books, and Hymnals.        
 
The Christian Harmony; William Walker Edition; Folk Heritage of W.N.C., Inc.
Not currently listed at Amazon.com; see see Steven Sabol's Review and ordering information at Tunebooks, Music Books, and Hymnals.        
 
The Church Music of William Billings; J. Murray Barbour. Da Capo Press (June 1972).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Collected Works (Recent Researches in American Music, Vol. 18); Stephen Jenks (1772-1856); David Warren Steel, editor.   A-R Editions (June 1995).   Paperback
Warren Steele's own Stephen Jenks site
Publisher's Review
        Amazon.com        
 
Collected Works (Recent Researches in American Music, Vol. 24); Daniel Read (1757-1836); Karl Kroeger, editor.   A-R Editions (October 1995).   Paperback
Also published as Vol. 4 of Music of the United States of America (same ISBN#)
Publisher's Review
        Amazon.com        
 
The Complete Works of William Billings: Volume I: The New England Psalm-Singer (1770); Karl Kroeger, editor.   University Press of Virginia (November 1981).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
The Complete Works of William Billings: Volume II: The Singing Master's Assistant (1778) and Music in Miniature (1779); William Billings. University Press of Virginia (December 1984).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
The Complete Works of William Billings: Volume III: The Psalm Singer's Amusement (1781); William Billings.   University Press of Virginia (February 1987).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
The Complete Works of William Billings: Volume IV: The Continental Harmony (1794); William Billings; Karl Kroeger, editor.   University Press of Virginia (May 1990).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com

 
The Core Repertory of Early American Psalmody (Recent Researches in American Music, Vols. 11-12); Richard Crawford, editor.   A-R Edition (June 1984).   Paperback
Publisher's Review
        Amazon.com

 
Down-East Spirituals and Others: Three Hundred Songs Supplementary to the Author's "Spiritual Folk-Songs of Early America"; George Pullen Jackson, editor.   Da Capo Press reprint (May 1975).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Early New England Psalmody: An Historical Appreciation; Hamilton C. MacDougall.   Reprint, originally published in 1940.   *OP
        Amazon.com        
 
Encyclopedia of Southern Culture; Charles Reagan Wilson, William Ferris, Alex Haley, Ann J. Abadie, editors.   University of North Carolina Press (July 1989).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com   Amazon offers a significant discount on this item.        
 
Foxfire 7; Eliot Wigginton & Paul Gillespie, editors.   Anchor (March 26, 1982).   Paperback
        Amazon.com        
 
Fuging Tunes in the Eighteenth Century; Nicholas Temperley and Charles G. Manns.   (Detroit Studies in Music Bibliography, No. 49.)   *OP
        Amazon.com        
 
Harmonia Sacra: A Compilation of Genuine Church Music; James Nelson Gingerich, editor.   Joseph Funk and Sons, 25th edition (December 1993).   Hardcover   **
Extensive information may be found at the Harmonia Sacra websight maintained by James Nelson Gingerich, editor of the revised 25th edition.
        Amazon.com        
 
The Harmonia Sacra Handbook; JNG and Matthew Lind.
Full text available on line!
 
Harmony of Maine; Supply Belcher.   Da Capo Press reprint (June 1974) of 1794 collection.   Hardcover
Written before the days of shaped notes, some of Belcher's music later got into shape-note tune books.
        Amazon.com        
 
Hymn Tune Index: A Census of English-Language Hymn Tunes in Printed Sources from 1535 to1820; Nicholas Temperley, Charles G. Manns, and Joseph Herl.   Oxford University Press/Clarendon Press (May 1998).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Hymns and Tunes: An Index; Katharine S. Diehl.   Scarecrow Press (January 1979).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com
 

 
Mennonite Hymnal, Shaped Notes; Herald Press, 1960

 
The Missouri Harmony: Or a Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, and Anthems; Allen D. Carden, compiler.   University of Nebraska Press facsimile reprint of the 1846 edition, reprint edition (March 1994).   Paperback
        Amazon.com        
 
