 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
AMERICAN MUSIC RECORDINGS ARCHIVE
[AMRA]
Roger Lee Hall, Director
The American Music Recordings Archive [AMRA] is a large private library of recordings collected over the past 50 years and includes LPs, audio cassettes, CDs and DVDs.
AMRA is dedicated to providing American music of historical importance from the 18th to 20th centuries to interested researchers, students and the general public.
The archive contains well over 1,000 items of rare and out-of-print music recordings from live concerts, interviews with composers and musicians, and radio tributes.
There are 20 specially produced CDs currently available only from this collection.
AMRC is especially strong in these areas:
- 18th and 19th Century American Composers
- American Film Music
- American Shaker music
- Music from Early New England
- Vintage Popular Songs
If you are looking for an informative and entertaining music program for your organization or your students at an educational institution, see this list of
Please Read Carefully
The items listed below in the American Music Recordings Collection are representative of the holdings and are available for study or listening. No claim is made to cover all music categories.
Emphasis is placed on vocal music and the recordings are from the five areas covered on this site:
Classical Composers, Film Music, New England Music, Popular Songs, Shaker Music.
The CDs are specially prepared and many of them feature first recordings of rare music and were recorded in live concerts.
The music is performed by various instrumentalists and singers from original performing editions and also modern arrangements. Because of the special preparations involved, these conditions apply:
1. In the unlikely case of defects on a disc, it will be replaced at no extra charge after the disc has been returned.
2. A refund will not be given unless a disc cannot be replaced. It is recommended that you inquire first if you have any questions before ordering.
Listen to sample music clips at the
Donation Discs
This music preservation site needs your support. Please consider making a donation with a credit card, payable to PineTree Productions, through safe and secure PayPal.
For a donation of $25 (one CD) or $40 (two CDs) you will receive your choice of these CDs, including Free Shipping:
Bernard Herrmann Radio Tributes (Film music)
Father Kemp's Old Folks Concert Music (New England music)
Jazz On Screen - Movies and Television (Big bands and popular singers)
Johnny Mercer On Radio and Records (Popular songs)
Musick in Old Boston (New England composers)Remembering Radio: Great Songwriters and Singers (Popular songs)
Simple Gifts of Shaker Music (Shaker music)
Top Ten Movie Scores of the 1930s, '40s, '50s (Film music)
Click on this button to
After you have made your donation,
please indicate which CD you wish
and include your mailing address for proper shipping.
Send to:
American Music Recordings Collection
(CDs)
The following releases are part of the
American Vocal Music Series:Nos. 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17
NEW BETHLEHEM - One of the early American Christmas carols,
music by Edward French, 1761-1845
Available on AMRC No. 14
Classical Composers = Nos. 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 17
Film Music = Nos. 18, 19, 20
New England Music = Nos. 1, 2, 4, 11, 14, 15
Popular Songs = Nos. 8, 9
Shaker Music = Nos. 7, 16
Click on the links to go directly to each CD title...
1. Best of William Billings
2. Music by Dudley Buck, E. A. Jones, Charles Ives, George W. Chadwick
3. Memorial Music for Charles T. Griffes, Samuel Barber, Randall Thompson4. Edwin Arthur Jones - A Centennial Collection
5. New England Harmony - Six Early New England Composers
(New Release)
6. A Conversation with Aaron Copland
7. An Interview with Virgil Thomson
8. Blended Together - Interviews with The Shakers (New Release)
9. America in Song, Volume 1: The American Revolution To World War I
10. American in Song, Volume 2: : From The Civil War To The Cold War
11. American Choral Sampler (New Release)
12. "Lincoln and Liberty" - Music From Abraham Lincoln's Era
13. "A Toast" - Music of George Washington's Time14. Christmas Music From New England
15. New England Choral Sampler: From The Pilgrims To Peace
16. Gentle Words - A Shaker Music Sampler
18. Aaron Copland On Film Music
19. Henry Mancini On Radio20. Film Music of John Williams On Radio (New Release)
A Guide to Film Music: Songs and Scores
A Guide to George Gershwin
A Guide to Shaker Music - With Music Supplement
Multimedia Americana Music SeriresRemembering Radio: Great Songwriters and Singers
I. COMPOSERS AND COMPOSITIONS
Poet Sidney Lanier who wrote the poem for
"The Centennial Meditation of Columbia"
commissioned for the United Staes Centennial in 1876.
