Southern Harmony Songs, Volume One

SOUTHERN HARMONY SONGS, Volume One

Settings of tunes and texts collected by William Walker in The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, a shape-note volume first published in 1835.

Program Note:

My first songs - completed in 2006 in Newton, Massachusetts - are four settings of familiar hymn tunes from William Walker's The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. These songs represent the first step on my path of my career writing for singers, which has produced more than fifty choral works, eleven song cycles, and five operas.  For these songs, I began with text and tune, focusing on harmony and accompaniment. The result is settings of familiar tunes that are appropriate for worship or concert performance, and are singable by amateurs, students, and professionals alike.  

Wondrous Love

Text attributed to Alexander Means (1801-1883); Tune attributed to "Christopher."  Likely the most familiar in the set, this song develops in a canon. The voice trails the accompaniment by a measure in each successive verse, creating a simple counterpoint. 

Star in the East  

Text by Reginald Heber (1783 - 1826) This Christmas song utilizes a flowing accompaniment reminiscent of the English choral tradition.  

Consolation  

Text by Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748), tune attributed to "Dean."  The tune and a countermelody switch positions and weave through the accompaniment in this morning prayer.

Holy Manna  

Text by George Atkins (1793-1827); Tune by William Moore.  This song captures the rollicking nature of a revival-type atmosphere, complete with hints of bluegrass and an at-times bombastic accompaniment.