The Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP) was established to help preserve historical American music
from
the past
by providing information about it so it will survive into the future. It has been a web resource since 1998.
Though it does not provide information in all areas of American music, it remains an extensive resource.
Refer to the five main areas listed at the top right of this page.
Attention Musicians, Teachers and Researchers!
The information and recordings available from the CAMP can be of use to you in your performance, teaching or for your research when writing a book or article.
If you have an area of interest and wish to inquire if music or recordings are available, write to the CAMP -- click here
The CAMP needs your support
The Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP) is an agency which has received no outside government or corporate funding.
It is in need of support for it to continue as an free informational website.
You can help support the CAMP by ordering this highly-rated CD.
It features piano music from American composers played by Margaret Ulmer plus a few vocal selections sung by Eric Sosman,
including a rare recording of the poignant hymn sung at President Abraham Lincoln's funeral in 1865,
"Farewell Father, Friend and Guardian" --
To read how to order this AMRC CD -- go here
50th Anniversary of a Meeting
"Tis the gift to be simple" - Aaron Copland Meets The Shakers In Shaker Heights
Learn about the only meeting between composer, Aaron Copland, and several members of the United Society of Shakers.
They discussed
Copland's settings of the Shaker song, "Tis the gift to be simple" (aka: "Simple Gifts") in
his ballet score, Appalachian Spring, and also his vocal setting in Old American Songs.
The meeting took place on November 9, 1974 in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Read about this meeting -- go here
Read the research article about the Shaker song in
"Simple Gifts":
The Discovery and Popularity of a Shaker Dance Song
by Roger Lee Hall
CAMP Director
Music Webinars
A Shaker Music Miscellany
Singing School in Old Stoughton
Beethoven in Early Boston
Peace Jubilees in 19th Century Boston
American Music Guide Series - 4 titles
American Music Research Series (AMRS) - 6 titles
American Popular Music Series (APMS) - 2 titles
Director
Roger Lee Hall is a musicologist and American Music Preservationist (AMP),
who has researched and written about American music for over 50 years.
For his extensive work in American music preservation, he has been listed in directories
including International Who's Who in Music, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in the World -- click here
See the list of his 60 titles in the PineTree Multimedia Editions series -- click here
He is also an ASCAP composer with over 100 works.
See his compositions published exclusively by PineTree Music -- click here
In addition, for the past 25 years, he has been Managing Editor of Film Music Review
See the list of his numerous music lectures and workshops -- go here
He is also a film music critic and has written a book on the subject, now in its 9th edition --
Music Webinars
"Otto Kahn: A Personal Connection with the Gilded Age Music Patron"
Otto Hermann Kahn (1867-1934) was one of America's wealthiest citizens in the early 20th century and his beautiful Oheka Castle was the second largest private residence in America and is now the largest private residence which has been restored after being almost completerly destroyed by vandals.
Otto Kahn spent considerable time and money in support of music and other arts. He was a major supporter of the Metropolitan Opera in New York in its early years
and brought major opera
people from Europe, especially the famous Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso.
Kahn also helped support many musicians and actors on Broadway, including composer, George Gershwin, and actor, Paul Robeson.
This virtual program
is sponsored by the NY Adventure Club and has been presented several times by Roger Lee Hall, who
celebrated
when he was a resident in Oheka Castle as a cadet in Eastern Military Academy and first sang in the glee club there in 1954 while in the sixth grade.
Also when he later sang a few Gershwin songs at the Friends of Oheka Garden Party in 2004.
Over the years he has researched the life of the Kahn family including Roger Wolfe Kahn, who had his own jazz orchestra in his youth.
