Sacred Song in America

Stephen A. Marini is Elisabeth Luce Moore Professor of Christian Studies and a professor of American religion and ethics at Wellesley College. He is the author of Radical Sects of Revolutionary New England.

"A unique and compelling contribution to American cultural history."--The Antioch Review "The breadth of Marini's study is staggering . . . Marini's solid contribution to the all-too-sparse number of works that recognize the rich contribution of American sacred music promises to spur a number of academic studies and thereby enrich the future of historiography and understanding of American culture."--Journal of Southern Religion "A deeply reflective text, layered with multiple literary and musical references. . . . an excellent text for the classroom. Marini is able to draw many strands of influence together as he explains each musical tradition with ease and clarity."--Journal of the NABPR "A wealth of information as well as readable, thought-provoking interpretations. . . . Marini has produced a volume of value for those interested in American religion and music as well as for specialists in cultural history."--Theology Today "We owe Marini deep thanks for this unusual study. He offers compelling insights into the nature of our public religion, what moves us, how secularity and sacrality intertwine. . . . Marini's book also helps church musicians to think carefully about their powerful role in religious communities and to understand their enormous responsibility in leading those communities in song."--Cross Accent "This book provides rich descriptions of many varieties of sacred music that have evolved in America over the last three hundred years."--Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly “This unusually fine and important book has no parallel. I know of no other book on American religious music with as wide a sweep. As a historian of American religion, and as a student and practitioner of sacred music, Marini is simply and utterly unique.”--Harvey Cox, Thomas Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School and the author of The Secular City and Fire from Heaven “Enlightening, well informed, and sophisticated. I know of nothing like it.”--Richard Crawford, author of America’s Musical Life: A History

• Preface and Acknowledgments   ixIntroduction: What Is Sacred Song?   1PART 1: GREAT TRADITIONS OF AMERICAN SACRED SONG1. Songway: Sacred-Song Traditions of Native America   172. Pilgrimage and Penitence: Sacred-Song Traditions of the Hispanic Southwest   393. Sacred Harp Singing: Continuity and Change in the American Singing-School Tradition   684. "Is It Going to Save Someone?": The Black Church at Song   1005. Klezmorim and Sephardim: The Jewish Music Revival   130PART 2: SACRED SONG AND CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN RELIGION6. New Music of teh Spheres: From the New Age to Neo-Paganism   1637. Contested Praise: A Tale of Two Hymnals   1848. Mormons and Music: Maintaining and Mainstreaming Sectarian Identity   2139. Troubadour for the Lord: Catholic Charismatics and Sacred Song   23910. The Conservatory Tradition: Interviews with Daniel Pinkham and Neely Bruce   26411. Gospel Music: Sacred Song and teh Marketplace   296Conclusion: American Sacred Song and the Meaning of Religious Culture   321Appendix: Music Examples   331Index of Titles and First Lines   377Index of Names and Subjects   383