Pretty much every major denomination will sell their hymnals and organ supplements through music retailers except Baptists. I don't know why, we were always trying to get the Baptist distributors to cave since we got a lot of calls for Baptist hymnals. You might be able to find them in a college library, maybe one in a used book store. It's one of the quirks of the hymnal business.
Southern Harmony was compiled in 1840, it's shape note singing, which was wicked popular throughout the rural South until the early part of the 20th century. It was even highlighted in "Cold Mountain" (and actually, all things considered, that was the highlight of the movie). It's really fascinating, the subject and tone of the hymns. I spent a lot of downtime paging through that hymnal, it fascinated me. I should've plopped down the $20 to pick it up, but alas. Hindsight. It really does say a lot about the religious atmosphere in the wake of the Second Great Awakening in the US and the concerns of the faithful, since the enduring hymns are the one with the most resonance. (I'm somewhat into church music, can you tell?)
no subject
Southern Harmony was compiled in 1840, it's shape note singing, which was wicked popular throughout the rural South until the early part of the 20th century. It was even highlighted in "Cold Mountain" (and actually, all things considered, that was the highlight of the movie). It's really fascinating, the subject and tone of the hymns. I spent a lot of downtime paging through that hymnal, it fascinated me. I should've plopped down the $20 to pick it up, but alas. Hindsight. It really does say a lot about the religious atmosphere in the wake of the Second Great Awakening in the US and the concerns of the faithful, since the enduring hymns are the one with the most resonance. (I'm somewhat into church music, can you tell?)