harmony-and-tunebooks · sutton1982-shape-note-primitive-hymns

they continue to repudiate modernizations in hymn singing that have been taken up over the years by more progressive denominations, including the use of harmony, written music, musical instruments, soloists, and performing choirs. ... members began to introduce tune books using shape-note notation, in order to put their newly acquired musical literacy to work. Once in regular use in these churches, the tune books became a source of innovation, encouraging harmony singing and the incorporation of new songs into the standard repertory.