Helping to make American music come alive again!

 

 

The Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP) was established in 1998 to help preserve historical American music

from the past through publications and recordings so it will survive into the future.

Naturally not every music genre or composer can be covered on this website.

It is intended to provide information on selected music areas, listed below.

The goal is to provide historical information and music recordings from earlier America

for performance, research, teaching, or personal interest.

 

Attention musicians, historians, teachers!

It is important that you inform your audience

about the vocal music written and performed in earlier America

Let's Sing Out About America's Vocal History!

Here are two collections with recordings of vocal music

"Yankee Doodle" - American Song Treasury, 1620-1920

"Dedication" - American Choral Sampler

 

 

 

These are the main topic areas on this CAMP website:

 

No. 1: CLASSICAL MUSIC

American Composers: From The Colonial Era To Our Time

American Music Timeline - 1620-1818

American Music Timeline - 1822-1920

Earlier American Composers: A Survey in Sound

 

No. 2: COMMUNAL MUSIC

Music of the American Shakers - Resources and Recordings


American Communal Hymns

 

No. 3: MEDIA MUSIC

Film Music Review e-zine

Remembering Radio

Essential Movie Musicals

 

No. 4: MUSIC IN NEW ENGLAND

New England Heritage Music

New England Song Series

Singing Stoughton - home of America's Oldest Choral Society, founded in 1786

 

No. 5: AMERICAN SONGS

American Song History, 1759-1959

Popular Songs - From The Civil War To The Cold War, 1860s-1960s

"Yankee Doodle" - American Song Treasury, 1620-1920

 

No. 6: RECORDED MUSIC

American Music Recordings Collection (AMRC)

 

American Music Recordings Archive (AMRA

 

 

Essential American Recordings Archive (EARS) - Music frrom 1759-1959

 

 

 

To contact CAMP by email -- click here

 

 

 

 

-- Roger Lee Hall, CAMP Director

He is a distinguished musicologist and music preservationist,

who has researched, performed, and written about American music for over 50 years.

He is the former Vice President and Historian

of the Old Stoughton Musical Society - America's oldest, founded in 1786.

His areas of special interest include:

Choral music - For Example: LAND OF OUR HEARTS

Music of the Shakers - For Example: A SHAKER MUSIC MISCELLANY

Composers in earlier America - For Example: EARLIER AMERICAN COMPOSERS: A SURVEY IN SOUND

Film music - For Example: HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD - Memorable Movie Music

He is also an ASCAP pop songwriter and classical composer with over 100 compositions.

See the list of his compositions published exclusively by PineTree Music

 

Publications by CAMP Director

See the list of 60 music collections by Roger Lee Hall

available in the series of

PineTree Music Editions (PTME)

 

 

 

 

 

The Father of American Song

Read about a signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey
who also composed the first classical song in America

Francis Hopkinson - The First American Song

See also SONG OF AMERICA

 

 

 

The Father of American Choral Music

Read about America's first major choral composer

with samples of his music at -

William Billings - Father of American Choral Music

This audio album available
from the American Music Recordings Collection

Best of William Billings (AMRC CD)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Musical Celebration for the

250th Anniversary of Declaration of Independence!

 

 

Four Early American Patriotic Songs:

The Liberty Song (1768)
The New Massachusetts Song of Liberty (aka: Free America)(1770)
Chester by William Billings (1770, 1778)
Father and I went down to Camp (tune: Yankee Doodle)(1776)

 

This special 75 minute webinar was presented by Roger Lee Hall for the New York Adventure Club on 27 July 2026

"Revolutionary Tunes: Songs of America's Fight For Independence"

To read about this webinar -- go here

 

 

"More Than Yankee Doodle -

Songs of Patriotism and Protest in the American Revolution"

presented by American music preservationist, Roger Lee Hall

at the Colonial Society of Massachusetts in Boston in April 2026

You can watch this program on YouTube

 

 

 

Professor Robert Allison from Suffolk University and CAMP Director, Roger Lee Hall

discuss how music shaped public opinion, preserved memory,

and reflected the hopes, anxieties, and humor of Revolutionary Americans.

The conversation also highlights the survival of period melodies, the stories behind famous songs,

and the ways music connected ordinary people to extraordinary events.

It is a fascinating journey into the sounds of 1776 and the cultural heartbeat of a Revolution that changed the world.

