Singing occurs in nearly every setting of Amish life. It is a sanctioned pleasure that frames all Amish rituals and one that enlivens and sanctifies both routine and special events, from household chores, road trips by buggy, and family prayer to baptisms, youth group gatherings, weddings, and single girl sings. But because Amish worship is performed in private homes instead of public churches, few outsiders get the chance to hear Amish people sing. Amish music also remains largely unexplored in the field of ethnomusicology. In Why the Amish Sing, D. Rose Elder introduces readers to the ways that Amish music both reinforces and advances spiritual life, delving deep into the Ausbund, the oldest hymnal in continuous use. This illuminating ethnomusicological study demonstrates how Amish groups in Wayne and Holmes Counties, Ohio - the largest concentration of Amish in the world-sing to praise God and, at the same time, remind themselves of their 450-year history of devotion. Singing instructs Amish children in community ways and unites the group through common participation. As they sing in unison to the weighty words of their ancestors, the Amish confirm their love and support for the community. Their singing delineates their common journey - a journey that demands separation from the world and yielding to God's will. By making school visits, attending worship services and youth sings, and visiting private homes, Elder has been given the rare opportunity to listen to Amish singing in its natural social and familial context. She combines one-on-one interviews with detailed observations of how song provides a window into Amish cultural beliefs, values, and norms.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Johns Hopkins University Press
ISBN-13
9781421414652
eBay Product ID (ePID)
208898446
Product Key Features
Book Title
Why the Amish Sing: Songs of Solidarity and Identity
Author
D. Rose Elder
Format
Hardcover
Language
English
Topic
Sociology, Music, Christianity
Publication Year
2014
Type
Textbook
Number of Pages
216 Pages
Dimensions
Item Height
229mm
Item Width
152mm
Item Weight
431g
Additional Product Features
Title_Author
D. Rose Elder
Series Title
Young Center Books in Anabaptist and Pietist Studies