These are some of the comments made by those who watched this webinar in the past few years:
"Roger Hall’s personal experience with Oheka Castle and all the history he imparted marvelous and so enlightening! Thank you for the opportunity to watch this webinar!" - Kathryn
"Lots of great pictures. Very interesting. Cute touch. And loved the music. It got my feet tapping." -Connie
"Hall is passionate and personal! Wonderful lecture! Thank you! -Mary
"Very good material and clear explanation. Most interesting" -Robert
"Having grown up less than a mile from Oheka, I still learned things from this event." -Ellen
"Roger Hall was extremely knowledgeable about Otto Kahn and the arts scene in the early 20th century. The pictures and music in his presentation made the webinar come alive." -Marsha
"Learning new things about History of famous New Yorkers and beautiful places!" -Alba
"I liked the photos of Kahn's homes, back story knowledge." -Elizabeth
"Very thorough and learned a lot more than I already knew about Otto Khan." -Jessica
"Very informative. Lots of visual aids. Host really knew the subject matter." -Nancy
"Great usage of media, video, pictures. Loved the personal connection of speaker to Oheka." -Jen
"I loved the presenter's personal connection to one of the properties." -Kerri
"I liked the details about Otto Kahn and his family plus the various homes Kahn owned." -Joanna
"The presenter was excellent and knew his facts. The webinar was quite broad in detail such as music facts, the life of Otto Kahn as well as his son and then
Oheka castle itself." -Susan
"I liked the addition of the music and the lecturer's experiences at the military academy." -Ann
Order this pdf book now available for a low price!
Read about Kahn's beautiful Oheka Castle and Roger Hall's residence there when it was a military academy -- go here
"The Music of NYC Film Noir: Legacy of a Hollywood Genre in Gotham"
- The origins behind "film noir" and what characteristics define the moody genre.
- An overview of major film noirs that take place in New York during the 1940s and 1950s.
- The importance of a film score to heighten the emotional elements of the story in a film noir, from various composers,
including Miklos Rozsa ("The Lost Weekend", 1945) and Bernard Herrmann ("The Wrong Man", 1956)
- Images of New York City streets and indoor locations used as backdrops in film noirs.
To read about this webinar presented on November 1, 2024 (while available) -- click here
These are some of the comments made by those who watched this NY Adventure Club webinar in the past few years:
"Interesting to learn what was shared about the defining elements of Noir (and the better translation of the term), highlights in its history, and the like." - Robert
"The presenter was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the subject matter. Thank you, NYAC, for yet another fascinating and informative webinar!" - Harold
"Well organized and interesting. Very knowledgeable presenter." - Ronald
"Including the music, and the composer, as part of the experience-- first time I've seen that. Bravo." - Marsha
"Knowledgeable and passionate speaker." - Mary
Roger Hall was the guest on the "Your History Your Story" podcast
speaking with James Gardner.
Click on any of these links to listen to this free audio program: "Making American Music Come Alive Again"
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 YHYS Podcast & become a patron!
http://patreon.com/YourHistoryYourStoryPodcast
Gentle Peace: Songs For Survival (PineTree Press)
Read about the other volumes in his series -- Memories And Music
New publication celebrating music of the American Shakers
This years marks the 250th anniversary of when Mother Ann Lee and a few other Shakers first arrived in America after a long and dangerous sea voyage from England. They landed in New York City on August 6, 1774. That date was celebrated by the Shakers over their centuries of music-making in America.
Though they may be best known today for their beautiful and simple furniture and other artifacts, their music was far more important to them.
From the 18th to 20th centuries, they composed thousands of anthems, hymns and songs, more than any communal sect in America.
Almost all of their music was vocal. Their first tunes were wordless and later they added texts and also wrote music in three and four-part harmony.
Beause they are often lively and inspirationally received from those who had passed on, their music is best classified as "Shaker spirituals."
Some of the earliest religious vocal music composed by women in America was by the Shakers,
including their most revered spiritual leader, Mother Ann Lee (1736-1784).
"On the Landing of Mother Ann in America" is one of the hymns in this new collection, the 20th one in the Shaker Music Series.
Also on this DVD-ROM is information about their best-known song, "Simple Gifts" (aka: Tis the gift to be simple),
including interviews with Shaker singers and composer, Aaron Copland.
To read about this new collection -- go here
Here is the highly rated recording
featuring some of the earliest religious music written by women in America,
including by their most important spiritual leader, Mother Ann Lee (1736-1784):
© AMRC CD 0048
200th anniversary of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9
Beethoven in Early Boston
His 9th Symphony was premiered in Vienna, Austria in 1824
and in Boston, Massachusetts in 1853.
See the First Performances of his music in Boston -- click here
Peace Jubilees in 19th Century Boston organized by Patrick S. Gilmore
Your support is needed to help support the Center for American Music Preservation.
