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AMERICAN MUSIC RECORDINGS ARCHIVE
[AMRA]Roger Lee Hall, Director
One of the earliest American Christmas carols,
music by Edward French, 1761-1845
Available on AMRA Nos. 4 and 14
This is a large private archive gathered over the past 50 years.
The American Music Recordings Archive [AMRA] is dedicated to providing American music of historical importance for musicians, researchers, teachers, students, and listeners.
AMRA 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 CDs currently available from the archive under the series:
American Music Recordings Collection (AMRC)
The Archive is especially strong in these areas:
- Earlier American Composers
- American Film Music
- American Shaker music
- Music from Early New England
- Vintage Popular Songs
These are a few sample radio specials in the AMRA archive:
Great American Songwriter Series:
Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, othersJazz On Screen - Movies and Television
Music in Old Boston
If you are looking for an American music program for your organization or your students at an educational institution, see the list of
The items listed below in the American Music Recordings Collection are representative of the AMRA holdings and are available for study or listening.
Please Read Carefully:
These CDs and DVDs are specially prepared as part of the series known as the American Music Recordings Collection (AMRC).
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 any of this music.
Write to:
American Music Recordings Collection
Listen to sample music clips at the
American Music Recordings Collection
(A series of specially produced CDRs)
The following AMRC numbers are part of the
"American History in Song" series:Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 17
AMRC Categories
New England Music: 1, 2, 4, 14, 15
Shaker Music: 9, 16
Classical Composers: 3, 5, 6,7, 8, 12, 13, 17
Film Music: 18, 19, 20
Popular Songs: 10, 11
Click on the links to go directly to each title...
1. Best of William Billings
2. Music by Dudley Buck, E. A. Jones, Charles Ives, George W. Chadwick
3. American Choral Sampler
4. New England Song Treasury: The Landing of The Pilgrims To World War I
5. Memorial Music for Charles T. Griffes, Samuel Barber, Randall Thompson6. Music by Oliver Shaw, Stepehn Foster and Charles Ives
7. A Conversation with Aaron Copland
8. An Interview with Virgil Thomson
9. Blended Together - Interviews with The Shakers
10. America in Song, Volume 1: The American Revolution To World War I
11. American in Song, Volume 2: : From The Civil War To The Cold War
12. "Lincoln and Liberty" - Music From Abraham Lincoln's Era [New Release]
13. "A Toast" - Music of George Washington's Time14. Christmas Music From New England
15. New England Choral Sampler: From The Pilgrims To Peace [New Release]
16. Gentle Words - A Shaker Music Sampler [New Release]
17. Songs by Francs Hopkinson [New Release]
18. Bernard Herrmann on Radio
19. Henry Mancini On Radio
Remembering Radio: Great Songwriters and Singers
A Guide to Film Music: Songs and Scores
A Guide to George Gershwin
A Guide to Shaker Music - With Music Supplement
New England Songster
To order any of the above titles, go to the
Musical Threads
Are you interested in how music from the United States has been stitched together from many different stylistic threads over the past two centuries?
You can help keep it "stitched together" by joining this new Internet group:
Society For Earlier American Music [or SEAM]
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:
Society For Earlier American Music [SEAM]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 about 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 sort of 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 Palm Sunday, March 30, 1980 by two combined church choirs in North Easton, Massachusetts, accompanied by Kathy Sergent on harpsichord and the Easton String Quartet, all under the direction of Roger Hall.
Also included on the CD is a portion of a lecture about William Billings at Old South Meeting House as part of the Jubilee 350 celebration for the City of Boston, Massachusetts in 1980.To order a copy of this special non-commercial CD, write to:
For background on Billings, see 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.
I. Dudley Buck (1839-1909)
1. Festival Hymn -- composed for the World's Peace Jubilee in Boston in 1872.
2. Centennial Meditation of Columbia -- a cantata for United States Centennial in 1876, with a poem by Sidney Lanier - piano-vocal score, complete performance.
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) -- piano-vcoal complete performanceSee also New England Composer Series No. 2
To order this CD, see the Society For Earlier American Music [SEAM]
24 tracks (Total Time = 66:28)
A selection of American choral music from the 1770s to the 1980s.
