Early American Songbook

By A. Lansburg and Lee Vinson

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0132227789
• ISBN13: 9780132227780
• Release Date: January 1900
• Publisher: Pearson Ptr
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.5" x 11.1"

Customer Reviews

Very interesting!

Terrific historicals on songs both familiar and obscure! Sad it is out of print, but happy it was able to be found outside of a university library. A great addition to our personal teaching library.

A good resource for colonial music

I received this book as a gift--in 1974! (Unfortunately, I never saw the television series on which it was based.) This is a good resource for colonial music. I loved learning the songs, and over the years I've taught some of them to students. The book contains over 60 songs in three categories: (1) patriotic songs; (2) ballads and other popular songs; and (3) Psalm tunes, hymns, and singing-school songs. Each song has an introduction that includes its historical context. The foreward, by Irving Lowens, also gives a good overview of the role of music in early America. The music notation--for piano and voice (also with guitar chords)--is clear to read and not overly difficult to play. Among the more familiar pieces are the "Anacreontic Song" (source for the tune to "The Star-Spangled Banner"), William Billings' "Chester," and various parodies of "Yankee Doodle" and "God Save the Queen."