I’ve been conducting increasingly deep research into four-shape shape-note tunebooks. As the project has grown, I’ve realized that the sheer volume and granularity of this material requires its own dedicated space.
To avoid overwhelming SingLoud.org and to give this research the focus it deserves, I am launching a new, free publication on Substack:
I will be migrating relevant existing bibliographical posts from SingLoud over to the new site, allowing this research to be housed in a format designed for reading and archiving.
The Scope: Print Culture vs. Music
Crucially, I intend to keep this new publication strictly focused on the print culture of shape-note music. I will generally not be commenting on the music itself—the composers, hymnody, poetry, or modes. There are already many excellent books and experts covering those subjects in depth.
When I write about the music or the singing experience, those posts will remain here on SingLoud.org. The Substack will be restricted to the material history—the aspects of bibliography and production that have historically received less attention.
Posts on the Substack will generally fall into four categories:
- TOOLS: Discussions on the conceptual or physical mechanisms used to do the work. This includes methods I’ve adopted from others, tools I’ve developed myself, and documentation of the research process.
- DESIGN: Focuses on the physical aspects of the books or ephemera—typography, binding, and layout—especially details that are currently undocumented.
- ARTIFACT: Write-ups on specific examples of shape-note tunebooks and non-tunebook items. The latter may include fiction, non-fiction, newspaper articles, or flyers, generally limited to printed objects relevant to the tradition.
- ENTRY: The fruit of the tree. These are full bibliographical write-ups of specific tunebook works.
How to Read
This project is entirely free. I will not be using Substack’s paid subscription features. You can follow via the Substack app, subscribe by email to get updates in your inbox, or simply bookmark the site and read online.
You can contribute feedback/corrections/thoughts on the project and they will be most welcome. You can comment on the posts themselves or email me at the special email address: sacredharpbiblio@gmail.com
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