For track titles, see Society For Earlier American Music [SEAM]
New England Song Treasury -- The Landing Of The Pilgrims To World War I
30 tracks (Total Time = 70:32)
Music from the singing of the Pilgrims to the World War I era, with music by William Billings, Daniel Read, Jeremiah Ingalls, Edward French, George Chadwick, Roger Hall and other composers.
For track titles, see
Society For Earlier American Music [SEAM]
A DVD is also available, titled: A New England Music Miscellany.
For more information click this link:
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) -- Cantata for SATB chorus and piano in seven movements -- composed for the 350th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, VirginiaFarewell (1973) -- for SATB chorus
[NEW RELEASE]
Music by Oliver Shaw, Stephen Foster and Charles Ives
12 tracks (Total Time = 40:58)
1. Stoughton Waltz (1839) - Oliver Shaw
2. Conductor Earl Eyrich discusses Stephen Foster's Civil War era hymns
3. The Pure, The Bright, The Beautiful (1863) - Stephenn Foster
4. Over The River (1863) - Stephen Foster
5. He Leadeth Me (1863) - Stephen Foster
6. Give Us This Day (1863) - Stephen Foster
7. What Shall The Harvest Be? (1863) - Stephen Foster
8. Choral Harp (1863) - Stephen Foster
9. Don't Be Idle (1863) - Stephen Foster
10. Earl Eyrich discusses early choral music of Charles Ives
11. Crossing The Bar (ca. 1891) - Charles Ives
12. Easter Carol (1892) - Charles Ives
A DVD+R is available of with two cable television programs in the series,
IN CONCERT:1. Music by Stephen Foster -- about the popular songs of Stephen Foster and also first performances of his rarely heard Civil War era hymns.
2. 200 Years of Music in Stoughton -- an exhibit and concert from the 200th anniversary of the Old Stoughton Musical Society, the oldest choral society in the United States, founded in 1786.
For information how to order the DVD-R:
In Concert -- Music From Old Stoughton
write to:
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, his film scores for OF MICE AND MEN and OUR TOWN, and his admiration for Leonard Bernstein, Natalie Boulanger, and Serge Koussevitsy.
A portion of this Copland interview is included in the eBook:
A Guide to Film Music - Songs and Scores
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.
32 tracks (Total Time= 74:21)
I. The American Revolution (6 tracks)
II. New England Singing Masters (5 tracks)
III. The Constitution and Federalism (5 tracks)
IV. War of 1812 (2 tracks)
V. Westward Expansion (3 tracks)
VI. Shaker Spirituals (4 tracks)
VII. Sacred Choruses (3 tracks)
VIII. Temperance Hymn (1 track)
IX. Songs of the 1890s (2 tracks)X. World War I (1 track)
[NEW RELEASE]
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.
32 tracks (Total Time= 74:48)
I. The Civil War Era (6 tracks)
II. The Sentimental Age (3 tracks)
III. The 1890s (5 tracks)
IV. Rise of Tin Pany Alley (3 tracks)
V. The Roaring Twenties (2 tracks)
VI. The Great Depression (2 tracks)VII. World War II (5 tracks)
VIII. Post War Pop (3 tracks)
IX. Rock n' Roll Revolution (2 tracks)
X. Cold War Romance (1 track)
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.
Julia Ward Howe
This CD-R includes original versions of
"John Brown" (aka: John Brown's Body)
and
"Battle Hymn of the Republic"For a complete list of music tracks and
information about the accompanying Listener's Guide,
go toTo order this CD-R, go to the
"A Toast"-- Music of George Washington's Time
Original and arranged music from the age 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.