Hear these four early American tunes:

STOUGHTON - William Billings, 1770 with added text by Dr. Isaac Watts, edited by Roger Hall
THE LEXINGTON MARCH - British version of YANKEE DOODLE
CHESTER - text and music by William Billings, 1778
YANKEE DOODLE (Father and I went down to camp) - words by Harvard College student, Edward Bangs, 1776

Watch the conversation on YouTube at Revolution 250

 

Read about the first important American choral composer,Willliam Billings, his large family,

and the singing tradition in Stoughton, Massachusetts which led to the

oldest choral society in the USA, founded in 1786

in this publication from PineTree Press:

 

 

 

 

 

The Town of Stoughton, Massachusetts, where William Billings taught a signing school in 1774
is celebrating its 300th anniversary in 2026.

Here is a selection of music from 1770 to 1990

TEN TOWN TUNES (PINETREE PRESS),

This tune collection includes STOUGHTON (1770) by William Billings

and named after the town where he met his wife Lucy in the singing school he taught in Stoughton.

STOUGHTON was originally published without words and an 18th century text was added by Roger Hall.

This tune was first perfomed during the Bicentennial Celebration

of the Old Stoughton Musical Society (America's oldest choral society) in 1986

Read more at -- Singing Stoughton

 

 

 

 

Here are a few recommended recordings of music from earlier America

 

THE BIRTH OF LIBERTY - Music of the American Revolution

 

FREE AMERICA - Early Songs of Resistence and Rebellion

 

Yankee Doodle -
An American Song Treasury, 1620-1920

 

 

 

 

 

Join the T.E.A.M!

Treasures of Earlier American Music

Music refines the taste, purifies the heart,
and elevates our nature.
It does more:

it soothes in sorrow, tranquillizes in passion,
and wears away the irritabilities of life.

It intensifies love,
it fires the patriotism,
and makes the altar of our devotion burn
with a purer, holier flame.

--W.W. Hall, M.D.
Hall's Journal of Health for 1862

To inquire about joining the T.E.A.M. as a historian, musician, researcher, music teacher, interested individual -- click here

See the T.E.A.M. recordings available -- click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To contact the CAMP -- click here

 

 

Your support of the Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP)

is urgently needed so it can continue providing valuable music information.

 

To help support this website,

see the American Music Recordings Collection (AMRC)

and the CAMP Store

 

Click on the picture to read about this highly rated AMRC CD

with very enjoyable piano music

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Star-Spangled Banner" - A Musical Salute

 

 

 

Music of the Shakers

 

Roger Hall is one of the foremost experts on music of the American Shakers.

Since 1971, he has researched, written publications,

performed and recorded their music for a series of CDs.

For over two centuries the Shakers composed thousands of anthems, hymns and songs, more than any communal sect in America.

Their first tunes were wordless and later they added texts and also wrote music in three and four-part harmony.

Their earliest existing songs in America are from the 1780s and their last known song was composed in 1959.

 

 

In Celebration of the the 50th Anniversary of his first published Shaker music collections and recording in 1976

Music Collection: "A Western Shaker Music Sampler"
1. Anthem: +Mount Zion
2. Hymn: The Living Shepherd
3. Song: Marching Tune
4. Hymn: How Happy Are They
5. Song: +Love is Little
6. DanceSong: Round Shuffle
7. Song: +March
8. Hymn: +Doxology
9. Hymn: On the Landing of Mother Ann in America
10. Song: +A Dream
11. Song: +Gentle Words
12. Song: Slow March

+ = these titles are on this AMRC CD and book:

 

 

A multimedia collection with research information, audio and concert videos is available on USB Flash Drive titled:

 

 

Read about this AMRC CD

with some of the earliest religious music by women in America beginning in the 18th century.

Read about this highly praised CD, "My Shaker Home" -- here

 

 

 

 

Watch the program with Shaker music scholar, Roger Lee Hall,

now available on YouTube and titled -

"Tis the gift to be simple" -
Aaron Copland Meets The Shakers in Shaker Heights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcpVRysB328

 

 

 

Research article:

"Simple Gifts": The Discovery and Popularity of a Shaker Dance Song

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read the facts about the popular Shaker dance song,

"Simple Gifts (aka: Tis the gift to be simple)" -- click here

 

See a list of Roger Hall's Shaker music collections -- click here

 

 

 

 

SAVING EARLIER AMERICAN MUSIC (SEAM)

 

Helping to preserve two centuries of American vocal and instrumental music, 1759-1959

click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early New England Composer,
Supply Belcher (1751-1835)
read about him - here

AMRC CD 0002:

"Make A Joyful Noise" -
The New England Harmony

 

 

ANGEL OF PEACE: Music in Old Boston

 

