Description
Book SynopsisSheds light on the process of cultural change that occurred over the course of a century or more in the majority of Pennsylvania German communities and churches. The Pennsylvania Dutch comprised the largest single ethnic group in the early American Republic of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Yet like other ethnic minorities in early America, they struggled to maintain their own distinct ethnic identity in everything that they did. Eventually their German Lutheran and Reformed customs and folkways gave way to Anglo-American pressure. The tune and chorale books printed for use in Pennsylvania Dutch churches document this gradual process of Americanization, including notable moments of resistance to change. Daniel Grimminger's Sacred Song and the Pennsylvania Dutch is the only in-depth study of the shifting identity of the Pennsylvania Dutch as manifested in their music. Through a closer examination of music sources, folk art, and historical contexts, this interdisciplinary study sheds light on the process of cultural change that occurred over the course of a century or more in the majority of Pennsylvania German communities and churches. Grimminger's book also provides a model with which to view all ethnic enclaves, in America and elsewhere, andthe ways in which loyalties can shift as a group becomes part of a larger cultural fabric. Daniel Grimminger holds a doctorate in sacred music and choral conducting, as well as a PhD in musicology. He also holds a masterof theological studies degree and is a clergyman in the North American Lutheran Church. Grimminger teaches at Kent State University and is the pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio.
Trade ReviewA knowledgeable account of `the largest ethnic group in early America outside of the English-speaking population.' . . . All the known books are illustrated or sampled. . . . One gets a good idea of the gradual acculturation of these communities and their language. . . . The basic research on the publications, reports, texts, personnel, buildings and church practices (including singing schools) will give the book a permanent value. -- Peter Williams * MUSICAL TIMES *
Sacred Song and the Pennsylvania Dutch is an important contribution to the history of German-language hymnody in the United States. Grimminger traces the development of Pennsylvania Dutch tune books, situating them in relation to better-known Anglo-American tune books and placing them in context with contemporary developments such as revivalism, public education, and theological change. The sacred music of one of the largest ethnic groups in early America receives a thorough and well-deserved exploration in Grimminger's comprehensive study. -- -- Alice M. Caldwell, Moravian music scholar
Table of ContentsIntroduction Identity and Conflict in Pennsylvania Dutch Culture Ethnic Retention Retentive Tune and Chorale Books Adaptation and Acculturation Amalgamation The Pennsylvania Choral Harmony: The Culmination of a Tradition Implications for Future Work