+ = edited and arranged by William Arms Fisher, The Music That Washington Knew (1931)
+= = edited and arranged by Roger Lee Hall
1. +The Liberty Song -- words: John Dickinson, 1768
2. +Father and I Went Down to Camp --
tune: Yankee Doodle/ words: Edward Bangs, 1776
3. +Chester -- words & music by William Billings, 1778
4. +Welcome, Mighty Chief, Once More -- 1789
5. A Toast -- Francis Hopkinson, 1778
6. Beneath a Weeping Willow's Shade -- Francis Hopkinson, 1788
7. +My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free -- Francis Hopkinson, 1759
8. +Norah, Dear Norah -- William Shields, 1783
(Washington's favorite opera)
9. +The Way-Worn Traveler -- Samuel Arnold, 1793
10. 1982 Concert Address (excerpt)
11. Tenor Recit. & Chorus from THE CREATION
(Franz Joseph Haydn, 1798)
12. ++Thanksgiving Hymn -- music: William Billings, 1778
13. ++Ode to the President of the United States --
words: Samuel Low, 1789
14. Victory -- Daniel Read -- Daniel Read, 1793
15. New Jerusalem -- Jeremiah Ingalls, 1796
16. The Dove -- Samuel Capen, 1805
17. New Bethlehem -- Edward French, 1799
18. Mount Vernon -- Oliver Holden, 1803
19. Dedication -- words: William Billings, 1794/music: Roger Hall, 1977
20. The Grand Constitution (from a play about the years 1787 and 1788)
21. The Federal March (excerpt) -- Alexander Reinagle, 1788
22. ++Yankee Song -- tune: Yankee Doodle, 1788
23. ++The Grand Constitution (dialogue from the one act play)
24. ++Ode for the President of the United States --
tune: God Save the King
To order the CD-R, go the
A DVD+R (Now and Then: Music from Stoughton) is available with music from
George Washington's era.
For more details, see the videotape section at
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
[NEW RELEASE]
New England Choral Sampler: From The Pilgrims To Peace
30 tracks (Total Time = 72:49)
Psams, hymns, ballads, patriotic songs, religious music, classical choral works from the time of the Pilgrims in the 17th century to music festivals in the 20th century.
For complete track titles, go to:
New England Choral Sampler [NECS]
A DVD is also available, titled: A New England Music Miscellany.
For more information click this link:
[NEW RELEASE]
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
[NEW RELEASE]
In honor of the 250th Anniversary
of
America's first secular song (1759)
AMRC No. 17: Songs by Francis Hopkinson
This CD sponsored 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 at a special discount price, go to the
22 tracks (Total Time = 74:28)
Featuring three radio programs paying tribute to one of the greatest film composers from the past, with guest Roger Hall:
(1) a birthday tribute from 1990
(2) a 50th anniversary tribute to CITIZEN KANE in 1991
(3) a tribute to his 1941 Oscar-winning score, ALL THAT MONEY CAN BUY (aka: THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER).
See also this article:
Bernard Herrmann: The Early Years
15 tracks (Total Playing Time = 67:11)
AMRC 19: "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.
22 tracks (Total Time = 78:59)
Music by film composer John Williams featured on radio, including a birthday tribute by Roger Hall on WGBH radio, and several Sammy Awards.
Also included are selections from "A Night at the Movies" with music by Alfred Newman, Max Steiner, Franz Waxman and John Williams. This concert was presented at Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. During intermission of this concert there is a lengthy interview with John Williams.
George Gershwin
These publications also include accompanying music:
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The revised 4th edition of A Guide to Film Music (2009) is available on DVD and contains corrections to the previous editions and other updates, including The Sammy Awards. Also, bonus features of audio and video files. There are copies of letters from three film composers: Elmer Bernstein, Randy Newman, John Williams; and autographs for these composers and songwriters: George Gershwin, Bernard Herrmann,Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer, Alex North, Miklos Rozsa, Max Steiner, Dimitri Tiomkin and others.
To read more about this collection, click on this link to:
Film Composers and Soundtracks
Also these music guides:A Guide to George Gershwin (2nd edition)
A Guide to Shaker Music -- with Music Supplement (6th edition)
New England Songster
Remembering Radio: Great Songwriters and Singers (2nd edition)
If you have any questions, write to:
To order the CD-R's or Resource Publications go to the
Essential American Recordings Survey
(1759 - 1959)A list of recommended recordings
from the archive of the
AMERICAN MUSIC RECORDINGS COLLECTION
To read the survey in four sections,
click on this link to
American Music Preservation Links
A Century of American Songs, Part One (1759-1859)
A Century of American Songs, Part Two (1861-1961)
New England Music Archive [NEMA]
Society for Earlier American Music [SEAM]
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
Leroy Anderson
Hall of Fame
This annual event is sponsored by The Tune Lovers Society.
Each year there are ten American composers and songwriters
added to the Tunemaker Hall of Fame.To read the names listed for each year, click on this link:
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