More than 25 years online for the CAMP!

Helping to make American music come alive again!

 

The Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP) was established in 1998 to help preserve historical American music
from the past so it will survive into the future.

The focus is on American vocal music (classical, folk, popular) from the 18th century to the 20th century.
Some instrumental music is also included.

Are you a musician, music teacher or someone interested in American music?

Your support is needed to help keep this educational website available.

Please consider ordering the limited edition CD, AMERICAN PLACES - Musical Travels below with over one hour of enjoyable piano music.

If you are unable to offer any finacnial support, please mention this website in your performance, research, publication, or teaching.

Here are the major topics listed in order of the most online visits:

No. 1: FOLK MUSIC - Music of the American Shakers - Resources and Recordings

No. 2: CLASSICAL MUSIC - American Composers: From The Colonial Era To Our Time

No. 3: CHORAL MUSIC: Singing Stoughton - home of America's Oldest Choral Society, founded in 1786

No. 4: POPULAR MUSIC - Popular Songs, 1860s-1960s

No. 5: RECORDED MUSIC - American Music Recordings Archive (AMRA)

 

 

Music Collection of the Month

See also these related pages:

"Hail to the Joyous Day - Christmas Music in America

"Joy to the World" - Early American Christmas Carol

"New Bethelhem" - Christmas Music in New Eng;and

 

-- Roger Lee Hall, CAMP Director

He is a respected musicologist and music preservationist,
who has researched and written about American music for over 50 years.

To see the list of his 60 multimedia publications -- click here

He is also an ASCAP composer and a member of The American Composers Forum.

See his compositions published exclusively by PineTree Music -- click here

For his extensive work in various areas of American music, he has been listed in
major directories including International Who's Who in Music , Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World.

Read about Roger Hall's latest book in his Memories and Music series--

"Gentle Peace" - Songs For Survival -- click here

You can listen to how his music career developed from high school songwriting,
to how he later became an American Music Preservationist (or AMP) and
was Director of the Center for American Music Preservation.

Click on any of these links to listen to the audio podcast
and consider supporting the worthwhile Your History/Your Story:

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 Your History/Your Story Podcast & become a patron! 

http://patreon.com/YourHistoryYourStoryPodcast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAMP Links

Music by the American Shakers

Early American Singing School

Earlier American Composers - Survey in Sound

American Composers Special Collection (ACSC)

American Music Guide Series (AMGS)

American Recorded Choral Archive (ARCA)

CAMP Honor Roll

CAMP Donation CDs

Sample AMRC CD Releases

CAMP Research Topics

Resource Links

Recommended Websites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Music by the American Shakers

Roger Lee Hall is an authority on music of the American Shakers.

Since 1971, he has researched, written publications,
performed and recorded their music on a series of CDs.

To read about his Shaker music collections -- click here

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Shakers,
who arrived in America after an over two month voyage from England on August 6, 1774.

For over two centuries they composed thousands of anthems, hymns and songs, probably more than any communal sect in America.
Their first tunes were wordless and later they added texts and also music in three and four-part harmony.

Their earliest existing songs in America are from the 1780s and their last song was composed in 1959.

Some of the earliest religious music composed by women in America was by the Shakers,
including their most revered spiritual leader, Mother Ann Lee (1736-1784).
One of her early songs is on this new collection.

Also in this collection are audio interviews with Shaker singers and composer, Aaron Copland (1900-1990),
about his arrangements of the popular Shaker song, "Simple Gifts" (Tis the gift to be simple).

The DVD-ROM or USB is titled:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read about the only meeting between composer, Aaron Copland, and several Shakers who were visiting in Ohio.

The meeting took place on November 9, 1974 in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

A special Zoom program was presented on November 7, 2024 by Shaker music preservationist, Roger Lee Hall,
about his introducing Aaron Copland to several Maine Shakers in 1974. This was their only meeting.

The program was sponsored by the Shaker Historical Society and Shaker Heights Public Library and was titled:

"Tis the gift to be simple" - Aaron Copland Meets The Shakers in Shaker Heights

To see the 90 minute program on YouTube (without the audio examples) --https://youtu.be/rcpVRysB328

The audio examples are listed here

 

Read the article about
the Shaker song here...

 

 

Research article:

"Simple Gifts": The Discovery and Popularity of a Shaker Dance Song
by Roger Lee Hall

 

 

 

 

2024 is the 250th anniversary of the First Singing School in America where all the pupils were listed.

It was taught in 1774 by Boston composer, William Billings (1746-1800). The photo is from the early 1900s and shows the Robert Capen's house where the Billings singing school was held. The house was later moved and remodeled but 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 composer himself, Jacob French (1754-1817).

In that singing school, Billings also met his future wife, Lucy Swan, and they lived in Boston where they had many children.

 

 

 

For more about William Billings, his large family, and the singing tradition in Stoughton,
see this multimedia publication from PineTree Press:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are seeking an institution interested
in adding the entire AMRC audio collection
and PineTree Multimedia Editions
to their library on DVD-ROMs or Flash Drives
for educational use and for research.

For the list of music titles,
see the American Music Recordings Collection (AMRC) -- click here

For the list in titles
in the PineTree Multimedia Editions (PTME) -- click here

To write to the CAMP about your educational institution
obtaining this extensive collection of audio and research material
available for a one time preparation charge -- click here

 

Featured Publication:

Read about Shaker music in this new edition with 25 texts of Shaker spirituals, an interview with Aaron Copland, and a Shaker Song Quartet in this book.

