Two New Titles for Lovers of Shape-Note History — Available Now
Two books close to my heart were officially published today, July 6, 2025, through Hollow Square Books. Both are now available at hollowsquarebooks.com and Amazon.com.
These titles emerged from my own study of shape-note history and the desire to make neglected or out-of-print works available again. They’re different in format and tone, but both offer something worthwhile to anyone curious about the roots and branches of our singing tradition.
Social and Camp-Meeting Songs, for the Pious
by John J. Harrod
YOU CAN BUY IT AT THESE PLACES:
Hollow Square | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | B&N | Bookshop.org
This is a facsimile edition of a rare 1822 Baltimore hymn songbook—originally issued without music, in the old style of text-only collections meant for the fervent gatherings of early American Methodists, Baptists, and revivalists. I first reprinted this in a small edition as a Christmas gift for fellow local singers. The design came out so nicely, and I was able to add some valuable new reference materials, so I decided to make it more widely available.
This new edition includes:
- A short introduction providing context on the book’s origin and use.
- Newly typeset pages that were damaged or missing in the original.
- An appendix indexing over 60 hymn texts that later appeared in major shape-note tunebooks like The Sacred Harp, The Christian Harmony, and even the brand-new The Valley Pocket Harmonist.
Notably, this little book is the earliest known source for the lyrics to the beloved “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship” (now sung as “Holy Manna”).
A Short History of American Religious Folk Song
by George Pullen Jackson
YOU CAN BUY IT AT THESE PLACES:
Hollow Square | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | B&N | Bookshop.org
George Pullen Jackson’s scholarship laid much of the groundwork for the rediscovery of shape-note music in the 20th century. This new edition adapts the first half of his 1943 book, White Spirituals in the Tidewater South, and pairs it with his lesser-known essay Buckwheat Notes—a breezy but informative introduction to shape-note singing.
This volume covers:
- The Great Awakening and early revival movements
- Camp meetings, Shakers, Millerites, and spiritual folk migrations
- The rise of shape-note and early gospel traditions
- The tension between institutional religion and folk expression
It’s a compact, engaging read… perfect for those curious about the historical context of Sacred Harp and similar traditions, but not quite ready to wade into the deeper waters of academic research.
Both books aim to bring neglected parts of our musical heritage back into reach for today’s singers and historians. Whether you’re an experienced leader or just tuning your ear to the tradition, I hope you’ll find something inspiring in these pages.
—Kevin Isaac
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