Union Harmony
Encyclopedia
The Union Harmony is a shape note
hymn and tune book compiled by William Caldwell. The book was released in 1837, and is part of the larger tradition of shape note singing.
William Caldwell was born in 1801 in Tennessee, the son of Anthony Caldwell and Elizabeth Aiken. William Caldwell first married Cinderella Blackburn in 1829. After her death, he married Harriet Rebecca Meek. William's children include Tillman A., Orville H., Cordula J., Leonidas Beecher, Eliza, Catherine Josephine, Mary Alice, Evaline V., and Amy H. Caldwell. The Caldwells moved from Jefferson County, Tennessee
some time after 1850 to Fannin County, Texas
. William died in 1857 and Harriet in 1858.
Union Harmony or Family Musician was a four shape tunebook, registered in 1834, but printed in 1837 in Maryville, Tennessee
by Ferdinand A. Parham. It contained 151 tunes, of which 43 songs are credited to William Caldwell. Many of these tunes, Caldwell wrote, were "not entirely original, but he has harmonized, and therefore claims them." David Music called this book "The First East Tennessee Tunebook". Writers from George Pullen Jackson to Harry Eskew consider the chief contribution on Caldwell and the Union Harmony to be the preservation of folk songs of the oral tradition. Union Harmony went through only one printing. Though long out of print, Caldwell's songs have survived in other shape note tune books, such as The Good Old Songs by C. H. Cayce, and The Sacred Harp
by B. F. White and E. J. King.
Shape note
Shape notes are a music notation designed to facilitate congregational and community singing. The notation, introduced in 1801, became a popular teaching device in American singing schools...
hymn and tune book compiled by William Caldwell. The book was released in 1837, and is part of the larger tradition of shape note singing.
William Caldwell was born in 1801 in Tennessee, the son of Anthony Caldwell and Elizabeth Aiken. William Caldwell first married Cinderella Blackburn in 1829. After her death, he married Harriet Rebecca Meek. William's children include Tillman A., Orville H., Cordula J., Leonidas Beecher, Eliza, Catherine Josephine, Mary Alice, Evaline V., and Amy H. Caldwell. The Caldwells moved from Jefferson County, Tennessee
Jefferson County, Tennessee
*...
some time after 1850 to Fannin County, Texas
Fannin County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,242 people, 11,105 households, and 7,984 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 12,887 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
. William died in 1857 and Harriet in 1858.
Union Harmony or Family Musician was a four shape tunebook, registered in 1834, but printed in 1837 in Maryville, Tennessee
Maryville, Tennessee
Maryville is the county seat of Blount County, Tennessee, in the Southeastern United States. The city is located south of Knoxville. Maryville's population was 27,258 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Maryville has received a number of accolades for its...
by Ferdinand A. Parham. It contained 151 tunes, of which 43 songs are credited to William Caldwell. Many of these tunes, Caldwell wrote, were "not entirely original, but he has harmonized, and therefore claims them." David Music called this book "The First East Tennessee Tunebook". Writers from George Pullen Jackson to Harry Eskew consider the chief contribution on Caldwell and the Union Harmony to be the preservation of folk songs of the oral tradition. Union Harmony went through only one printing. Though long out of print, Caldwell's songs have survived in other shape note tune books, such as The Good Old Songs by C. H. Cayce, and The Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp singing is a tradition of sacred choral music that took root in the Southern region of the United States. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note music.- The music and its notation :...
by B. F. White and E. J. King.