There is also an CD available with all 25 tunes. To read about the book and CD for a special price -- go here

 

See a list of Roger Hall's Shaker music collections -- click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your support of the Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP) is needed
so it can continue providing valuable music research and publications,
for historians, musicians, teachers, students and people interested in American music history.

To help support the CAMP, order this CD:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latest publications available on multimedia computer discs
with historical information, sheet music, audio and video files:

 

Angel of Peace: Music in Old Boston

 

Book and CD:

 

Accompanying CD:

 

 

 

 

In commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Landing of the Pilgrims,
a collection highlighting singing in earlier America:

"Land of Our Hearts" - From Pilgrims to Patriots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A valuable series of music
for teaching, research or just for listening!

 

 

Earlier American Composers:
Survey In Sound, 1759-1919

4 volumes with music examples
from 16 American composers,
including chamber music and choral music,
all together on one multimedia DVD-ROM.

Read about this extensive audio collection -- click here

 

New Multimedia Series!

American Composers Special Collection (ACSC)

Each disc highlights one American composer and one of their major works..

These are the three releases:

20th century: Aaron Copland

© Photo by PineTree Productions

ACSC-1: Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
Film Music and "Appalachian Spring"
compiled and edited by Roger Lee Hall

19th century: Edwin Arthur Jones



© Photo by PineTree Productions


ACSC-2: Edwin Arthur Jones (1853-1911)
Chamber Music and "Song of Our Saviour"
compiled and edited by Roger Lee Hall

18th century: William Billings

ACRC-3: William Billings, 1746-1800
Choral Music and "Anthem for Thanksgiving"
by Roger Lee Hall

The disc includes a book with detailed Billings family genealogy and Facts and Fiction about Billings and The Stoughton Musical Society,
now the oldest singing society in America, organized in 1786. For more information about this disc -- click here

To inquire how to reeceive one or more of these three discs with research articles and audio examples -- click here

 

 

 

 

American Music Guide Series:

 

 

No. 1 - "As Time Goes By" - A Guide to Film Music: Songs and Scores

No. 2 - "Celebrate, Rejoice and Sing!" - A Guide to Christmas Music in America

No. 3 - "I Got Rhythm" - A Guide to George Gershwin - Radio and Films

No. 4 - "In The Mood" - A Guide to Music on Radio

No. 5 - "Invitation to Zion" - A Guide to Shaker Music

No. 6 - "Dedication" - A Guide to Singing in Stoughton, 1762-1992

 

 

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 have been added to the CAMP Honor Roll for their service to music:

 

Sister Ruth Mildred Barker

Gregory Erickson

Earl Eyrich

Randy Folger

John D. Herr

David P. McKay

Sister Bertha Lillian Phelps

George Walker

 

You can help support the CAMP by making a donation by credit card for $25 or more and
adding a name to this Honor Roll.

To make your donation see below on this page

 

 

Your support is needed to help support American music preservation.

For your donation you can receive one of these CDs:

 

 

CELESTIAL PRAISES - A Celebration of Shaker Spirituals

 

 

"It's Magic" - One Hundredth Birthday Celebration of Sammy Cahn

 

 

 

MY SHAKER HOME - Words and Music by Shaker Sisters

For a donation of $20/ $25 (all countries outside of USA) you can choose one of the CDs listed above.

Shipping is included at no extra charge with your donation.

Any additional donations would be welcome and most appreciated.

 

 

Click on this button for all Donations...

After you have made your donation,
please indicate which CD(s) or name you wish to honor
and include your mailing address for proper shipping of CD(s).

Send your information to:

Donations

Thank you!

 

 

 

Here are ten of the many available AMRC CD releases:

AMRC 0001: MAJESTY: Best of William Billings

 

 

AMRC 0005: A Conversation with Aaron Copland

 

 

 

AMRC 0013: "Swanee" -
A Century of American Song, 1819-1919

 

 

AMRC 0018: Oscar Meets Sammy:
Film Music On Radio

 

 

 

 

AMRC 0021: John Williams Radio Tributes

 

 

World Premiere Recording!

AMRC 0029: Song of Our Saviour, Op. 16 (1881)
A Cantata by Edwin Arthur Jones
for Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra and Organ

 

 

 

AMRC 0033: Simple Gifts -
A Shaker Song Revisited

 

 

 

Premiere Recordings!

Five American Women Composers (AMRC CD 0040)

 

 

 

AMRC 0041: "CHESTER" -
Music in Old New England, 1778-1878
(radio documentary)

AMRC 0045: "The Star-Spangled Banner" -
Early Songs of Protest and Patirotism

 

 

 

 

See the complete list of
AMRC CDs -- click here

 

 

 

Research Topics

 

18th century

Read about the first known American art song in 1759 by Francis Hopkinson--
click here

 

 

William Billings - Father of American Choral Music

 

 

Singing Stoughton - Music in Massachusetts

 

 

 

 

 

 

"A Toast" - Music of George Washington's Time

 

 

 

 

 

19th century

Read about "The Simplicity of Shaker Music" -
the oldest surviving communal sect in America,
with the largest number of original tunes and texts
click here

 

 

"Lincoln and Liberty" - Music From Abraham Lincoln's Time

 

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,

 

"Glory, Halllelujah" - Songs and Hymns of the Civil War Era

 

 

20th century

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Music by George W. Chadwick - click here

One of his choral works from 1918 is the title of this DVD-ROM with audio and video features:

"Land of Our Hearts" - From Pilgrims to Patriots

 

 

The Bill Randle Chronicles - click here

 

 

Film In Focus (1930s-1960s) - click here

 

 

Tribute to a popular Oscar-winning lyricist, Sammy Cahn