Book Review: Songs for All Seasons

Title: Songs for All Seasons

Author: Michael D. Young

Quote: "I'll dive into the history of the most beloved songs."

He does, after a fashion. He doesn't provide source information, which would be appropriate for the type of book he's written; his histories are bloggy. All very well for free content but, if people are going to pay, he owes them real research, including source information. But I received the book free of charge so I'll try to explain what I like and dislike about it.

What I like: Here are twenty-six songs that a majority of Americans know. Several of them are Christian; some are patriotic songs that refer to our history. Each song comes with a link or QR code you may be able to use to hear a recording of the song.

What I don't like: Here is no sheet music you can use to play the song if you don't happen to be online, or want to sing your own song without pre-recorded interference. This book is for passive consumers of music, not musicians.

Sheet music has always been more expensive to print than words. Songbooks have always been printed without the music, on the assumption that people are already familiar with the tunes, or know someone who is, or that people who want to perform music ought at least to write their own arrangements if not their own songs. The Internet should have resolved this problem, since musical notes and staves don't cost more to arrange on a screen than any other kind of graphics. Unfortunately it's not.  

However, most Americans are familiar with the tunes for these songs. Most are also familiar with the words, so you might not learn anything useful from this book. The songs are:

Happy Birthday to You

The Star-Spangled Banner

America the Beautiful

My Country 'Tis of Thee

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Columbia/Britannia the Gem of the Ocean (first verse of each)

God Bless America

Lift Every Voice

Yankee Doodle

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Amazing Grace

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

In the Garden

How Great Thou Art

It Is Well with My Soul

All Creatures of Our God and King

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Ring Around the Rosy

London Bridge

Danny Boy

Scarborough Fair

Auld Lang Syne

How Can I Keep from Singing

What a Wonderful World

Loch Lomond

The original content reports some of what is known about the first writing, printing, performance, or recording of each song.