How Can I Keep From Singing: Episode 7

As might be expected, early American immigrant groups brought over their particular worship song and style from the religious movements from whence they came. Early New world efforts focused initially on Psalm Singing and then continued the rich legacy of the Watts and Wesley hymns. However, in the late 18th century, around the Revolutionary War era, an emphasis on music education and “singing schools” helped improve the quality of singing in worship.

Fostered by William Billings and others, early American hymnody offered a rich body of tunes in the shape-note tradition as well as eventually a standard American format developed by Lowell Mason in the mid-1800s. Many of these tunes in common use now first appeared in this era, such as:

NETTLETON (Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing),
NEW BRITAIN (Amazing Grace),
HOLY MANNA (Brethren, We Have Met to Worship),
FOUNDATION (How Firm a Foundation),
LAND OF REST (O Lord Who Throughout these Forty Days), and many more.

The shape-note hymns often contain a rhythmic rustic character, while Mason’s were designed to be more singer friendly in a style supported by organ playing.

Mason’s contributions included:
ANTIOCH (Joy to the World),
AZMON (O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing),
HAMBURG (When I Survey the Wondrous Cross), among others.