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American Vocal Music Series
[AVMS]
A Few Notes of Introduction
Are you a musician, musicologist, teacher, student, historian, or listener
interested in music from America's past?It's a sad fact that a great deal of America's earlier vocal music is seldom performed and recorded today.
There are 12 titles listed below which feature music that is hard to find and available for a donation to help support this music preservation site.
These CDs have been prepared from the American Music Recordings Archive primarily for educational or personal listening. They are produced by the Society for Earlier American Music [SEAM].
They contain music performed mostly from original editions and also from modern arrangements, many of them recorded for the first time.
These are mostly not studio recordings and some were gathered from live concerts, so sound levels will vary.
Listen to a few samples by clicking the links (Real Audio) in the box...
Because these collections were compiled with great care, no refunds will be given unless a disc is defective and then it will be replaced at no extra charge after the disc has been returned.
To order any of the titles listed below, go here.These are the four headings of the American Vocal Music Series:
AMERICANA COLLECTIONS
- "The Star-Spangled Banner" - Early Songs of Protest and Patriotism NEW
- Earlier American Song Treasury : From The Pilgrims To World War I NEW
- American Choral Sampler
NEW ENGLAND COMPILATIONS
- "New Bethlehem" - Christmas Music From New England
- Music in Old New England, 1778-1878
- New England Harmony
PROMINENT PRESIDENTS
- "A Toast"-- Music of George Washington's Time
- "Lincoln and Liberty" -- Music from Abraham Lincoln's Era
- Best of William Billings
- Music by Four New England Composers: Dudley Buck, Edwin A.Jones,
Charles E. Ives, George W.Chadwick- A Centennial Collection - Music by E.A. Jones (1853-1911)
- "My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free" - Songs by Francis Hopkinson
For any questions, write to:
AMERICANA COLLECTIONS
"The Star-Spangled Banner" -
Early Songs of Protest and Patriotism
(AMRC No. 9)
Portrait of Francis Scott Key,
author of the lyrics, "Defence of Fort McHenry" (now known as: "The Star- Spangled Banner")
Protest and patrioitc songs from just before the American Revolution to the War of 1812. To see the music album titles,
Earlier American Song Treasury:
From The Pilgrims To World War I, 1620-1920
Julia Ward Howe --
abolitionist, reformer, writer - she wrote the words to "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
Music from Pilgrim psalm tunes to patriotic songs of World WarI, performed by various singers and choruses, including the Old Stoughton Musical Society, the oldest singing society in the U.S.A.,
organized in 1786.
Pilgrims, Puritans, and Reformers
1. Pilgrims: Arrival in the New World/ Psalm 8
2. Pilgrims: Thanksgiving/ Psalm 100
3. Puritans: Psalm 23
4. Reformer: Psalm 100 (Rev. Thomas Walter, 1721)
5. Reformer: 100th Psalm Tune New (Rev. John Tufts, 1720s)
Native Peoples and Pirates6. Narragansett Indian Hymn
7. Captain Kidd (ballad)
Propaganda and Revolution
8. The Liberty Song (1768) - words: John Dickinson/
tune: Heart of Oak)9. Free America (1770) - words: Joseph Warren/
tune: British Grenadiers10. The Lexington March - tune: Yankee Doodle (ca. 1775)
11. Father and I Went Down To Camp -
tune: Yankee Doodle, ca. 177612. Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier (ballad)
13. Chester - William Billings, 1778/ 1786 (different text)
14. Revolutionary Tea (ballad)
15. Thanksgiving Hymn - tune: Kittery by William Billings
New England Singing Masters
16. The Bird - William Billings, 1790
17. Victory - Daniel Read, 1793
18. New Bethlehem - Edward French, 1799
U.S. Constitution and First President
19. The Grand Constitution (1787)/ Constitution Song (1788)/ Ode to President George Washington (1789)
War of 1812
20. The Star Spangled Banner - text: Francis Scott Key, 1814
21. Peace - text: Esther Talbot, 1814
New York Ballads
22. The Erie Canal (ballad)
23. The E-R-I-E (ballad)
24. Buffalo Gals (ca. 1844)
Spirituals and Hymns
25. We Gather Together (Prayer of Thanksgiving)26. Simple Gifts (Shaker song by Elder Joseph Brackett, 1848)
27. Give Us This Day (hymn by Stephen Foster, 1863)
28. Blessing and Glory (hymn by Edwin Arthur Jones, 1874)
World War I
29. Song of the Marching Men (Henry Hadley, 1919)30. Cantata Finale: Land Of Our Hearts
(George W. Chadwick, 1918)
American Choral Sampler
Recorded at live concerts during the 1970s and 1980s, performed by soloists and chorus of the Old Stoughton Musical Society, America's oldest choral society. It includes many First Recordings.
