Illustrations

1. Typical country singers of early American spiritual folk-songs Frontispiece

2. The “big singings” take place at county seats and in even larger centers Frontispiece

3. “Dinner on the grounds” xii

4. Classification chart of tunes facing page 16

5. The Original Sacred Harp, 1911 edition 24

6. The sole occurrence of ‘The Babe of Bethlehem’ 26

7. The ‘Morning Trumpet’ in seven-shape notation 26

8. Benjamin Franklin White, and Thurza Golightly White, of Hamilton, Georgia 86

9. The White memorial in Atlanta 86

10. The Sacred Harp appeared in 1844 86

11. The Southern Harmony, 1835 166

12. William (Singin’ Billy) Walker, of Spartanburg, South Carolina 168

13. William Walker’s grave in Spartanburg, South Carolina 168