The Missouri Harmony: Or a Choice Collection of Psalm Tunes, Hymns, and Anthems; Allen D. Carden, compiler.   Missouri History Museum Press; Revised edition (June 30, 2005).   Hardback
Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Sacred Music from 1780-1820; Karl Kroeger and others, editors.   Garland Publishing Co. 15-volume series   Hardcover
        Amazon.com   (Complete set not yet available).        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 1.: Amos Bull, The Collected Works; Karl Kroeger, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. (March 1996).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 2.: Three Connecticut Composers: The Collected Works of Oliver Brownson, Alexander Gillet, and Soloman Chandler; Karl Kroeger, editor.   Garland Publishing Co.   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 3.: Three New York Composers: The Collected Works of Lewis Edson, Lewis Edson, Jr., and Nathaniel Billings; Karl Kroeger, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. (October 1995).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 4.: Elias Mann (1750-1825), The Collected Works; Daniel C. L. Jones, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. (March 1996).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 5.: Supply Belcher (1751-1836), The Collected Works; Linda Davenport, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. (November 1996).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 6.: Abraham Wood, The Collected Works; Karl Kroeger, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. (March 1996).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 7.: Two Vermont Composers: The Collected Works of Elisha West (1752-ca. 1808) and Justin Morgan (1747-1798); Karl Kroeger, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. (March 1997).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Ever wonder what happened to Justin Morgan's horse?
Justin Morgan Had a Horse; Marguerite Henry, Wesley Dennis (Illustrator).   Aladdin Paperbacks reissue edition (October 1991).   Paperback   ***
Reading level: Ages 9-12.   I read this just a few years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, it's more about the horse than the Singingschool Master!
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 8.: Two Connecticut Composers: The Collected Works of Asahel Benham and Merit Woodruff; Karl Kroeger, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. (October 1995).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 9.: Jacobs French (1754-1817), The Collected Works; Daniel C. L. Jones, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 10.: Joseph Stone (1758-1837), The Collected Works; Karl Kroeger, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. (March 1996).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 11.: Samuel Babcock (ca. 1760-1813), The Collected Works; Laurie Sampsel, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 12.: Samuel Holyoke (1762-1820) and Jacob Kimball (1761-1826), Selected Works; Harry Eskew and Karl Kroeger, editors. Garland Publishing Co. (November 1997).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 13.: Oliver Holden (1765-1844), The Collected Works; Oliver Holden, David W. Music, editors.   Garland Publishing Co. (January 1998).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 14.: Daniel Belknap (1771-1818), The Collected Works; David Warren Steel, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Music of the New American Nation: Volume 15.: Two Connecticut Composers: The Collected Works of Eliakim Doolittle (1772-1850) and Timothy Olmstead (1759-1848); Maxine Fawcett-Yeske, editor.   Garland Publishing Co. Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
New Harp of Columbia: Tennesseana Editions Series; M. L. Swan.   University of Tennessee Press, 1978   Trade Paperback   **
        Amazon.com        
 
Northern Harmony: Plain Tunes, Fuging Tunes, and Anthems from the New England Singing School Traditions; Larry Gordon et al., eds.   2nd edition (November 1990).   Hardcover   **
        Amazon.com        
 
Northern Harmony: Plain Tunes, Fuging Tunes, and Anthems from the New England Singing School Traditions; Larry Gordon et al., eds.   3rd edition, New and Revised (August 1995).   Hardcover   **
Many new songs are included in this edition.
       
 
The Norumbega Harmony: Historic and Contemporary Hymn Tunes and Anthems from the New England Singing School Tradition; Stephen A. Marini, University Press of Mississippi (January 2004). Hardcover. (American Made Music Series)
        Amazon.com        
 
The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts: With All the Additional Hymns and Complete Indexes; Isaac Watts. Soli Deo Gloria Publications (June 1998).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
The Psalm-Singer's Amusement; William Billings. Da Capo Press (June 1974).   Hardcover
A 1974 Facsimile of The Psalm-Singer's Amusement (Earlier American Music, No 20).
        Amazon.com        
 
