This was a time in America when there wasn't radio; there were no records/albums/vinyls; there were no famous overpaid entertainers; no computers, no smartphones, no ipads and no ipods, no internet, no laptops, no PC's, no copy machines, no downloads to purchase.  

It was time when words meant something; when words had meaning; a time when people not only 'had; to read tut they could read and could get deep meaning from words.  it was a time when words were more important than the music.  People only looked to music to help put forth the words they had written - or wanted to hear.  

People could actually sit and 'pay attention' to the spoken word - for hours, at times.  Crowds up to 10-20,000 people (including their horses and buggies...) would stand in farmers fields - no microphones - and listen to a person speak.  They would build 'gazebo's' to have an opportunity to listen to a visiting band.  Every town, every business, every group of some sort would have their own band.

It was time of 'outdoor' peace and quiet - where the spoken / written word was 'king.'  If they did hear music, it was probably coming from an open window (no screens) while someone was practicing their piano / instrument / singing while they work/shower, even just vocalizing, 

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These Were Years When Words Meant More Than the Music!

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Leading Song Writers / Song Leaders 1800's - 1900's

SONG ​WRITERS	Charles ​Wesley	Fanny ​Crosby	Stephen ​Foster	Philip P. ​Bliss	William Kirkpatrick
SONG LEADERS	Ira ​Sankey	Homer ​Rodeaver	Charles ​Alexander	George ​B. Shea	Jack ​Van Impe

Oremus Hymnal Index
Index of The Oxford Hymn Book, 1908-1925

Title:
Words:
Tune:
Meter:

Metrical Index of Tunes

Meter:
Titles:

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