Tracks:
1. The Star Spangled Banner (1814) --
tune: TO ANACREON/words by Francis Scott Key
(19th century choral arrangement)I. Music by William Billings:
2. Stoughton (1770) -- ed. by Roger Hall [First Recording]
3. Sharon (1778) --with recorder quartet (ed. by Roger Hall) [First Recording]
4. Boston (1778)
5. Chester (2 versions: 1778 and 1786 with Paul Revere bell)
6. Majesty (1778)
7. David's Lamentation (1778)
8. Kittery (1778) -- text: Thanksgiving HymnII. New England Texts and Tunes:
9. Constitution Song (1788) -- tune: YANKEE DOODLE
10. Coronation (1792) -- Oliver Holden
11. Victory (1793) -- Daniel Read
12. New Jerusalem (1796) -- Jeremiah Ingalls
13. Make A Joyful Noise (1794) -- Supply Belcher
14. New Bethlehem (1799) -- Edward French
16. The Dove (1805) -- Samuel CapenIII. The Civil War Era:
17. John Brown (1861) and Battle Hymn of the Republic (1862)
18. Give Us This Day (1863) -- Stephen Foster
IV. Victorian Voices:
19. Fugue: Blessing and Glory (1874) -- Edwin Arthur Jones/
ed. by Roger Hall [First Recording]
20. Chorus: The Lord is King (1883) -- Edwin Arthur Jones
[First Recording]
21. Easter Carol (1892) -- Charles Ives [First Recording]V. Two Stoughton Songs:
22. Anti-War Song: Peace -- words: Esther Talbot, 1814/
music: Roger Hall, 1981 [First Recording]
23. Anniversary Song: Dedication -- words: William Billings, 1794/
music: Roger Hall, 1986 [First Recording]
VI. For Auld Lang Syne:
24. Song of the Old Folks (tune: Auld Lang Syne --
New England version by Albert Laighton, 1855
[First Recording]
NEW ENGLAND COMPILATIONS
"New Bethlehem" -
Christmas Music From New England
( AMRA No. 11)
Twenty-four Christmas carols, hymns and songs from New England composed between 1778 and 1988 and also highlights from a Christmas Eve radio program in 1992.
For track titles and more information, go to:
Christmas Music in New England
New England Choral Sampler:
From The Pilgrims To The Shakers
(AMRC No. 14)
For a complete description, go here
New England Harmony:
Six Early Composers
(AMRC No. 5)
Choral music by William Billings, Jacob French, Daniel Read, Jeremiah Ingalls, Oliver Holden and Timothy Swan.