The complete cantata is recorded on AMRA No. 2.
Best of William Billings (1746-1800)
21 Tracks (Total Time = 70:45)
Music by America's first important American composer of choral music.
To see the track titles for this CD, go to:
Also available:
The Passion and Resurrection of Our Lord , Music by William Billings,
Compiled and edited with narration by Leonard Van Camp.This choral work features 15 Billings tunes in the two sections:
PART ONE - THE PASSION
PART TWO - THE RESURRECTION
The beautiful canon, WHEN JESUS WEPT, is used as a cantus firmus in Part One. The climactic chorus in Part One is the extremely moving Billings tune: CRUCIFIXION. Likewise, in Part Two, another highlight is the Billings tune: HOPKINTON.
This work was performed on March 30, 1980 by two combined Lutheran church choirs in North Easton, Massachusetts, accompanied by Kathy Sergent on harpsichord and the Easton String Quartet, all under the direction of Roger Hall.
You can receive a specially produced CD of The Passion and Resurrection of Our Lord (Music by William Billings, edited by Leonard Van Camp).
Make a donation for $15,
payable by credit card to PineTree Productions,
through safe and secure PayPal.
Click on this button to
After you have sent in your donation,
send your mailing address to:
Read more about Billings at: Father of American Choral Music
AMRC No. 2:
Music by Four New England Composers: Buck, Jones, Ives, Chadwick12 tracks (Total Time = 62:37)
Music by four composers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including special commemorative works such as the Peace Jubilee hymn and the official U.S. Centennial Cantata by Dudley Buck; two glee club choruses composed for the Dartmouth College Glee Club by Edwin Arthur Jones; an Easter Carol by Charles Ives; and a major World War I era choral cantata by George Whitefield Chadwick.
Most of these pieces are World Premiere Recordings:
I. Dudley Buck (1839-1909)
1. Festival Hymn -- words and music by Dudley Buck, composed for the World's Peace Jubilee in Boston in 1872.
2. Centennial Meditation of Columbia -- a cantata for United States Centennial in 1876, from a poem by Sidney Lanier - complete piano-vocal score.
II. Edwin A. Jones (1854-1911)
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)
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
piano-vocal scoreSee also New England Composer Series No. 2
Memorial Music for Charles T. Griffes, Samuel Barber, Randall Thompson
13 tracks (Total Time = 51:48)
These performances are from concerts during the 1980s, paying tribute to three distinguished American composers:
I. Charles T. Griffes (1884-1920) -- 100th Anniversary of His Birth
(1984 concert)
Two Sketches on American Indian Themes (1918-19) -- for string quartet
II. Samuel Barber (1910-1981) -- A Memorial Tribute
(1981 concert)
Let Down The Bars, O Death (1942) -- for SATB chorus
III. Randall Thompson (1899-1984) -- A Memorial Tribute
(1984 concert)
Ode to the Virginian Voyage (1957) -- A cantata for SATB chorus and piano in seven movements -- composed for the 350th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, VirginiaFarewell (1973) -- for SATB chorus
A Centennial Collection: Music by E. A. Jones
15 tracks
Includes the complete World Premiere recording of "Song of Our Saviour," a majestic 1881 cantata for soloists, chorus, organ and orchestra.
