Valley Pocket Harmonist, The

A supplement to the Shenandoah Harmony. A collection of shape-note tunes, ancient and modern, for spiritual, social, and musical singing groups. 

Music Committee: Daniel L. Hunter, Kelly Macklin, Graham DeZarn, John W. del Re, Leyland W. del Re, Cherilyn MacNeil, Joshua Rush Barnett

The core of The Valley Pocket Harmonist lies in the unpublished original tunes of John Bayer, Jr. and the rediscovered Songs of Zion (1821) by James Carrell of the Valley of Virginia, and inspiration from historical tunebooks like John Steffy’s Valley Harmonist (1836) and William Walker’s The Southern and Western Pocket Harmonist (1846). This project also focuses on arranging traditional folk and spiritual melodies, integrating spiritual texts into the shape-note style. These arrangements draw upon the interpretive work of prominent figures such as George Pullen Jackson, Shirley Collins, Deerin Farrer, Hiram Mattison, Joseph Hillman, John Steffy, and Winston Wilkinson. Additionally, the book incorporates lesser-used sources like Shaker hymns and the poetry of Milton, Blake, and Dickinson, expanding the depth and diversity of its offerings. Modern contributions from contemporary composers across the USA and Europe also enrich the collection, providing a vibrant mix of old and new.

6.75×9.5″, 407 pages, tune index, first-line index, The Shenandoah Harmony Publishing Company, Boyce, VA, 2024
isbn: 979-8-218-39203-1