 

 

 

 

 

In commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Landing of the Pilgrims,

a multimedia collection available

highlighting singing and songs in earlier America:

"Land of Our Hearts" - From Pilgrims To Patriots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Popular Songwriter Series

 

 

 

A Tribute to George Gershwin

 

"The Last Round-Up" - Songs by Billy Hilll

 

"I Hear Music"- A Tribute To Songwriter, Frank Loesser

 

"Moon River" - Memories of Henry Mancini

"Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive"- Johnny Mercer in Hollywood

 

 

 

 

 

This massive music collection

for teaching or research is now available at a huge discount!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier American Music Timeline

Part One: 1620 - 1818

Part Two: 1822-1920

 

 

 

 

 

Essential American Recordings Survey (EARS)

Music from 200 years, 1759-1959

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the list of music titles,
see the American Music Recordings Collection (AMRC) -- click here

For the list in titles
in the PineTree Multimedia Editions (PTME) -- click here

To write to the CAMP about your educational institution
obtaining this extensive collection of audio and research material
available for a one time preparation charge -- click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A valuable series
for teaching, research or just for listening!

 

 

Earlier American Composers:
Survey In Sound, 1759-1919

4 volumes with music examples from 16 American composers,
including chamber music and choral music, all together on one multimedia DVD-ROM.

Read about this extensive audio collection -- click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Recorded Choral Archive (ARCA)

American Recorded Choral Archive

 

 

 

 

 

Honor Roll

We are grateful for any donations received to help support the CAMP.

These names have been added to the CAMP Honor Roll

in memory of their service to American music:

Sister Ruth Mildred Barker

David Benjamin

Joel Cohen

Gregory Erickson

Earl Eyrich

Randy Folger

John D. Herr

Eldress Bertha Lindsay

Sister Bertha Lillian Phelps

William Randle

Charles "Bud" Thompson

 

 

Your support is needed to help support American music preservation.

Order any of these special limited edition CDs:

 

 

CELESTIAL PRAISES - A Celebration of Shaker Spirituals

 

 

"It's Magic" - One Hundredth Birthday Celebration of Sammy Cahn

 

 

 

MY SHAKER HOME - Words and Music by Shaker Sisters

Research Topics

 

18th century

Read about the first known American art song in 1759 by Francis Hopkinson--
click here

 

 

William Billings - Father of American Choral Music

 

 

Singing Stoughton - America's oldest choral tradition

 

 

 

 

 

"A Toast" - Music of George Washington's Time

 

 

 

 

 

19th century

Read about "The Simplicity of Shaker Music" -
the oldest surviving communal sect in America,
with the largest number of original tunes and texts
click here

 

 

"Lincoln and Liberty" - Music From Abraham Lincoln's Time

 

It is not commonly known that in addition to his many popular songs,
Stephen Foster also composed a group of beautiful hymns during the Civil War years.
Some of these hymns are available in First Recordings on a multimedia disc titled,

 

"Glory, Halllelujah" - Songs and Hymns of the Civil War Era

 

 

20th century

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Music by George W. Chadwick - click here

One of his choral works from 1918 is the title of this DVD-ROM with audio and video features:

"Land of Our Hearts" - From Pilgrims to Patriots

 

 

 

The Bill Randle Chronicles - click here

 

 

 

Film In Focus (1930s-1960s) - click here

 

 

Tribute to a popular Oscar-winning lyricist, Sammy Cahn

 

 

 

About Roger Lee Hall, CAMP Director

You can listen to the podcast about his music career from his songwriting in high school

to how he became an ASCAP songwriiter and composer and an American music preservationist and

Director of the Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP).


Click on any of these links to listen to the audio podcast with James Gardner of Your History/ Your Story:

Apple -- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-history-your-story/id1535889414?i=1000611257078

Spotify -- https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mS6z5JjFwUapMnp3jk5XJ?si=lYjF4XNiT7iHmZmD7qCF9w

YouTube -- https://youtu.be/aPlzapgMVkM

Support Your History/Your Story Podcast & become a patron! 

http://patreon.com/YourHistoryYourStoryPodcast

 

Mr. Hall's Recent Publications

 

"Free As The Breeze" -
A Songwriter's Joys and Sorrows (PineTree Press, 2025)

Listen to the discussion with James Gardner

speaking with Roger Hall about his early songwriting days and this new book on

YouTube

 

"Good Rockin' Tonight" -
Elvis Presley, Bill Randle and The Rise of a Music Legend
(PineTree Press, 2025)