Civil War Hymns

[Vicksburg Dave]

Greetings,
I have been commissioned by Gale-Thompson to write an article on Civil War era hymnns. If you are aware of any really interesting primary sources on hymmns, their importance to soldiers and civilians, and any hymms (aside from "Hold the Fort") that were written as a result of the war, could you tell me about it?

Thanks!

[amity]

Re: Civil War Hymns

There are at least three distinct but overlapping hymn practices among white Protestants in the U.S. at the time of the civil war:

Here are page images of the 1860 Sacred Harp, which was a compendium of popular hymn tunes used in the South. This was not a book used in churches, but was singing school material:

http://digital.lib.msu.edu/collections/index.cfm?action=view&TitleID=610&Format=jpg

For a more northerly or midwestern impression, you can go with William Walker's Southern Harmony:

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/walker/harmony/files/harmony.html

This contains mostly his own justifiably famous compositions, some by other composers, and transcriptions of traditional hymns.

and here is another from 1848, with page images:

http://www.shapenote.net/berkley/HesperianHarp.htm

The SacredHarp.mus link at the bottom of my signature line has five different hymn books on it that were all published before the civil war and popular in their respective areas. I do not have page images here, but transcribed each piece, and these e-files can played using the free Melody Assitant plug-in:

http://www.shapenote.net/

Here is an earlier 1805 songbook by Jeremiah Ingalls that introduced many of the hymn tunes that became standards by the time of the civil war:

http://www.singingalls.org/TCH%201805%20Online.htm

Here is a website with MP3s of shapenote music, including even some in Choctaw:

http://www.pilgrimproduction.org/sacredharp1.html

This indigenous American style got its first start in mid- to late 18th century New England, and by mid-19th these collectively constitute the majority of the hymns in common use during the civil war region by region. In the south, this music is usually set in shapenotes, but in north round notes predominated ... if the notes were printed at all. Generally in these period hymns the melody is on the third staff down (or second staff if there are only three parts), and is called "tenor." (Don't ask. Big discussion.) But if you read the third line you will recognize many of these, I am sure. It is the dispersed (polyphonic) harmony parts that make these hymns "period," very different from modern harmonies. Most of these tunes can be matched to assorted Watts, Wesley, and Newton poetry by metre to good effect. They were not sung as "set pieces" but were mixed during the period, too. Local hymnals can sometimes give a general idea of which combos were favored in which regions, but most church hymnals did not print music. People went to singing schools to learn to sing the harmonies that were used, then applied that knowledge in church. In singing school, the notes would be sung through first in "fa so la" style, and then a couple of verses of the poetry, and then on to the next song. In church no notes would be sung (I have never heard of anyone singing the notes in church, at least) but you might easily sing all 18 verses of a hymn! These were the most popular hymns, sung in towns, cities and in rural areas, at camp meetings, carried West by pioneers, incl. Mormons who contributed their own hymns to this body of song, and carried around the world by early missionaries, translated into Polynesian and native American and many other languages, adopted by slaves, really widespread usage. They were generally sung unaccompanied in most places, but churches that had an organ or piano would simply adapt them. It is from this tradition that the later genre of gospel music got its start, but it is not very much in evidence during the civil war, although I can think of a few new songs that were starting to sound a bit "gospelly" by then.

There is also a whole separate tradition of church singing that is today generally called "lined out" that was commonly used in churches in the South and Midwest at least sometimes, and was the only form of singing used by many churches for doctrinal reasons. It is sometimes called "the old way" in period sources. It is very old indeed, going back to the Puritan singing tradition of the 16th-17th centuries, and was especially favored among baptists and Reformed churches of different stripes, esp. Presbyterian, for obvious historical reasons. It is always unaccompanied. In fact, this is the direct linear descendent of the Bay Psalme Booke singing style, called "metrical psalms," although by civil war days hymn texts were also often used among baptists, at least. It is impossible to write this stuff down, so there is no direct way to 'get at it' for reenactment purposes. It often uses the same or similar tunes to those in other hymn traditions, but is sung vvvveeeerrrryyyy slllloooooowwwwwly. Different sort of sound altogether. Each hymn is sort of "chanted" line by line by a leader prior to the congregation singing it. Here is a website featuring sound clips of the Gaelic version. This actually gives a very good idea of the American version, too. Seems to have changed very little over the course of 400 years and 5000 miles; if anything it is sung even slower in America. Be sure to read the historical notes on this website too:

http://www.gaelicpsalmsinging.com/

Click on the album cover pictures for MP3s.

If you like that, then by all means get the CD called "Songs of the Old Regular Baptists" documenting this style as it still survives in Kentucky, available on Smithsonian Folkways. Terrific extensive liner notes on American hymnody are included. Here is website for CD, and I see that there is now a second volume of this singing released. Sound clips are actually available on the website now:

http://www.folkways.si.edu/search/AlbumDetails.aspx?ID=2653

The caveat is that these tunes, being only aurally transmitted, have often died out, new favorites emerged, morphed, etc., so that even though the style is the real McCoy, the specific tunes as sung during a given decade are largely anybody's guess. The hymnbooks they were singing from are still in print and can be bought cheaply, and include Lloyd's Primitive Hymns, Goble's, and others. All are words-only books.
If you want to experiment with metrical psalmody, here is a good website, though there is no guarantee that any particular text or tune is valid for the U.S. civil war:

http://www.cgmusic.com/workshop/psametre_frame.htm

A third hymn tradition if you were from a refined, urbane, and musically "with it" congregation (probably northeastern) would be the sedate, modernized hymns of Lowell Mason. Some older classic hymns imported from England (usually Anglican in origin) also fit functionally into this category. These hymns are in keeping with the contemporary European trends, and versions can still be found in many old hymnals today. It is what most people (inaccurately) think of when they think of "old hymns." Very different sort of harmonies, especially, parallel harmonies in which the parts move in tandem a third apart, these tunes can usually be written on just two staves. I don't have a source for Mason, but I am sure there are some out there, possibly as near as the church down the block from you. This is the style that eventually had pretty much "won" the hymn culture war by the early-mid 20th century, but during the civil war the folk hymn/dispersed harmony, and lined out traditions were still going strong over most of the country, and the Lowell Mason style was still upstart. Usually accompanied by organ or piano and sung standing at certain prescribed parts of the liturgy, if you understand what I mean. Sort of a spiritual palate-clearer. Rather bland by comparison to the other two "types."

There are quite a few in these various sources that I have seen mentioned as SUNG by soldiers or civilians, but trying to think of what was "inspired by the war" the only songs that are coming to mind are Sharpsburg in the Sacred Harp, and then that hymn quoting Stonewall Jackson's famous "let us pass over the river ...and rest under the shade of the trees" last words. I can transcribe the poetry to that one and snail mail you a copy of the score if you are interested in it. Don't have a digital source for it. Obviously, anything that was written during the war would be post-war in application, since it would not have been published/popularized until later.

A few books to read might be:
A Portion for the Singers by Paul Drummond, which is written specifically about baptists, but also includes other singing in the south,
We'll Shout and Sing Hosanna edited by David Music, camp meeting songs.
Benjamin Lloyd's Hymn Book edited by Joyce Cauthen.
The Sacred Harp: A Tradition and Its Music by Buell E. Cobb, Jr.

One last note, some few ultra conservative churches did not sing at all in church, another attitudinal holdover from the Puritans.

Sorry this post turned into such a magnum opus. Hope I haven't scared anyone off the subject! I think hymns would be a great feature at authentic reenactments, and I am sorry more attention is not paid to this important part of mid-19th cent life.

[yankeecav]

Re: Civil War Hymns

Terre,

I couldn't agree with you more. Great information in your post. I have been trying to learn more music of the period but it seems more focus is placed on secular music of the time. I am glad to see that someone is giving some serious research to the religious music as well.