For list of music tracks, go to the
A multimedia DVD is also available, titled:
"How Beautiful Upon The Mountains" - Music by E.A. JonesRead more at
New England Composer No. 1: Edwin Arthur Jones
[New Release]
New England Harmony: Six Early New England Composers
Aaron Copland
A Conversation with Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
30 tracks (Total Time = 63:55)
The conversation with composer Aaron Copland took place at his home in Cortlandt, New York on 21 July 1980.
The interviewer was composer and musicologist, Roger Hall.
In this conversation Aaron Copland speaks about many topics, including his ballet score for APPALACHIAN SPRING and his arrangements of the Shaker song, "Simple Gifts." Also discussed are a few of his film scores a nd his admiration for Leonard Bernstein, Natalie Boulanger, and Serge Koussevitsy.
A portion of this Copland interview is included on the DVD disc:
A Guide to Film Music - Songs and Scores (4th edition)
See also:
Aaron Copland Meets The Shakers
An Interview with Virgil Thomson (1896-1989)
16 tracks (Total Time = 44:16)
This interview with composer Virgil Thomson took place at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland on 18 April 1979.
The interviewer was composer and musicologist, Roger Hall.
Virgil Thomson speaks about film music in general and in particular his scores for two Depression Era documentary films for Pare Lorenz:
THE PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS (1936) and THE RIVER (1937).Thomson mentions his folk hymn arrangements,
especially RESIGNATION ("My Shepherd will supply my need").He also discusses his music for the Robert Flaherty's documentary film LOUISIANA STORY (1948), for which he received the first Pulitzer Prize for a film score.
In addition, Thomson also talks about his score for his only feature film, THE GODDESS (1957).
A portion of this Thomson audio interview is included as a Special Feature on the Naxos DVD with two documentary films:
THE PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS and THE RIVER
A transcript of a portion of the Thomson interview is included in this reference book:
A Guide to Film Music - Songs and Scores
Blended Together -- Interviews with The Shakers
30 tracks (Total Time = 44:46)
This includes rare interviews with Shaker sisters from Canterbury, New Hampshire and Sabbathday Lake, Maine, and has examples of their singing.
Complete track listings at CD and DVD Releases
For information about the DVD, The Shakers On Television, click on this link:
An early edition of "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
[Recorded on AMRC Nos. 11-12, 15]
America in Song, Volume 1: From The American Revolution To World War I
A sampling of music from 1768 to 1918, performed by various artists.
America in Song, Volume 2: From The Civil War To The Cold War
A sampling of music from 1861 to 1961, performed by various artists.
See also this multimedia CD with music, images and documents:
"Glory, Hallelujah!" - Songs and Hymns of the Civil War Era
[New Release]
24 tracks (Total Time = 55:38)
A selection of American choral music from the 1770s to the 1980s performed by The Old Stoughton Musical Society Chorus.
For track titles, see American Song History Series
A multimedia DVD featuring information about America's oldest choral society is titled: "OLD STOUGHTON" - Singing Meetings and Concerts
Read more about America's oldest choral society and special concerts at
For more historical information click this link:
In Honor of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
(1809 - 2009)
AMRC No. 12:
"Lincoln and Liberty" -- Music from Abraham Lincoln's Era
A collection of 19th century music heard during Abraham Lincoln's lifetime and just beyond, including eight World Premiere Recordings, performed by various choruses and ensembles.
For a complete list of music tracks and information about the accompanying Listener's Guide, go to
"A Toast"-- Music of George Washington's Time
Original and arranged music from the era of George Washington, recorded at several live concerts, including a 250th anniversary tribute concert in 1982 to George Washington and Franz Joseph Haydn, both born in 1732.
To see the track titles for this CD, go to:
To order, go the
Christmas Music From New England
Total Time = 70:53
Twenty-four Christmas carols and hymns from New England composed between 1778 and 1978.
