An ethnomusicological study of the Amish, this book looks at Amish groups in Wayne and Holmes counties in Ohio. These are the largest concentrations of Amish in the world. Amish sing in
devotional, educational, and other settings. Choral singing is one of the few forms of entertainment and pleasure that is completely sanctioned by the community, and as a result it is a
constant part of Amish life that builds on a 450 year tradition. However, because Amish worship services are performed in private homes and the groups keep a distance from outsiders, few people
outside these communities have heard or even know of Amish song. The author of this book has been given considerable access to the communities and their musical traditions. They are documented
here, most often in cultural descriptions and ethnography, but also in some printed selections of music and some song lyrics in German and English. Annotation ©2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR
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