[Spinster]

Re: Civil War Hymns

Terre Schill has pretty well covered the breadth of the shape note tradition in its various permutations, which really do change quickly with location and time. I can only add that I have had the truely bizzare experience of singing 'shape note style' by the 'lining' method', in the context of a black funeral deep in the Alabama Wiregrass. The depth of time and tradition was so muddled in that context that I cannot begin to articulate the whole circumstance--but frame it in the context of an untimely death, and a funeral walk that included removing shoes and proceeding barefooted in a long singing procession.

In looking further for material, one source with several references is This Cruel War, The Civil War Letters of Grant and Malinda Taylor. ISBN 0-86554-654-1

[eric marten]

Re: Civil War Hymns

Terre:
I have been really enjoying your postings recently, and the new thread on hymns. My absolute favorite period hymn is "Nearer My God To Thee", by Lowell Mason (1856). Like many compositions, there are several versions, but the Mason one is my favorite. I believe it is loosely based on the 28th chapter of Genesis, concerning Jacob's return to his ancestral homeland. There is a nice period arrangement for Brass Band that is frequently performed at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.
Again, I've been learning a lot from your postings - thank you!
As far as Shape Note - I know very little about it, but I know there is an organization on Long Island trying to revive or keep that tradition going - The Long Island Traditional Music Association - and they have a website www.litma.org. I know some of the members get together for shape note singing.
. Maybe you, Tom, David or Mrs. Lawson might want to check that out.

[amity]

Re: Civil War Hymns

My absolute favorite period hymn is "Nearer My God To Thee", by Lowell Mason (1856).

City slicker!:D

As far as Shape Note - I know very little about it, but I know there is an organization on Long Island trying to revive or keep that tradition going - The Long Island Traditional Music Association - and they have a website www.litma.org.

Thanks, Eric! Actually, these people are probably already in the shapenote loop, if they want to be. There is a pretty big national network, with listservers and the whole 9 yards. I will check out the website, though, to make sure they know they are not the only ones.

This actually happened in Chicago. Someone in the music department at University of Chicago found a dusty old shapenote book, and the next time she had a departmental party she xeroxed copies of a few songs and suggested everyone give them a try. They loved it. A pretty large informal group developed that met every week to sing. Had no earthly idea about hollow squares, singing the notes, beating time, or any of the other shapenote customs, they even used a pitchpipe! :confused_ But they were smart enough to figure out that harmonically this music goes right back to Elizabethan English country music. They just sang and thought they were the only ones. This went on for YEARS before someone finally realized that there were thousands of other lifelong shapenote singers still holding 150 year old annual singing conventions across the country.

There was a family in rural south Georgia named Lee who had been singing out of the Sacred Harp (4 shape) for generations. 7 shape was common all over, and they knew that, but they thought it was only people in their own little neck of the woods who were still singing the old style four shapes. Well, finally after decades their books wore out and they decided to try to see if the publishing company might still be in business. They found out there had been three other editions that they didn't even know about, were welcomed into the larger community of singers, and now travel to singings all over. They had been isolated for enough generations to have developed their own customs, like "walking time" that no one else had ever seen before.

[Spinster]

Re: Civil War Hymns

Eric, down in that website is a link to one of the national sites for shape note

http://fasola.org/

You can learn this style of singing in many parts of the country by simply showing up and asking. Look to the section of 'minutes' to locate singings by state and location.

Anytime I'm traveling, I check for opportunities. Modern singing ability is actually a hinderance in this pursuit. Good Thing :D

[Vicksburg Dave]

Re: Civil War Hymns

Thank you for this great information. My task should be infinitely easier now.

Cordially,

[amity]

Re: Civil War Hymns

Thank you, Mrs. Lawson. It was very absent minded of me not to mention that info.