For track titles, go to:
Christmas Music in New England
30 tracks (72:49)
For the list of track titles, see
New England Choral Sampler: From The Pilgrims To Peace
Related CD:Singing New Englanders: From The Pilgrims to The Shakers
A multimedia DVD is also available, titled:
"Land of Our Hearts" - A New England Music Miscellany
For more information click this link:
Gentle Words -- A Shaker Music Sampler
28 tracks, including singing by the Shakers, and an exclusive interview with composer, Aaron Copland, about his arrangements of the Shaker dance song, "Simple Gifts."
For complete track titles, go to:
See also the accompanying illustrated "Gentle Words" booklet with the lyrics and commentary for 25 Shaker spirituals at
Also available is a multimedia DVD with audio and video files titled:
The Story of 'Simple Gifts' - Joseph Brackett's Shaker Dance Song
In honor of the 250th Anniversary
of
America's first secular song (1759)
AMRC No. 17: Songs by Francis Hopkinson
This CD is produced by the Society For Earlier American Music [SEAM]
12 tracks (Total Time = 38:49)
America's first secular song:
1. My days have been so wondrous free (1759) - soprano and harpsichord
2. My days have been so wondrous free (1759) - mezzo-soprano and organ
Songs in tribute to George Washington:
3. A Toast (1778) - tenor and organ
4. Beneath a weeping willow's shade (1788) - soprano and organ
Eights Songs For Solo Voice and Harpsichord (1788) --
Dedicated to George Washington:
5. Come fair Rosina
6. My love is gone to sea
7. Beneath a weeping willow's shade
8. O'er the hills far away
9. See, down Maria's blushing cheek
10. Enraptur'd I gaze
11. Rondo: My gen'rous heart disdains
12. The traveler benighted and lostTo order this CD, go to the
Featuring a rare television program titled "Music for the Movies" with host Aaron Copland speaking about his film scores and including excerpts from THE CITY (1939), OUR TOWN (1940), SOMETHING WILD (1961).
See also these links:
An Interview with Aaron Copland on film musicLifetime Achievement Sammy Award 2010
15 tracks (Total Playing Time = 67:11)
"Henry Mancini On Radio" (15 tracks) -- includes a special radio tribute from 1989 with some of his early music from television and movies, such as PETER GUNN and THE PINK PANTHER, plus a 1991 call-in radio program with Henry Mancini as the guest with some of his film music included.
[New Release]
Film Music of John Williams on Radio
10 tracks (Total Time = 65:51)
In honor of the 80th birthday in 2012, this special CD contains film music by John Williams featured on radio, including a birthday tribute by Roger Hall from 1983 on WGBH radio in Boston, and several Sammy Awards (1989-1994) announced on radio for John Williams film music.
Also included are the first two concerts John Williams conducted with the Boston Pops in 1979-1980 with music from SUPERMAN, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, and STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.
These publications also include accompanying music:
.jpg)
A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC (4th edition)
is available on a multimedia DVD and contains updates to the previous edition, including The Sammy Awards, also with music examples and a video program.To read more about this collection, click on this link:
Also these music resources:Multimedia Americana Music Series
A Guide to Shaker Music
Remembering Radio: Great Songwriters and Singers
If you have any questions, write to:
To order the CDs or Resource Publications go to the
Essential American Recordings Survey
This is not one of those Top Ten or Twenty lists.
Instead, it is a representative list of 200 recordings (LPs and CDs)
of music from the 18th to 20th centuries.To read this extensive list,
go to:Essential American Recordings Survey (EARS)
American Music Preservation Links
American Music Timeline, 1640-1890
New England Music Archive [NEMA]
Composer Tributes
Favorite American Composers (Web Poll)
Film Composers and Soundtracks
New England Composer Series No. 1: Edwin A. Jones
New England Composer Series No. 2: George W. Chadwick
Leonard Bernstein
Help support the preservation mission of this website
Order your merchandise from
this Search Box from Amazon.com
© 2007-2011 PineTree Productions. All Rights Reserved.