To read all the track titles, go to
"A Toast"
Music of George Washington's Time
(AMRA No. 13)
Recorded at several live concerts performed by soloists and chorus of the Old Stoughton Musical Society, including a 1982 concert in Canton, Massachusetts, celebrating the 250th anniversaries of the births of Austrian composer, Franz Joseph Haydn, and First U.S. President,
George Washington:Tracks:
1. The Liberty Song -- words: John Dickinson, 1768/
arr. William A. Fisher
2. Father and I Went Down to Camp -- words: attributed to Edward Bangs, 1776 / tune: YANKEE DOODLE, arr. William A. Fisher
3. Chester -- words & music by William Billings, 1778
4. Welcome, Mighty Chief, Once More -- 1789
5. A Toast --Francis Hopkinson, 1778
6. Beneath a Weeping Willow's Shade --
Francis Hopkinson, 1788
7. My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free --
Francis Hopkinson, 1759
8. Norah, Dear Norah -- William Shields, 1783
(Washington's favorite English opera)
9. The Way-Worn Traveler -- Samuel Arnold, 1793
10. Excerpt from 1982 Concert Address
11. Tenor Recitative & Chorus from THE CREATION by
Franz Joseph Haydn
12. Thanksgiving Hymn -- music: William Billings, 1778
13. Ode to the President of the United States,
George Washington -- words: Samuel Low, 1789
14. Victory -- Daniel Read, 1793
15. New Jerusalem -- Jeremiah Ingalls, 1796
16. The Dove -- Samuel Capen, 1805
17. New Bethlehem -- Edward French, 1799
18. Mount Vernon -- Oliver Holden, 1800
19. Dedication -- words: William Billings, 1794/
music: Roger Hall, 1986
20. The Grand Constitution (from one act play about the U.S. and Stoughton Musical Society's Constitutions in 1787 and 1788)
21. The Federal March (excerpt) -- Alexander Reinagle
22. The 'Vention Did In Boston Meet --
tune: Yankee Doodle, 1788
23. The Grand Constitution (dialogue from the one act play)
24. Ode to President George Washington --
tune: God Save the King
Nos. 1 - 4 = edited and arranged by William Arms Fisher,
The Music That Washington Knew
Nos. 12-13, 22-24 = edited and arranged by Roger Hall
"Lincoln and Liberty"
Music From Abraham Lincoln's Era
(AMRA No. 12)
A specially prepared CD for the Lincoln Bicentennial
(1809-2009)
Music written and performed during Abraham Lincoln's lifetime and just beyond, including eight World Premiere Recordings of hymns by Stephen Foster, a Shaker pacifist hymn, and National Peace Jubilee hymn.To see all the track titles, click on this link:
"Lincoln and Liberty"
Music from Abraham Lincoln's Era
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Best of William Billings (1746-1800)
(AMRC No. 1)
Music by America's first important composer of choral music, William Billings.
Performed by singers from The Old Stoughton Musical Society, the oldest choral society in the U.S.Total Time = 70:45
Tracks:
1. Thus Saith the High, the Lofty One (1770)
2. Majesty (1778)
3. Chester (1778)
4. David's Lamentation (1778)
5. Thanksgiving Anthem (1794)
6. Radio Interview on WGBH in Boston, Massachusetts -
"A Note To You" with Roland Nadeau (1985) Guest: Roger Hall
7. Modern Music (1781)
8. +Stoughton (1770) - edited by Roger Hall (1986)
9. Claremont (1794)
10. +Anthem From Sundry Scriptures: Who Is This? (1781)
11. Assurance (1781)
12. Anthem for Mariners: Euroclydon (1781)
13. Radio interview on WGBH in Boston -
"Morning Pro Musica" with Robert J. Lurtsema (1986)
Guests: Roger Hall and David McKay
14. +Anthem: Charity (1794)
15. +Sharon (1778) - with recorder quartet, 1980
16. Stoughton (1770) - with piano accompaniment, 1980
17. +The Pleasures of Variety -- music by Roger Hall, 1980
18. +Dedication -- music by Roger Hall, 1986
19. +Anthem: O God, My Heart is Fixed (1794)
20. Chester (1786 version)
21. Radio interview with David McKay on WGBH radio in Boston (1986)+ = First recording
Music by Four New England Composers
(AMRC No. 2)Total Time = 62:37
Music by four composers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including special commemorative works such as the World's Peace Jubilee hymn and the official U.S. Centennial Cantata by Dudley Buck; two choruses composed for the Dartmouth College Glee Club by Edwin Jones; an Easter Carol by Charles Ives; and a major World War I era cantata by George Chadwick.
All of these are believed to be first recordings:
I. Dudley Buck (1839-1909)
1. Festival Hymn: Peace and Music - complete performance (organ-vocal score) for the World's Peace Jubilee in Boston,1872.
2. Choral Cantata: Centennial Meditation of Columbia -- for United States Centennial in 1876, set to a poem by Sidney Lanier - complete performance (piano-vocal score).