There is also an excellent week-long four-shape singing school subsidized by the State of Alabama Council of the Arts that is held either the week before or the week after July 4 every year, too. It is in a beautiful park-like retreat near Anniston, Ala. That would be a great thing to do, and it is quite cheap (I think about $200 for the week, including good food and decent lodging and free recreational activities.) Then immediately after the singing school there are several big traditional style conventions in a row to go to nearby, too.

Here is that website:

http://fasola.org/camp/

Mr. Slay, good luck with your article, and if there is any info you would like me to try to find let me know.

[eric marten]

Re: Civil War Hymns

I just remembered another hymn written during the war, that later became an American favorite - Shall We Gather At The River - by Rev. Robert Lowry, written and composed in Brooklyn in July 1864. Written so late in the war, it is not likely it became popular during the course of the war, but it may be worth your attention.

[GermanDraftee]

Re: Civil War Hymns

David,

If you are going to stick with English-speaking hymnody, you are well covered by the recommendations above. May I be so bold as to suggest that the German hymns of the era might be worthy of your consideration as well, especially since some of the hymn tunes are well used to this day. (e.g. Grosser Gott wir loben dich/ Holy God We Praise Thy Name, Nun danket alle Gott/Now Thank We All Our God, Lobe den Herren/Praise to the Lord, Stille Nacht/Silent Night, Est ist ein Ros' entsprungen/Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, etc.) I believe the English translations for several of these would have been available by the 1860s. Even without translations, they would represent hymns known by 400,000 or so soldiers who were either immigrants from the Germanic states or their sons. Throw in their families at home and a significant portion of the American population is represented.

Humbly suggested,

[Rev]

Re: Civil War Hymns

Another way you may be able to learn shape note singing is to find an older Church of Christ hymnal. They usually were written in shape notes on a staff. If you know the hymns you can learn the shapes by singing and 'watching' the shapes. I learned shape notes that way without even knowing it growing up in the Church of Christ. Osmosis, sort of, but it can work.

[amity]

Re: Civil War Hymns

People from CoC and some baptists are at a definite advantage, true! I am sure the songs sung in the Church of Christ probably vary from region to region, but around here they are generally gospel songs from 1920s to 50s with a very different style and sound. They are also written in a 7-shape system that would be unusual for 1860s, though it did already exist. But learning to sing shapes is a good period skill, even though the skill might need to be modified a little for reenactment purposes. So I think you have a good idea there.

I have known people to say that they had trouble learning to sing the shapes. I learned it in about an hour of steady singing, and most people do. It is like a little 4 letter alphabet really. Fa so la mi. Learning to associate intervals with those shapes/syllables took me a little longer! A few months, as I was a pretty slow study on that. The first fa of the scale is always on the tonic (la if a minor scale), so the intervals will always be the same between notes no matter what key the piece is in. That is why the key signature is irrelevant. They are pitched by ear by someone singing the triad, or the first notes of the first bar. When the singers are fresh it can be pitched a bit higher, as a lot of people like the sharp sound. As voices tire songs can be pitched lower, usually after lunch when the keyer hears people straining to hit the high notes, he/she will start to bring it down. If the last note of the bass part is a fa, everyone knows the piece is a major. If the last note is a la, it is minor. Very simple for people who do not read music. Believe it or not, that piece of knowledge and a couple of hours of practice are all you need to start singing. Even someone who thinks their singing ability is hopeless can do this.

[stannie1950]

Re: Civil War Hymns

Thank you for this post. It does seem that there is plenty of emphasis on secular music, but very little on religious. I have often wondered whether or not the hymns I sing at these events are period, even if there is no audience.

David Green

[nrandolph]

Re: Civil War Hymns

Folks,

I'd like to thank everyone who posted on this subject. I was so interested I spoke to the choral teacher in the school I work at and we had a discussion about, particularly, the shape note singing. I made her a copy of this thread so that she can do some possible work on this with her kids. Amazing amounts of really good info posted! Thanks a lot from an old band director!

Neil Randolph
1st WV