The Norumbega Harmony: Historic and Contemporary Hymn Tunes and Anthems from the New England Singing School Tradition (American Made Music Series)

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This is great! A new book of both newly-published old songs AND new songs in the same style! Anyone who sings from the Sacred Harp needs this book. If you buy only one shape-note book besides the Sacred Harp, this is the one!
There are multiple compositions by some of the "greats" - Billings, Belcher, Shumway, Ingalls, all the others. Jacob French's tunes are outstanding!
Some of the old songs are VERY moving - try Mechias or Crucifixion, for examples. And with 2 exceptions, the modern songs are great also. Albemarle and Ten Thousand Charms are my favorites. We sang these when the book first arrived, and we've sung them every time since!
I thought "Come thou fount" was embarrasingly inept and I don't know why it was included. Also the title tune, "Norumbega" was too scholastic and isn't singable in traditional style. But these are the only 2 clunkers in the book!