II. Edwin A. Jones (1853-1911)
3. Organ: Prelude and Fugue in G minor (1878)
4. Dartmouth Glee Club Chorus: "Praise Ye The Lord" (1874)
5. Dartmouth Glee Club Chorus: "Blessing and Glory" (1874)
6. Oratorio Chorus: "Hail! All Triumphant Lord" from
Easter Concert (1890)See also: New England Composer Series No. 1
III. Charles E. Ives (1874-1954)
7. Chorus: "Turn Ye, Turn Ye" (1890)
8. Chorus & Solo Quartet: "Easter Carol" (1892)
9. Soloist & Chorus: "The Collection" (1920)
See also: American Music Recordings Collection
IV. George W. Chadwick (1854-1931)
10. Organ Prelude: "The Star" from Noel (1909)
11. Chorale: "How Lovely Shines The Morning Star"
from Noel (1909)
12. Choral Cantata: Land of Our Hearts (1918) --
complete performance (piano-vocal score)See New England Composer Series No. 2
A Centennial Collection:
Music by E.A. Jones (1853-1911)
(AMRC No. 4)
This CD has been prepared for the centennial memorial of this unjustly negelected New England composer, Edwin Arthur Jones (1853-1911).
All the performances on the CD were recorded in live concerts and all of them are World Premiere Recordings:
1. Prelude and Fugue in G minor for pipe organ (Op. 10, 1878) -- first concert performance, 1980
2. Dartmouth College Glee Club Chorus:
Praise Ye The Lord (1874)
3. Dartmouth College Glee Club Chorus:
Blessing and Glory (1874)
4. Trio for Strings (1878)
5. Fuging Chorus: OLD STOUGHTON (1886)
SONG OF OUR SAVIOUR (Op. 14, 1881) - A Cantata for SATB Soloists and Chorus, Organ, and Orchestra
6. Introduction for Orchestra
7. Bass Recitative & Chorus: Break forth into joy
8. Alto Air: How beautiful upon the mountains
9. Chorus: Awaken thou that sleepest
10. Tenor Recitative & Air: Greater love hath no man
11. Recitative and Air: O Lord/ If ye love me
12. Soprano, Alto, Tenor Trio: Look unto me
13 Bass Recitative: Unto Him that loved us/
Final Chorus: Glory be to God
SONG OF OUR SAVIOUR Cantata (Nos 6-13):
Old Stoughton Musical Society Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra,
Richard Hill, organist; Raymond Fahrner, conductor;
Recorded at the World Premiere performance in Stoughton, Massachusetts, May 3, 1992. Cantata text will be included with the CD.
14. String Quartet No. 2 (Op. 22, 1887) -- first performed by The Kneisel Quartet at Mrs. J.L. (Isabella Stewart) Gardner's home in Boston in 1889 -- first modern day performance, 1985.
15. Chorus: Hail! All Triumphant Lord! from oratorio,
EASTER CONCERT (Op. 28, 1890)16. The Farewell Waltzes for piano (Op. 8, 1874)
See also:
New England Composer Series: Edwin Arthur Jones
"My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free"
Songs by Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791)
(AMRA No. 17)
For the list of track titles, see
First American Song
To Order Any Above CDs
For a donation of $20, you will receive one of the CDs, or $36 for any 2 CDs, or $180 for all twelve CDs from the
American Vocal Music Series, including packing and shipping.Use your credit card, payable to PineTree Productions, through safe and secure PayPal.
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Multimedia Titles
Now Available on CDs and DVDs
Multimedia Americana Music Series [MAMS]
Essential American Recordings Survey
The year 2009 marked the the 250th anniversary of the
FIRST SONG WRITTEN BY AN AMERICAN.
To honor this anniversary, a survey of recommended recordings has been compiled listing essential American music.
The recordings include a cross section of music, including 18th century psalm tunes, 19th century patriotic songs; 20th century classical, jazz, stage & screen, and popular songs.To read this survey, go to:
Are you interested in a music program for your group or college?For a list of available titles, click on this link for
Recordings and Surveys
American Music Recordings Archive [AMRA]
Essential American Recordings Survey [EARS]
New England Music Archive [NEMA]
Preserving Our Musical Past [POMP]
Singing Stoughton -- Oldest Choral Society in the U.S.A.
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