by William Francis Allen (Editor)

"It is... already becoming difficult to obtain these songs," editor WILLIAM FRANCIS ALLEN (1830-1889) wrote in the Introduction to the 1867 first edition of this extraordinary collection of "negro" spirituals. With his fellow American abolitionists LUCY MCKIM GARRISON (1842-1877) and CHARLES PICKARD WARE (1849-1921), Allen gathered songs from the post-slavery communities of Port Royal, South Carolina, to create this first published collection of African-American music. Among the 136 songs, included are: "Roll, Jordan, roll" "Blow your trumpet, Gabriel" "The Lonesome Valley" "There's a meeting here to-night" "Hunting for the Lord" "Rain fall and wet Becca Lawton" "Jesus on the Waterside" "Build a house in Paradise" and many others. A landmark work of music history, this is an essential text for anyone interested in American folk music.