Public Worship, Private Faith: Sacred Harp and American Folksong; John Bealle.   University of Georgia Press (October 1997).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
Public Worship, Private Faith: Sacred Harp and American Folksong; John Bealle.   University of Georgia Press (October 1997).   Paperback   **
        Amazon.com        
 
The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition; Benjamin F. White and E. J. King.   Hardcover   **
The 4th Printing is now available from the publisher: see Steven Sabol's Tunebooks, Music Books, and Hymnals
This essential tunebook is not available from Amazon, because it has no ISBN #. House of Musical Traditions, Inc. carries it; you may purchase it on line using a secure server for $22.95. Send email to hmtmail@hmtrad.com for availability and current price information. Shipping in the continental US is $7.00. Tax to Maryland addresses is additional.
 
The Sacred Harp ; B. F. White and E. J. King.   Reprint Services Corp.   Library Binding
432 pages - Reprint of the Facsimile of the Third (1859) Edition. Subsequent editions removed some songs while introducing others.
        Amazon.com        
 
The Sacred Harp: A Tradition and Its Music; Buell E. Cobb.   Brown Thrasher Book.   Paperback   **
See Warren Steel's Review
        Amazon.com        
 
The Sacred Harp (The Donald Hunsberger Wind Library); David Liptak.   Warner Bros Publications (January 1998).
Composition for Wind Orchestra: Conductor's Score Only;   Paperback   **
        Amazon.com        
Conductor's Score and Complete set of Performance Parts;   Ringbound
        Amazon.com         Donald Hunsberger and Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra; Audio CD
The Sacred Harp; David Liptak. (Composition for Wind Ensemble)
 
Singing Baptists: Studies in Baptist Hymnody in America; Harry Eskew, David W. Music, and Paul A. Richardson.   Church Street Press (June 1998).   Paperback   **
        Amazon.com        
 
September Psalms: The Shape-Note Community Remembers; Chris Noren, editor.     Spiral-bound soft cover
A collection of tunes in the tradition of The Sacred Harp and related shape-note tunebooks, including 26 original tunes by living composers and with seven early American revival and patriotic tunes, some newly arranged. All proceeds collected from sales of the book will be donated to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund.
        Chris Noren
 
The Social Harp; by John G McCurry (Author), Daniel W Patterson (Editor), John F Garst (Editor).   University of Georgia Press (April 13, 2006)   Paperback   ** Amazon.com
 
Sound of the Dove: Singing in Appalachian Primitive Baptist Churches (Music in American Life), The; Beverly Bush Patterson.   University of Illinois Press (Pro Ref, March 1995).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion; William Walker, Glenn C. Wilcox, eds.   (September 1993).   Hardcover & CD
See Warren Steel's Review of the 1997 edition of the Tunebook, written for Ethnomusicology 33 (Spring/Summer 1989).
        Amazon.com        
 
Spiritual Folk-Songs of Early America; George P. Jackson, editor.   Peter Smith Pub. (1975).   Hardcover   **
        Amazon.com        
 
Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection of Sacred Music (Earlier American Music Series No. 23); Stoughton Musical Society.   Da Capo Press reprint (June 1980) of the original 1878 tunebook.   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
A Survey of Christian Hymnody; William J. Reynolds and Milburn Price.   Hope Publishing Company 3rd edition (October 1987).   Paperback T-Z
        Amazon.com        
 
Timothy Swan: Psalmody and Secular Songs (Music of the United States of America, Vol. 6); Nym Cooke, editor.   A-R Editions (August 1997).   Paperback
Also published as Vol. 26 of Recent Researches in American Music; (same ISBN#)
Publisher's Review
        Amazon.com        
 
White and Negro Spirituals, Their Lifespan and Kinship; George Pullen Jackson.   Da Capo Press reprint (July 1975).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com        
 
White Spirituals in the Southern Uplands: The Story of the Fasola Folk, Their Songs, Singings, and "Buckwheat Notes"; George Pullen Jackson.   *OP
If you have read this book, please send me your review!
        Amazon.com        
 
William Billings of Boston: Eighteenth Century Composer; David McKay and Richard Crawford.   Princeton University Press (June 1975).   Hardcover
        Amazon.com