Please consider ordering any of these limited edition CDs with American classical, folk
or pop music:
Classical music
AMERICAN PLACES - Musical Travels
Folk spirituals
CELESTIAL PRAISES - A Celebration of Shaker Spirituals
Popular songs
"It's Magic" - One Hundredth Birthday Celebration of Sammy Cahn
Each limited edition CD is $25.00 (USA only).
For any countries outside of the USA,
click the "Quantity" button on PayPal TWO TIMES ($50.00).
Shipping is included at no extra charge.
Your order is payable to PineTree Productions through safe and secure PayPal.
Click on this "Add to Cart" button...
Important!
After you have placed your order,
please indicate which CD(s) you have ordered
and
include your mailing address for proper shipping.
Send your information to:
AMRC CDs
Thank you!
Singing in Old Stoughton
2024 also marks the 250th anniversary of the First Singing School in America with all the pupils listed.
It was taught in 1774 by Boston composer, William Billings (1746-1800). The black & white picture shows the house which was originally the tavern of Robert Capen built in 1747. It was here where the Billings singing school was held. That house was later moved and extensively remodeled and it still stands near Stoughton Center.
Billings was the best known New England composer in 18th century America. His Stoughton singing school had 49 pupils, consisting of young males and females. One of his singing school pupils later became a choral composer, Jacob French (1754-1817).
In that singing school, Billings also met his future wife, Lucy Swan, and they lived in Boston.
Did you know the oldest choral society began in 1786 before the U.S. Constitution was approved?
Read about the singing meetings and concerts by this Massachusetts choral society
in
-- "Dedication - Singing in Stoughton"
Read about William Billings - Father of American Choral Music
American Music Guide Series = 4 titles
No. 1 - A Guide to Film Music: Songs and Scores
No. 2 - "Celebrate, Rejoice and Sing!" - A Guide to Christmas Music in America
No. 3 - A Guide to George Gershwin - Radio and Films
No. 4 - "Invitation to Zion" - A Guide to Shaker Music
American Music Research Series (AMRS) = 6 titles
No. 1: "A Toast" - Music of George Washington's Time
No. 2: "Angel of Peace" - Music in Old Boston
No. 3: "Gentle Words": The Meaning and Message of Shaker Music
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,
No. 4: "Glory, Hallelujah" - Songs and Hymns of the Civil War Era
No. 5: "Lincoln and Liberty" - Music From Abraham Lincoln's Time
No. 6: "LAND OF OUR HEARTS": From Pilgrims To Patriots
American Popular Music Series (APMS) = 2 titles
No. 1: Bill Randle and Electric Elvis
A program was presented by Roger Lee Hall in September 2023, co-sponsored by The
Shaker Historical Society and Shaker Heights Public Library,
celebrating the centennial of the birth
of popular Cleveland disc jockey,
Bill Randle (1923-2004).
He was the teaching assistant of Bill Randle in the 1970s. At that time he told Roger about a movie short which featured the first
professional footage of Elvis Presley when he was performing in Cleveland in 1955.
Dr. Randle also produced a large 10 LP album set, "The Shaker Heritage,"
which had recorded information about Shaker history, religion, poetry, music and other topics.
This LP collection was never released commercially.
Many years later, Roger Hall edited the
music portion of that LP set and wrote extensive notes for a 72 page illustrated booklet that accompanies the 2-CD which received rave reviews and was
titled:
To watch the 90 minute Zoom program, "Bill Randle in Cleveland: From Electric Elvis to The Shakers" with audio and video clips on YouTube -- click here
This program was based on the book now available in an illustrated 2nd edition:
To read about this PDF book -- click here
One of the longest-running web resources for facts about
the early career of Elvis Presley
-- click here
No. 2: Popular Songwriters and The American Songbook
Popular American Songwriters and Lyricists
A valuable series of American music
Composers shown above:
Supply Belcher, Stephen Foster. E.A. Jones, Amy Beach
Earlier American Composers:
Survey In Sound, 1759-1919
4 volumes with music examples
by 16 American composers,
including chamber music and choral music,
all together on
one multimedia CD-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 Center for American Music Preservation.
These names from the past century have been added to the CAMP Honor Roll for their music activities:
Sister Ruth Mildred Barker
Gregory Erickson
Earl Eyrich
Randy Folger
John D. Herr
David P. McKay
Sister Bertha Lillian Phelps
George Walker