“Vermont was almost a state in 1790, and Vermonters lived in towns and villages close to the land. They learned and sang music at church, in singing schools, at camp meetings, and while they followed the plow or turned the spinning wheel.The also wrote and taught music. Between 1790 and 1810 Vermont singing masters, (who were also farmers, coopers, tavern keepers, horse breeders) published seven tunebooks compiling favorite tunes and original compositions.”

Noah Mease of The Vermont Early Music Project

Thousands of songs were composed in New England before 1810 to which the term “sacred” may be applied. The songs were initially hand written (“manuscript”). Some of that number were assembled into song books and published by “compilers”. Those books carry the name “New England tunebooks”.

Vermont Early Music Project initially centered on seven Vermont compilers of tunebooks published between 1800-1810. From there our purpose becomes to develop an overview of the music beyond the state and region within a framework of history and culture. We extend backward in time and forward to today.

As was the goal in 1800 Vermont, our aim is to encourage singing and community. We invite you to join us!… and we’ll try to learn a few things about the music along the way.

Kerry Cullinan of the Vermont Early Music Project