Compiled by Matt Meyer (rhythmrevelations.com)
Primary Sources
The Reasonableness of Regular singing… by Thomas Symmes, 1720. Link here
The Accomplished Singer, by Cotton Mather. 1721 Link here
The Letter of Resignation from First Parish Cambridge, 1842. Link here
A History of Music in New England. With Biographical Sketches of Reformers and Psalmists. Christian Examiner and Religious Miscellany (1844-1857); Mar 1846 Link here
Congregational Singing, “of the spirit and the truth.” Western Christian Advocate. Dec 8, 1837 Link here
Congregational Singing, Christian Inquirer. Nov 8, 1851 Link here
Congregational Singing: On Singing in Public Worship. Christian Advocate and Journal. Oct 13, 1847. Link here
Congregational Singing: Deacon Goodman Again. Christian Inquirer. Mar 3, 1849; Link here
Doctrines and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. 1817 Link here
“The Bay Psalm Book” [The whole booke of Psalmes faithfully translated into English metre.] 1640 Link here
The diary of William Bentley, D.D., pastor of the East Church, Salem, Massachusetts. 1803-1810 Link here
Selections from the Archives of First Parish Cambridge, Mostly 1840s Link here
Selections from the Archives of the Hollis Street Church Link here
Journal Papers
“The Music of the Bay Psalm Book: An Analysis,” by Richard G. Appel. 1975
“The Lined-Hymn Tradition in Black Mississippi Churches,” by Ben E. Bailey. 1978 Link here
“Theoretical Introductions in American Tune-Books to 1800,” by Allen P. Britton. 1949 Link here
“The How and Why of Teaching Singing Schools in Eighteenth Century America,” Allen P. Britton. 1989. Link here
“African American Practice of Shape-Note Singing in the United States,” by Derrick Fox. 2015. Link here
“Camp Meeting Hymnody,” by Charles A. Johnson. 1952 Link here
“Shape-Note Tune Books and Primitive Hymns,” by Brett Sutton. 1982. Link here
“The Old Way of Singing: Its Origins and Development,” by Nicholas Temperley. 1981. Link here
Books
The New England Psalm-Singer (or the American Chorist), by William Billings (1770?) Link here
The Sacred Harp: A Tradition and Its Music, by Buell E. Cobb, Jr. 1978, 1989. Link here
American Unitarian Hymn Writers and Hymns, Compiled by Henry Wilder Foote. 1959. Link here
Memoirs of a New England Village Choir: With Occasional Reflections, by Samuel Gilman. 1829 Link here
A Pilgrimage in Song: Unitarian and Universalist Hymnody: A history of Universalist and Unitarian hymn writers, hymns, and hymn books. by Rev. David A Johnson. 2016.
Early New England Psalmody and American Folk Hymns in the Tune Books of Thomas Hastings, by David W. Music Link here
Singing Our History, by Eugene Navias. 1975. Available on this website, here.
Articles, Sermons, and Essays
“History in the Meeting House,” by Eleanor Billings. 1986 Link here
“Make Heaven’s Portals Ring,” by Gavin James Campbell. 1997 Link here
“Nonconformity?! A Sermon preached on the 371 Anniversary of The First Church in Boston,” by Leo Collins. 2001. Link here
“Encounters With Grace,” Sermon by Leo W. Collins. 2002. Link here
“Carolyn McDade’s Spirit of Life,” by Kimberly French. 2007. Link here
“Continental Harmonies: The Music of Williams Billings,” by Scotty Gray. 1969. Link here
“The Folk Element in Early Revival tunes and Hymns,” by Anne Gilchrest. 1928 Link here
“Shape note hymns in Singing the Living Tradition,” by Daniel Harper. 2005-2010. Link here
“The history of choral music: tracing the evolution of this ancient art form,” by Liza Jones. 2023. Link here
“The Evolution of American Choral Music: Roots, Trends, and Composers before the 20th Century,” by James McCray. 2011. Link here
“Eighteenth-Century Organs and Organ Building in New England,” by Barbara Owen Link here
“The Regular Singing Controversy,” by Linda R. Ruggles Link here
“Changing the Words: An Historical Introduction to Unitarian Universalist Hymnody,” by Jason Shelton Link here
“AUUMM Survey Project Final Report,” by Jason Shelton. 2019. Link here
“Pilgrim’s Pride: A Forgotten New England Bass Lutherie Tradition Reportedly Was Born of a Jackknife and a Couple of Wood locks,” by Erin Shrader Link here
“Smithsonian Folkways: Shape Note Singing Lesson” Link here
Websites
“Hymns of the Spirit: A website documenting the 1937 Hymnal” Link here
“Music Education Timeline,” by Sutori Link here
“Songbooks and Hymnals for Unitarian Universalist Congregations,”Unitarian Universalist Association. Link here
“Timeline of the Golden Age of Hymns,” Christian History Institute Link here
Timeline of First Church Boston Music Program Link here
Online Videos
Gaelic Psalm Singing Link here
“Race & Early Sound Hymn Lining – A Lost Art- 1920s Black Church,” by Bill Doggett Link here
“How to Line a Hymn with Emorja,” by Emorja Roberson Link here
“Amazing Grace / Lined-out Hymnody at Antioch Old Regular Baptist Church” Link here
“Thornton Old Regular Baptist Church: I’m Going Home (lining hymn)” 1983 Link here
